FDNY Hazardous Materials Procedures and Operations Study Guide

INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 FDNY Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

    • Established to fulfill responsibilities according to the New York City Hazardous Materials Response Plan and City Charter.
    • Complies with federal legislation including the Superfund Amendment and Re-authorization Act (SARA), Title 3, and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.120(q).
    • Guides actions of all Fire Department personnel during hazardous materials operations.

  • 1.2 Incident Commander (IC)

    • The senior ranking Fire Department representative on scene responsible for implementing the FDNY ERP.
    • Utilizes the Incident Command System (ICS) in hazardous materials incidents.

  • 1.3 Purpose of the ERP

    • Serves as a resource rather than a comprehensive study.
    • Specific plans for events involving hazardous materials will be detailed in separate response plans.
    • Further training will enhance understanding of the ERP's technical, administrative, and management aspects.

FIRE DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES

  • 2.1 Hazardous Materials Incident Description

    • Presents a potential danger with substances that may be combustible, explosive, corrosive, toxic, or reactive.
    • Responsibilities include protecting the public, environment, and emergency responders.

  • 2.2 Common Objectives for Hazardous Materials Incidents

    • Recognize the incident as a hazardous materials release.
    • Ensure the health and safety of responders.
    • Conduct victim rescue and decontamination.
    • Inform other responders and resources.
    • Triage, treat, and transport patients from the scene.
    • Isolate hazardous materials by establishing Control Zones (
      Exclusion Zone, Contamination Reduction Zone, Support Zone).
    • Identify materials and associated hazards.
    • Protect the public through evacuation or sheltering.
    • Control the hazardous materials release and maintain fire control.
    • Notify law enforcement for evidence preservation.
    • Recover and officially terminate the incident.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT RECOGNITION

  • 3.1 Importance of Early Recognition

    • Initial assessment of incident hazards lies with first responding units.

  • 3.2 Fire Department Training

    • All uniformed members undergo hazardous materials training at their academies.
    • Training consists of OSHA/NFPA Awareness Level for medical personnel and Operations Level for firefighters.

  • 3.3 Key Clues for Recognition

    • Clues include:
    • 3.3.1 Occupancy and Location
      • Information received from dispatch about the incident location and details.
      • Historical knowledge from past incidents and Chemical databases.
    • 3.3.2 Container Shapes and Sizes
      • Assessment of containers identified in the D.O.T. Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).
      • Identification of pressure and non-pressure containers.
    • 3.3.3 Markings and Colors
      • Identification through tank specification plates and the NFPA 704 marking system.
    • 3.3.4 Placards and Labels
      • Recognition of D.O.T. diamond placards and hazard labels on containers.
    • 3.3.5 Shipping Documents and MSDS
      • Review of shipping documents identifying hazardous materials.
      • Consulting Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for specific data on the hazardous materials.
    • 3.3.6 Sensory Perception
      • Attention to immediate symptoms in victims and abnormal sensory experiences (e. g., chemical odors).

CONTROL ZONES

  • 4.1 Importance of Control Zones

    • Control zones minimize public exposure and contamination transfer across zones.

  • 4.2 Establishment of Control Zones

    • Exclusion Zone—Hot Zone:
    • Innermost area for contaminated materials.
    • Access control required with appropriate PPE for personnel entering this zone.
    • Contamination Reduction Zone—Warm Zone:
    • Serves to reduce the transfer of contaminants.
    • Area for decontamination activities.
    • Support Zone—Cold Zone:
    • Outer area for uncontaminated operations.
    • Controlled access and no contaminated personnel/equipment.

  • 4.3 Decontamination Procedures

    • Detailed steps involved in decontaminating personnel and equipment, emphasizing the difference between emergency and technical decontamination.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

  • 5.1 Overview of Protective Gear
    • Firefighting gear protects against heat and flame but can be contaminated by hazardous substances in an emergency.
  • 5.2 Proper PPE Usage
    • Full firefighting gear and SCBA are minimum protection levels against exposure.
  • 5.3 Types of Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC)
    • Detailed breakdown of CPC levels as defined by OSHA and NFPA:
    • Level A: Maximum skin and respiratory protection.
    • Level B: Highest respiratory protection, lower skin protection.
    • Level C: Minimal protection, used when contaminant types and concentrations are known.
    • Level D: Basic protection against nuisance contamination only.
    • Structural firefighter protective clothing is not classified as CPC.

RESOURCES

Medical Branch

  • 6.1 Response Training

    • Members of the EMS trained to Awareness Level for recognizing hazardous materials and performing evacuations.

  • 6.2 PPE Availability

    • Focused on protection against common biological agents, limited scope of training for specialized CPC.

  • 6.3 Medical Unit Types

    • Lists various EMS units involved in hazardous material incidents including BLS, ALS, Chief Officers, and support units.

Fire Branch

  • 7.1 Training Level Overview
    • Firefighters trained at operational level capable of using SCBA & structural firefighter protective clothing.
  • 7.3 Specific Requirements
    • Air-purifying respirators (APRs) assigned based on guidelines of approved contaminant identification.

Haz-Mat Branch

  • 8.1 Haz-Mat Resources
    • Teams use CPC and respond aggressively to assist victims and control hazardous materials releases.
  • Detailed structure of the Haz-Mat operations including the Chief-in-Charge, Haz-Mat Battalion, SOC Battalion, Safety Operating Battalion, Haz-Mat Company, and various units such as HMTUs and CPC Ladder Companies, each with outlined responsibilities and training levels.

INCIDENT COMMANDER (IC)

  • 9.1 General Responsibilities
    • Senior officer’s responsibilities include planning, reporting, incident termination, and activity management.
  • 9.4 Hazard Analysis
    • Importance of thorough hazard analysis and resource requirement assessments during a hazardous materials incident.

OPERATIONS: FIRST ARRIVING UNITS

  • 10.1 Initial Actions
  • Outlines necessary precautions including site security and methodical assessment against potentially hazardous situations.
  • 10.6 Rescue Considerations
    • Evaluates risk/benefit analysis to prioritize rescues or evacuation.

OPERATIONS: FIRST ARRIVING LADDER and ENGINE COMPANIES

  • Comprehensive responsibilities given to ladder and engine companies upon arrival pertaining to hazard assessment, site security, and initial water supply actions.

POST-INCIDENT REVIEW

  • Importance of evaluating actions, correcting deficiencies, and gathering information for future improvements after the incident.

GLOSSARY

  • Definitions of key terms related to hazardous material operations including roles, PPE types, and various governmental regulations and organizations involved in incidents.

REFERENCES

  • Sources include OSHA, EPA regulations, and other essential documents to understand the context and protocols for hazardous materials incidents.