Understanding the Hazards

Understanding the Hazards

Knowledge Objectives

  • Identify and describe common types of hazardous materials containers.

  • Describe the ways in which hazardous materials are transported.

  • Identify resources that can provide technical chemical information.

  • Identify different types of potential terrorist incidents and response options.

Introduction

  • Common substances can become dangerous when released or involved in an accident.

    • Gasoline tankers.

    • Demolition explosives.

  • Intent determines whether an incident is an accident or a terrorist event.

Operations Level Container Recognition (1 of 5)

  • Commonly encountered containers include:

    • Drums

    • Carboys

    • Compressed gas cylinders

  • General container characteristics:

    • Materials used in construction

    • Shape

    • Typical internal pressures

Operations Level Container Recognition (2 of 5)

  • Bulk fixed-facility pressure containers.

  • Bulk and nonbulk packaging and capacities.

  • Secondary containment.

    • Backpack to main containment vessel.

  • Characteristics.

    • Nonpressure and pressure tank characteristics.

  • Responder awareness.

Operations Level Container Recognition (3 of 5)

  • Liquified compressed gas cylinders

    • Nonrefrigerated, pressurized tanks

  • Volume and features

    • Aboveground vessels

    • Headspace

    • Propane cylinders and vehicle-mounted cylinders

Operations Level Container Recognition (4 of 5)

  • Ton containers

    • Bulk packaging that commonly holds liquefied compressed gases.

      • Chlorine

      • Sulfur dioxide

      • Sometimes Freon-11 and Freon-12

    • Hold approximately 2000 pounds (1 ton).

  • Intermodal (IM) Tanks

    • Pressure or nonpressure shipping and storage vessels

    • Used as both shipping and storage vessels

    • Hold between 5000 and 6300 gallons (18,927 to 23,848 liters).

    • Several types available

Operations Level Container Recognition (5 of 5)

  • Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs)

    • So named because the volumes stored fall between what is typically found in drums or bags and what is in cargo tanks

    • Capacities are greater than 119 gallons (450 liters) but less than 793 gallons (3002 liters)

      • Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC)

        • Super sacks

      • Rigid intermediate bulk containers (RIBC)

        • Totes

Transporting Hazardous Materials (1 of 5)

  • Hazardous materials are most often transported on roadways.

  • Cargo tanks

    • Bulk packaging used to transport hazardous materials over the roadway

    • Assigned designations

Transporting Hazardous Materials (2 of 5)

  • Types of tanks and trailers:

    • Nonpressure liquid cargo tank

    • Low-pressure chemical cargo tank

    • Chemical cargo tank

    • Pressure cargo tank

    • Cryogenic liquid cargo tank

    • Compressed gas tube trailer

    • Dry bulk cargo trailer

    • Mixed cargo trailer

Transporting Hazardous Materials (3 of 5)

  • Railroad transportation

    • Railcars include passenger, freight, and tank cars.

    • Tank cars can carry 30,000 gallons of product.

    • Incidents can become large-scale emergencies.

  • Railroad tank car nomenclature

    • Pressure and nonpressure tank car characteristics

    • B-end

Transporting Hazardous Materials (4 of 5)

  • Special-use railcars

    • Boxcars

    • Flat cars

    • Cryogenic tank cars

    • Corrosive tank cars

  • Freight containers

    • Transport of goods via trucks, ships, and railcars

    • Challenging due to variety of goods and materials

  • Train crew will have paperwork and information about all cars on train.

Transporting Hazardous Materials (5 of 5)

  • Railroad tank car markings

    • Commodity stencil

    • Reporting marks and numbers

    • Capacity stencil

    • Specification marking

    • Specification plate

  • Incidents involving hazardous materials on railcars have potential for high risk and high impact.

Collecting Hazard and Response Information (1 of 3)

  • Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC)

    • 24-hour information call center operated by American Chemistry Council

    • Telephone, fax, and other electronic mediums

    • Put in contact with shippers, subject-matter experts, and chemical manufacturers

  • Details needed when calling CHEMTREC:

    • Name of chemical

    • Name of caller

    • Location of incident

    • Shipper or manufacturer of chemical

    • Container type

    • Railcar or vehicle markings or numbers

    • Shipping carrier’s name

    • Recipient of material

    • Local conditions and description of situation

Collecting Hazard and Response Information (2 of 3)

  • Best practices when speaking with CHEMTREC:

    • Be clear about the name of the substance.

    • Obtain clarification.

    • Obtain access to electronic medium.

  • Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC)

    • Provides services similar to CHEMTREC for Canadian responders

  • Emergency Transportation System for the Chemical Industry, Mexico (SETIQ)

    • Provides services similar to CHEMTREC and CANUTEC for Mexican responders

Collecting Hazard and Response Information (3 of 3)

  • National Response Center (NRC)

    • A federal agency under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard

    • Should be notified if a hazard is released into the environment

    • Each chemical has associated reporting requirements.

