Hazmat ERG guidebook definitions

Shelter in - place

People should seek shelter inside a building and remain inside until the danger passes. Sheltering in place is used when evacuating the public would cause greater risk than staying where they are, or win and evacuate and cannot be performed. Direct people inside to close all doors and windows enter shut off all ventilating, heating and cooling systems. In place of protection may not be the best option if the vapors are flammable; if it will take a long time for the gas to clear the area; if buildings cannot be closely tightened. Vehicles can offer some protection for a short period if the windows are closed and the ventilating systems are shut off. Vehicles are not as effective as buildings further in place protection.

Vapor pressure

Pressure at which a liquid and it's vapor are in equilibrium at a given temperature. Liquids with high vapor pressure's evaporate rapidly.

Decomposition products

Products of a chemical or thermal breakdown of a substance

CBRN

chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare agent

Flammable liquid

A liquid that has a flash point of 60°C (140°F) or lower.

Pyrophoric

A material with ignite spontaneously upon exposure to air (or oxygen).

Alcohol-resistant foam

A phone that is resistant to "polar "chemicals such as ketones and esters which may break down other types of foam

Dry chemical

A preparation designed for fighting fires involving flammable liquids, pyrohoric substances and electrical equipment. Common types contain sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate.

Cryogenic liquid

A refrigerated, liquefied guess that has a boiling point colder than -90°C (-130°F) at atmospheric pressure

Large spill

A spill that involves quantities that are greater than 208 L (55 US gallons) for liquids and greater than 300 kg (660 pounds) for solids.

Small spill

A spill that involves quantities that are less than 208 L (55 US gallons) for liquids and less than 300 kg (660 pounds) for solids

Carcinogen

A substance or mixture which induces cancer or increases its incidence.

Warm zone

Area between hot and cold zones were personnel and equipment decontamination and hot zone support take place. It includes control points for the access Corredor and us assist in reducing the spread of contamination. Also referred to as the contamination reduction Corredor CRC, contamination reduction zone CRZ, yellow zone or limited access zone and other documents.

Hot zone

Area immediately surrounding a dangerous goods incident which extends far enough to prevent adverse effects from release dangerous goods to personnel outside the zone. The zone is also referred to as exclusion zone, red zone or restricted zone and other documents.

Cold zone

Area where the command post and support functions that are necessary to control the incident are located. This is also referred to as the clean zone, green zone or support zone and other documents.

Radiation authority

As referred to in guides 161 through 166 for radioactive materials, the radiation authority is either a federal, state/provincial and all agency or state/province designated official. The responsibilities of this authority include evaluating radiological has her conditions during normal operations and during emergencies. If the identity and telephone number of the authority are not known by emergency responders, or included in the local response plan the information can be obtained from the agency is listed inside back cover. They maintain it periodically updated list of radiation authorities.

Control zones

Designated areas at hazardous materials incidents, based on safety and the degree of hazard. These zones are commonly referred to as the hot/exclusion/red/restricted zone, warm/contamination reduction/yellow/limited access zone, and cold/support/green/clean zone.

(Inhalation hazard zones)

HAZARD ZONE A: Gases: LC50 of less than or equal to 200 ppm, Liquids: V equal to or greater than 500 LC50 and LC50 less than or equal to 200 ppm HAZARD ZONE B: Gases: LC50 greater than 200 ppm and less than or equal to 1000 ppm, Liquids: be equal to or greater than 10LC50; LC50 less than or equal to 1000 ppm or and criteria for HAZARD ZONE A are not met. HAZARD ZONE C: LC50 greater than 1000 ppm and less than or equal to 3000 ppm. HAZARD ZONE D: LC50 greater than 3000 ppm and less than or equal to 5000 ppm.

Absorption

In this guidebook, means a process by which a gas adheres to the surface of a solid but does not penetrate it, such as in adsorption of gases by activated carbon (charcoal)

Miscible

In this guidebook, means that a material mix is readily with water.

