02-1

Hazardous Materials Incident Considerations

Chapter 2– Hazardous Materials Reference Sources

02-2

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

02-3

Hazardous Materials Information

The key to success is knowing:– What information is needed– How to access it – How to properly interpret and utilize it

02-4

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

02-5

Information Sources

Personnel at the site Books Computer data bases Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

MSDS

02-6

Hazardous Materials Information and Reference Sources Types of Information Needed

– Physical properties– Chemical Properties

02-7

Physical Properties

Vapor density Water solubility Specific gravity Boiling point Flash point Flammable/explosive limits Ignition temperature

02-8

Chemical Properties

Corrosivity Toxicity Radioactivity Oxidizing potential Reactivity

02-9

On-Site Personnel

Can be a valuable source of information on:– what happened– what materials are involved– what the conditions are

02-10

Technical Experts

On site technical experts Industry experts Always confirm information with at least

two other sources Beware of “no big deal” syndrome

02-11

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!

02-12

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

02-13

North American Emergency Response Guide Book Designed for First Responders Good source of information on initial

actions– isolation and protective actions– PPE

1996NORHT AMERICAN

EMERGENCY RESPONSEGUIDEBOOK

02-14

Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) Designed to provide information needed

for haz mat incidents on water ways– Condensed Guide– Hazardous Chemical Data

02-15

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

02-16

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

02-17

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

02-18

Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals Safety Manual Provides information on:

– chemical uses– synonyms– properties– handling and storage– spill and leak mitigation– disposal and waste treatment

02-19

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

02-20

Farm Chemical Handbook

Excellent source of information on agricultural chemicals– index (yellow border)– Pesticide Dictionary– list of manufacturers’ names, addresses

and telephone numbers

02-21

Emergency Action Guides (AAR)

Specific information on various mitigation techniques and their subsequent consequences

Emphasis on materials transported by rail

02-22

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

02-23

Other Reference Books

Guidelines for the Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing

Hazardous Materials Injuries Merck Index

02-24

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

MSDS

02-25

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

MSDS

02-26

Data Bases On-line systems

– Hazardline– CHEMTREC’s Hazard Information

Transmission (HIT)

02-27

Software Packages

CAMEO TOMES

02-28

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

02-29

TOMES

Available on CD-ROM Contains over 4,000 chemicals Start-up cost and quarterly fee for

update info

02-30

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