    • The shipper or owner is responsible for contacting the NRC.

Potential Terrorist Incidents (1 of 2)

  • Responder objectives

  • Government resources

  • Potential target locations and hazards

  • Indicators of illicit laboratories and secondary devices

  • Operation guidelines for dealing with explosive events

  • Situational awareness

    • Changing conditions and the possibility of additional attacks

Potential Terrorist Incidents (2 of 2)

  • Designating an incident as an act of terrorism:

    • Ordinary objects can be turned into powerful weapons.

    • The attacker’s intent determines whether an incident is an act of terrorism.

Responding to Terrorist Incidents (1 of 2)

  • Role of the responder

  • Risk-based decisions

  • Incidents with criminal intent

  • Interagency cooperation

  • Evidence preservation

  • After-action care for responders

Responding to Terrorist Incidents (2 of 2)

  • First responder emergency units and WMDs:

    • First responders are not dispatched to a known WMD or terrorist incident.

    • Initial dispatch might cite explosion, hazardous material, breathing difficulties, or multiple victims.

    • Responders rarely know that a terrorist attack has occurred.

  • Precautions

    • Take note of factors indicating terrorist incident.

    • Use appropriate procedures.

    • Consider possibility of terrorist attack

Initial Actions (1 of 4)

  • Initial approach includes:

    • Approaching from an uphill, upwind position

    • Donning PPE

    • Establishing a perimeter

    • Expecting a tumultuous environment

  • Incident command (IC)

    • Stage command post in safe location.

    • Determine nature of the situation, types of hazards, and magnitude of the problems.

Initial Actions (2 of 4)

  • Reconnaissance (recon) team

    • Determination of chemical, biological, or radiological agents

    • Assessment of how many people are involved

    • Initial survey completed cautiously but quickly

    • Avoid contact with liquids or solids

Initial Actions (3 of 4)

  • Process of elimination

    • Strange odors, mists, sprays, or vapor clouds

    • Casualties with no outward sign of trauma

    • Seizures, breathing troubles, skin irritation

    • Dead or dying animals

Initial Actions (4 of 4)

  • Responding to scene of explosion

    • Possibility of a terrorist attack

    • Remain vigilant for secondary devices

    • Suspicious packages noted and reported to IC

  • Explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) personnel

    • Only responders that should approach

    • EOD responders have special training

Interagency Coordination (1 of 2)

  • Contact law enforcement.

  • Establish unified command.

    • Law enforcement, fire department, EMS

    • Area hospitals

  • Notification of and identification of available resources

    • Specialists such as SWAT

    • State and regional emergency management officials

    • FEMA and CDC

Interagency Coordination (2 of 2)

  • EOCs

    • Agency coordination

    • Experienced command

  • Crimes Scene

    • Preserve evidence

    • Consult law enforcement prior to overhaul

    • Terrorists possible among injured

Chemical Agents (1 of 2)

  • Toxic substances intended to cause harm

  • Indicators of criminal activity vary based on complexity of operation.

  • Overt indicators of chemical agents:

    • Chemical-type gloves

    • Chemical suits

    • Respirators

    • Items that do not fit the setting

Chemical Agents (2 of 2)

  • Chemical dissemination

    • Chemical release

    • Explosive devices

    • Mechanical dispersion

  • Degree of dissemination

    • Wind direction and speed

    • Air temperature

    • Humidity

  • Changes in dissemination factors

    • Chemical release cloud direction

    • Prediction using computer models

    • Training and equipment

Nerve Agents (1 of 4)

  • More toxic than organophosphates

  • Injury or death can occur within minutes of exposure.

  • Liquid nerve agents

    • Weaponized aerosol absorbed through skin

    • Colorless in their pure state

    • Tabun

Nerve Agents (2 of 4)

  • V-agent (VX)

    • Can persist for several weeks

    • Not highly vaporous

    • Effectiveness depends on dispersion

  • Sarin

  • Symptoms

    • Pinpoint pupils

    • Runny nose and drooling

    • Difficulty breathing

    • Tearing

    • Twitching

    • Diarrhea

    • Convulsions or seizures

    • Loss of consciousness

Nerve Agents (3 of 4)

  • SLUDGEM

    • S: Salivation (drooling)

    • L: Lacrimation (tearing)

    • U: Urination

    • D: Defecation

    • G: Gastric upset (upset stomach, vomiting)

    • E: Emesis (vomiting)

    • M: Miosis (pinpoint pupils)

  • Medical response

    • Know the signs and symptoms.

    • Internet and print resources are available for study.

