Hazardous Materials Incident Considerations

1. Hazardous Materials Incident Considerations • Chapter 2 • Hazardous Materials Reference Sources

2. Haz Mat Reference Sources • Session Objectives • The student will be able to: • Identify the types of hazard and response information available • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each resource • Utilize various reference sources to identify hazard and response information about various hazardous materials

3. Hazardous Materials Information • The key to success is knowing: • What information is needed • How to access it • How to properly interpret and utilize it

4. Hazardous Materials Information • A working knowledge of the involved chemicals is needed to make sound decisions on: • Protective actions • Control zones • Levels of PPE • Other tactical operations

5. Information Sources • Personnel at the site • Books • Computer data bases • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) MSDS

6. Hazardous Materials Information and Reference Sources • Types of Information Needed • Physical properties • Chemical Properties

7. Physical Properties • Vapor density • Water solubility • Specific gravity • Boiling point • Flash point • Flammable/explosive limits • Ignition temperature

8. Chemical Properties • Corrosivity • Toxicity • Radioactivity • Oxidizing potential • Reactivity

9. On-Site Personnel • Can be a valuable source of information on: • what happened • what materials are involved • what the conditions are

10. Technical Experts • On site technical experts • Industry experts • Always confirm information with at least two other sources • Beware of “no big deal” syndrome

11. Hazardous Materials Reference Books • To be useful, books should meet three requirements: • easy to access information • accurate • understandable • Training on the use of each book is a must!

12. Reference Library • Maintain a reference library on response vehicles • Updated on a regular basis • Use at least three sources of information • Know which book will be the best source for a specific type of information

13. North American Emergency Response Guide Book • Designed for First Responders • Good source of information on initial actions • isolation and protective actions • PPE

14. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) • Designed to provide information needed for haz mat incidents on water ways • Condensed Guide • Hazardous Chemical Data

15. NIOSH Pocket Guide • The NIOSH Pocket Guide is good source of health related information • PELs • IDLH • effects on target organs • Lists ionizing potentials for chemicals

16. Condensed Chemical Dictionary • Provides three distinct types of information: • descriptions of chemicals, raw materials, processes, and equipment • expanded definitions of chemical entities, phenomena, and terminology • descriptions or identifications of a wide range of trademarked chemical products

17. NFPA Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials • Excellent source for fire-related data. • It contains four sections: • Section 49 contains information on chemical properties • Section 325M discusses the fire hazard properties of flammable liquids, gases and volatile solids • Section 491M is a listing of known chemical reactions • Section 704 Identification System

18. Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals Safety Manual • Provides information on: • chemical uses • synonyms • properties • handling and storage • spill and leak mitigation • disposal and waste treatment

19. Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials • Excellent source of clinical toxicological data on the health effects of chemicals • 20,000 entries in the book • Large section on synonyms • Identifies degree of hazard by toxicity number: • 1 - Slightly toxic • 2 - Moderately toxic • 3 - Highly toxic

20. Farm Chemical Handbook • Excellent source of information on agricultural chemicals • index (yellow border) • Pesticide Dictionary • list of manufacturers’ names, addresses and telephone numbers

21. Emergency Action Guides (AAR) • Specific information on various mitigation techniques and their subsequent consequences • Emphasis on materials transported by rail

22. Other Reference Books • Hazardous Materials Desk Reference by Richard J. Lewis • Bretherick’s Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards • Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products • Handbook of Compressed Gases

23. Other Reference Books • Guidelines for the Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing • Hazardous Materials Injuries • Merck Index

24. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) • Supplies information about a particular hazardous substance or mixture • Required by labor Code, Title 8 and CFR 29 • A MSDS must follow the standard format (Title 8) • however few look alike

25. Information Required on a MSDS • Section I - Material/Manufacturer Identification • Section II - Ingredients • Section III - Physical Data • Section IV - Fire and Explosion Hazard Data • Section V - Health Hazard Data • Section VI - Reactivity Data • Section VII - Spill or Leak Procedures • Section VIII - Special Protection Information • Section IX - Special Precautions

26. Data Bases • On-line systems • Hazardline • CHEMTREC’s Hazard Information Transmission (HIT)

27. Software Packages • CAMEO • TOMES

28. CAMEO (compiled by NOAA) • Available to response agencies for a nominal fee • Lists 3,300 chemical names with their synonyms • Mapping program of the jurisdiction is included • Plume modeling system

29. TOMES • Available on CD-ROM • Contains over 4,000 chemicals • Start-up cost and quarterly fee for update info

30. Other Information Resources • TOXCENTER • Based at Northridge Hospital (in Northridge, California) • provides information for emergency response • phone number - 213/885-9888 or 800/682-9000 • Poison Control Center • National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (Texas Tech.) • Phone number - 800/858-7378