Firefighter Essentials Chapter 28- Hazardous Materials overview
What are hazmat technician with specialties?
A hazmat technician with training in areas such as specialized chemicals, containers, and their uses. JR
What are target hazards?
Any occupancy type or facility that presents a high potential for loss of life or serious impact to the community resulting from fire, explosion, or chemical release. JR
What is the difference between Awareness, Operations, Technician, Specialist Levels of Hazmat?
Awareness- Personnel trained to recognize the presence of a hazardous materials and WMD, protect themselves and call for trained personnel, and secure the scene. Operations-Supports actions to a hazmat incident Technician- Responders who are allowed to enter heavily contaminated areas using the highest level of protection. Specialist- Highest level, either in the product or transportation mode specific. JR
What are compounders when referring to Hazmat?
Blenders. JR
What are hazardous materials branch director/ group supervisors?
Commanders of hazardous materials incidents beyond the operations level. JR
What is the DOT?
Department of Transportation is the federal agency that publicizes and enforces rules and regulations that relate to the transportation of many hazardous materials. JR
What is the emergency planning and community right to know act?
Federal legislation that requires a business that handles chemicals depending on the quantity stored to report storage type, quantity, and storage methods to the fire department and the local emergency planning committee. JR
What is HAZWOPER?
Hazardous Waste operations and Emergency Response. Governs hazardous materials waste sites and response training. JR
What does the acronym LEPC's stand for?
Local and Emergency Planning committee. Group comprising member of industry, transportation, the public at large, media, fire and police agencies. it gathers and disseminates information on hazardous materials stored in the community and ensures that there are adequate local resources to respond to a chemical event in the community. JR
What are MSDS?
Material Safety Data Sheets, a form provided by the manufactures and compounders of chemicals, containing, information about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response, and waste disposal of material. JR
What is OSHA, EPA and NFPA?
OSHA-Occupational safety and health administration- the federal agency that regulates worker safety and, in some cases responder safety OSHA is part of Department of Labor. EPA-Environmental protection Agency the federal agency that ensures safe manufacturing, use , transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials. NFPA- National Fire Protection Agency- A private organization that develops and maintains nationally recognized minimum consensus standards on many areas of fire safety and specific standards on hazardous materials. JR
What is the acronym SARA?
One of the first federal laws to affect how fire departments respond in a hazardous material emergency. JR
What does the acronym SERC stand for?
State Emergency Response Commission is the liaison between the local and state levels that collects and disseminates information relating to hazardous materials. JR
What are hazardous materials officers?
The person who is responsible for directing and coordinating all operations involving hazmat materials and weapons of mass destruction as assigned by the incident commander. JR
What are hazmat safety officers?
The person who is responsible for ensuring the safety of hazardous materials personnel. JR
What is hazardous waste?
Waste that is potentially damaging to the environment or human health due to its toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, or chemical reactivity or anther cause. JR