Nerve Agents (4 of 4)

  • DuoDote

    • Auto-injector that contains 2.1 mg of atropine and 600 mg of 2-PAM

    • Single dose

    • Targets reversal but not a cure-all

    • May be ineffective after certain period of time following exposure

Biological Agents (1 of 6)

  • Organisms that cause disease and attack the body

    • Bacteria

    • Viruses

    • Biological toxins like ricin and aflatoxin

  • Some can live in the ground for years.

  • Some are harmless after exposure to the sun.

  • Effects depend on:

    • Specific organism

    • Dose

    • Route of entry

Biological Agents (2 of 6)

  • Dissemination

    • Passed from person to person

    • Possibility of an epidemic

  • Associated with a delayed onset of symptoms

Biological Agents (3 of 6)

  • Laboratory settings

    • Persons working in the lab may eventually exhibit symptoms

  • Difference between a chemical incident and a biological incident

  • Overt indicators of incidents

  • Other potential indicators

Biological Agents (4 of 6)

  • Anthrax

    • Infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis

    • For use as weapon, must be cultured to develop anthrax spores

    • 8000 to 10,000 spores are needed to cause infection.

    • Threat posed by anthrax-related terrorism is real.

    • Multiple incidents following September 11, 2001, attacks

    • Identification requires culturing in lab.

Biological Agents (5 of 6)

  • Plague

    • Yersinia pestis

    • Bubonic and pneumonic

    • Distribution as a weapon in aerosol form

    • Treatment with antibiotics

Biological Agents (6 of 6)

  • Smallpox

    • Variola virus

    • Presents as rash and lesions

    • Eradicated as of 1980

    • Widespread dissemination not necessary to cause outbreak

    • Highly infectious

Radiological Agents (1 of 3)

  • Overt indicators of radiological release:

    • Production or containment equipment

    • Explosives

    • PPE

  • Responders must put the potential threat in context.

Radiological Agents (2 of 3)

  • Identifying legitimate operations:

    • Methods used to package and store radiological agents

    • Industries that routinely use radioactive materials

  • Visual indicators

  • Encountering radioactive sources

  • Responding to incidents at fixed and nonfixed facilities

  • Significant incidents involving radiation

Radiological Agents (3 of 3)

  • Five types of radiological packaging:

    • Excepted

    • Industrial

    • Type A

    • Type B

    • Type C

Illicit Laboratories

  • Overt indicators:

    • Terrorist paraphernalia

    • Locations with certain characteristics

    • Suspicious personnel behavior

    • Equipment

    • Specific chemicals and materials

    • Significant hazardous materials scenes

Explosives (1 of 3)

  • Overt indicators

    • Protective equipment

    • Production and containment materials

    • Explosive materials

    • Support materials

  • Protective equipment may include:

    • Rubber gloves

    • Goggles and face shields

    • Fire extinguishers

  • Production and containment equipment

Explosives (2 of 3)

  • Responder actions:

    • Note what you see.

    • Get away from the danger.

    • Secure an appropriate amount of real estate

    • Call for the local EOD team.

    • Untrained responders should not investigate explosives.

Explosives (3 of 3)

  • Dirty bomb

    • Ever-increasing concern

    • Designed to spread radioactive material

    • Radioactive materials kept secure and protected

  • Improvised nuclear device (IND)

  • Radiation exposure device (RED)

Secondary Devices (1 of 2)

  • An explosive or incendiary device designed to harm responders or others

  • The initial attack draws responders, and the secondary attack takes place as responders begin to treat victims.

Secondary Devices (2 of 2)

  • Indicators:

    • Trip devices

    • Common and uncommon concealment containers

    • Terrorists may watch the location.

  • EVADE mnemonic

Summary (1 of 2)

  • Much information can be gained about an incident by knowing some basic things about containers.

  • Transportation of hazardous materials occurs most often on the roadway, and when another primary mode of transport is used, roadway vehicles often transport the shipments from the rail station, airport, or dock to the point where it will be used. Responders must become familiar with all types of chemical transport vehicles they might encounter during a transportation emergency.

  • The responsible person in each situation should maintain the necessary information about hazardous cargo and provide it in an emergency. When responders encounter a chemical release on any mode of transportation, they should take time to find the responsible person and track down these valuable pieces of information.

Summary (2 of 2)

  • The threat of terrorism has changed the way public safety agencies operate. In small towns and major metropolitan areas alike, the possibility exists that on any day, any agency could find itself in the eye of a storm involving intentionally released chemical substances, biological agents, or an attack on buildings or people using explosives.

  • The roles of all public safety responders in handling terrorist events involve many of the same functions that responders perform on a day-to-day basis, including risk-based decisions on tactics and strategy, personal protective equipment, victim rescue and/or evacuation, decontamination, and information obtained during detection and monitoring activities. The difference is the landscape in which that incident is handled and the interagency cooperation that must occur.