Immiscible

In this guy book, means that I material does not mix readily with water.

LC50 LD50

Lethal concentration 50. The concentration of a material administered by inhalation that is expected to cause the death of 50% of an experimental animal population within a specified time. (Concentration is reported in either ppm or MGM/M3)

Combustible liquid

Liquids that have a flash point greater than 60.5 °C (141 °F) and below 93 °C (200 °F). U.S. regulations permit a flammable liquid with a flash point between 38 °C (100 °F) and 60.5 °C (141 °F) to be reclassified as a combustible liquid.

Biological agents

Living organisms that cause disease, sickness and mortality in humans. Anthrax and Ebola or examples of biological agents.

Flash point

Lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor in concentration that, when the vapor combines with air near the surface of the liquid or solid, a flammable make sure is formed. Hence the lower the flash point, the more flammable the material.

Viscosity

Measure of a liquid's internal resistance to flow. This property is important because it indicates how fast the material will leak out through holes in containers or tanks.

Water spray (fog)

Method or way to apply or just distribute water. The water is finally divided to provide for high heat absorption. Water spray patterns can range from about 10 to 90 degrees. Water spray streams can be used to extinguish or control the burning of a fire or to provide exposure protection for personnel, equipment, buildings, etc. This method can be used to absorb papers, knock down papers or disperse papers. Direct a water spray fog, rather than slight solid stream, into the vapor cloud to accomplish any of the above. Water spray is particularly effective on far as a flammable liquids and volatile solids having flash points above 37.8°C hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Regardless of the above Can be used successfully on flammable liquids with Lowe flashpoints. The effectiveness depends particularly on method of application. Whether proper nozzles, even gasoline spill far as if sometimes have been extinguished we coordinated hose lines were used to sweep the flames off of the surface of the liquid furthermore, water spray can carefully applied has frequently been used with success and extinguishing far as involving flammable liquids with the hot flash points or any discuss this liquid by causing frothing to occur only on the surface, and is foaming action blankets and extinguishes the fire.

Blister agents (vesicants)

Substances that cause blistering of the skin. Exposure is through liquid or vapor contact with any exposed tissue (eyes, skin, lungs). Mustard (H), Distilled Mustard (HD), Nitrogen Mustard (HN) and Lewisite (L) are blister agents

Blood agents

Substances that injure a person by interfering with cell respiration (the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissues). Hydrogen cyanide (AC) and Cyanogen chloride (CK) are blood agents.

Edema

The accumulation of an excess amount of watery fluid in cells and tissues. Pulmonary edema is an excessive buildup of water in the lungs, for instants, after inhalation of gas that is corrosive to lung tissue

Radioactivity

The property of some substances to omit invisible and potential he harmful radiation.

Decontamination

The removal of dangerous goods from personnel and equipment to the extent necessary to prevent adverse health effects. Always avoid direct or indirect contact with dangerous goods; However, if contact occurs, personnel should be decontaminated as soon as possible. Since the methods used to decontaminate personnel and equipment differ from one chemical to another, contact the chemical manufacturer, through the agency is listed on the inside back cover, to determine the appropriate procedure. Contaminate her clothing and equipment should be removed after use and stored in a controlled area (Warm/contamination reduction/yellow/limited access zone) until clean up procedures can be initiated. In some cases, protective clothing and equipment cannot be decontaminated and must be disposed of in a proper manner.

TIH

Toxic inhalation hazard. Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. (same as PIH)

Specific gravity

Weight of a substance compared to the weight of an equal volume of water at a given temperature. Specific gravity less than one indicates a substance is lighter than water; specific gravity greater than one indicates a substance is heavier than water.

Vapor density

Weight of a volume of pier vapor or gas (with no air present) compared to the weight of an equal volume of dry air at the same temperature and pressure. A vapor density less than one indicates that the vapor is lighter than air and will tend to rise. A vapor density greater than one indicates that the vapor is heavier than air and may travel along the ground.