Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Questions and Answers Graded A

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Questions and Answers Graded A Hazardous Material: A substance or material capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property when transported in commerce. Hazard Class: Is a group of hazardous materials that share dangerous characteristics. Nine hazard classes based on the dangers posed in transportation: 1. Explosives 2. Gasses 3. Flammable Liquids 4. Flammable Solids 5. Oxidizing Substances/ Organic Peroxides 6. Toxic Substances/ Infectious Substances 7. Radioactive 8. Corrosive Material 9. Misc. hazardous material & products or substances or organisms. Acute Exposure 1 time exposure and done!!.. Chronic Exposure Prolonged or repeated exposures over many days, months or years. Human Pathogens: Include anthrax, viruses, smallpox, bird flu. "Pathogen" "Disease-causing organism". Plant and Animal Pathogens: * Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) * Exotic Newcastle Disease(END) * Classical Swine Fever(CSF) * Boll Rot of Cotton Types of Ionizing Radiation: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-Ray, Neutron. Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, Absorption, Ingestion, Injection. Basic Toxicology(Terminology) * Threshold Limit Value(TLV) * Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health(IDLH) * Lethal Concentration(LC50) * Lethal Dose(LD50) * Material safety Data Sheets(MSDS) Terminology Health Impacts: * Death * Temporary impairment * Permanent disability * Psychological stress * Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) Property and Environment Impacts: * Damage to potable water sources * Loss of productive lands * Loss/destruction of food products * Inability to occupy or inhabit structures Infrastructure Impacts: * Disruption of traffic and other modes of transportation * Budget and resource strains on government and commercial entities * Reduction in available services * Overwhelming health care system Sources to obtain on-site information about hazardous material being transported: Warnings and Indicators: Shipping manifests, Placards, Labels. Interviews: Driver, others involved in transportation of materials. Witnesses and or Victims. Communications: Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System(TLETS). *Shipper at point-of-origin. National Incident Management System(NIMS): * Command and Management * Preparedness, * Resource Management, * Communication and Information Management * Supporting Technologies * Ongoing Maintenance and Management Incident Command System(ICS): * Purposes of the ICS * Integrated organizational structure * ICS as a part of NIMS Initial Assessment and Response at a Incident: * Observations(Odors, noises, wind direction, placards, signs, etc.) * Assessment(Hazard level, casualties, need for additional resources, etc.) * Plan(Response, exit strategy, precautions, etc.) * Communicate(Dispatch, casualties, good Samaritans, etc.) * Respond(Establish perimeter, first aid, enable ICS, etc.) Removing Citizens from the Affected Area: * Limit spread of contamination when moving people that are potentially contaminated * Establish safe travel routes for the public * Enforce perimeter security Minimizing Health Hazards for Responders: * Stay outside of designed perimeter * Remain upwind * Wait for qualified assistance Practical Guidelines for Law Enforcement First Responders: Shorter times in a HAZMAT zone are ALWAYS better. Distance and upwind location from a HAZMAT zone are ALWAYS better. Decontamination Concepts: * "End the Exposure" * Remove * Dilute * Absorb * Neutralize * Isolate If a substance hits the water and goes down stream into the ocean bay in salt water is it hazardous? Yes, anytime no matter what kind of water. What is your initial response to a Hazmat? Observation.