Chapter 6 — Planning the Response: Identifying Action Options (Hazardous Materials for First Responders, 5th Edition)

Importance of the Initial Response

• The first actions taken by responders often determine whether they solve the problem or become part of it.

• Early decisions influence:

  • Safety of responders and public

  • Speed of incident stabilization

  • Extent of property and environmental damage

• Ethical reminder: "Never risk your life to save property that is replaceable or cannot be saved."

Predetermined Procedures & SOP/SOGs

• Agencies must maintain Emergency Response Plans (ERP) and detailed Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines (SOP/Gs).

• SOP/Gs should address unique considerations for:

  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear (CBRN) incidents

  • Explosive / energetic materials

  • Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) scenarios

  • High-impact or “significant” incidents

• Responders are responsible for knowing, practicing, and updating their agency’s SOP/SOG content.

Incident Priorities at Hazardous-Materials Events

1. Life Safety – protection of responders, victims, and public

2. Incident Stabilization – preventing escalation or secondary events

3. Protection of Property & Environment – limiting economic/ecological loss

4. (Where adopted) Societal Restoration – planning early for long-term community recovery

• Priorities are dynamic; they evolve with changing conditions.

Size-Up & Hazard / Risk Assessment

• Size-Up = Ongoing mental process of reviewing all available factors that affect operations.

  • Conducted by the Incident Commander (IC) upon arrival and throughout the event.

  • Produces response objectives (strategies) and action options (tactics).

• Hazard & Risk Assessment forms part of size-up, focusing on dangers to life, property, environment.

• Consider all six sides of the incident: $\text{Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left, Right}$.

Pre-Arrival / Dispatch Data Collection

• Report to dispatch:

  • Number & type of injuries

  • Occupancy / facility type

  • Known product & container data

  • Location, weather, time of day

  • Resources already responding

On-Scene Survey – Key Questions (Representative List)

• Where is the scene relative to populations, environment, and property exposures?

• Indoor vs. outdoor release?

• Material identification & hazard class?

• Evidence of terrorism/criminal act?

• Quantity, concentration, possible reactions, container types/conditions?

• Time elapsed, projected path of product in $10, 30, 60\;\text{min}$?

• Weather, terrain, utilities, water bodies, drainage?

• What actions have already been taken and with what effect?

Rescue-Specific Variables (if victims present)

• Risk to rescuers vs. probability of successful rescue

• Protective capabilities (PPE, decontamination)

• Explosion potential, sudden releases

• Escape routes, safe havens, time constraints

Situational Awareness Cycle

1. Size-up / gather information

2. Interpret indicators

3. Project outcomes based on chosen plan

4. Re-evaluate continually

Levels of Hazmat Incidents

Examples:

• Small gasoline spill ➔ Level I

• Unknown chemical requiring CPC and field testing ➔ Level II

• Railcar toxic release threatening a community ➔ Level III

Modes of Operation (Strategic Options)

1. Non-Intervention

   • Allow event to progress naturally; used when:

     • Pre-incident plan dictates

     • Situation exceeds responder capability

     • Imminent explosion or catastrophic container failure likely

   • Key actions: withdraw, report, establish IMS, request resources, isolate/deny entry, initiate evacuation.

2. Defensive

   • Confine hazard to original area without contacting the material.

   • Usual for Operations-level responders when they have adequate training/equipment.

   • Typical tactics: diking, damming, diverting, vapor suppression, exposure protection, emergency decon.

3. Offensive

   • Aggressive actions in contact with the product (e.g., plugging a leak).

   • Requires proper CPC and higher training; some tasks reserved for Technicians or Specialists.

Factors Influencing Mode Selection

• Risk to responders vs. benefit

• Training & certification level of personnel

• Resource availability vs. requirement

• Legal/ethical considerations

Planning the Initial Response

• IC integrates incident analysis into a formal or informal Incident Action Plan (IAP).

• Two planning aids:

  1. Risk-Based Response Process – continuous assessment/decision cycle.

  2. Response Models – structure the thought process.

  • APIE (widely taught):

    1. Analyze

    2. Plan

    3. Implement

    4. Evaluate

• Large, complex incidents (> operational period, multiple agencies) often necessitate a written IAP with clear objectives, tactics, resource assignments, and safety plan.

Response Objectives & Action Options

• Response Objectives (Strategies) – broad, outcome-oriented statements ("what" to achieve).

• Action Options (Tactics) – specific tasks ("how/where/when" to accomplish strategy).

Common Hazmat Response Objectives

• Isolation / scene control

• Notification (dispatch, specialized teams, stakeholders)

• Material Identification & hazard communication

• Life safety: protection & rescue

• Spill control / confinement

• Leak control / containment

• Fire control / extinguishment

• Crime scene & evidence preservation

• Recovery & termination (cleanup, documentation)

Linking Problems → Strategies → Tactics (Selected from Table 6.1)

• Access Issues

  • Strategy: Isolate & deny entry

  • Tactics: Establish Hot/Cold zones, control traffic

• Container Under Stress (thermal/mechanical)

  • Strategies: Protect exposures, cool, extinguish, relieve pressure

  • Tactics: Master streams, hoselines, foam application, vent & burn, transfer product

• Breach / Release

  • Strategy: Contain or control leak

  • Tactics: Close valves, tighten fittings, plug/patch, decon for entry teams

• Dispersion Control

  • Solid/Liquid: Cover, absorb, dike, divert

  • Gas/Vapor: Water fog, positive-pressure ventilation, vapor suppression foam

• Fire Threat

  • Strategy: Protect exposures or extinguish

  • Tactics: Water/Foam streams, dry chemical, specialized agents (e.g., $\text{CO}_2$, dry powder for metals)

• Victim Management

  • Possible victims: Locate/notify, perform search & extraction, decon as needed

  • Visible victims: Risk-based rescue, establish safe refuge, secondary search

• Environmental / Property Exposure

  • Strategies: Control chemical, cool containers, minimize runoff

  • Tactics: Dilution, neutralization, foam blanket, diversion dams

Prioritizing Objectives

• Governed by life safety, incident stabilization, property/environment, resource availability, and time constraints.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Considerations

• IC must ensure PPE adequacy for the assigned tasks before implementing tactics.

  • If inadequate ➔ revise IAP.

• PPE selection depends on:

  • Responder mission (recon, rescue, leak control, decon)

  • Hazard(s) & physical state of material

  • Incident setting (confined space, temperature extremes, ignition sources)

• Mismatch between hazard and PPE = unacceptable risk; triggers change in strategy (e.g., shift from offensive to defensive).

Ethical & Practical Implications

• Balance between responder safety and duty to act drives decision-making.

• Early integration of societal restoration encourages consideration of long-term health, economic, and psychological impacts.

• Documentation & evidence preservation may support criminal investigations or legal claims.

These notes condense Chapter 6’s comprehensive guidance on analyzing hazardous-materials incidents, setting objectives, choosing safe/effective tactics, and continuously reevaluating actions under the Incident Command System.