introduction - j. j. keller® training portal | home · ionizing radiation is a risk associated...
Post on 03-Jun-2020
2 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
1 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
Introduction
1 Welcome to HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination.
Select the Next button to advance through the course.
2 The buttons at the bottom of your screen will help you navigate this course.
Use the Back and Next buttons to go backward or forward through each
lesson.
As you go through the course, you will always find the Table of Contents in
the drop-down menu along the top of the screen.
Run your mouse over the list of lessons at the top of the screen and you will
see these drop-down menus. Your first time through the course, you can
look at the contents in these drop-down menus, but you will not be able to
skip ahead. After you go through the course once, you can use the Table of
Contents to skip around and review for the exam.
Your progress through the course is tracked. If you must leave at any time,
don't worry. You will be taken back to the same screen when you return.
3 You can control each page's audio using the Play/Pause button at the
bottom of the screen.
The Audio On/Off button allows you to disable audio for the course.
If you are taking the course in an area where you cannot hear the audio,
you can download a printable audio transcript by selecting the Transcript
button.
2 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
4 The Resources button appears when additional learning tools like printable
documents or web links are provided.
Select Resources now to visit J. J. Keller's website. The site will open in a
new browser window and will not interfere with your movement through this
course. If the site does not open, you may have a pop-up blocker enabled.
We'll talk more about disabling pop-up blockers on the next slide.
Simply close the new browser window to return to the course.
5 If you had trouble opening the J. J. Keller link on the previous page, you
may have a pop-up blocker. This course will not work correctly unless all
browser-based and third-party pop-up blockers are disabled. Instructions
for disabling pop-up blockers for Internet Explorer and Firefox are shown on
the screen.
You can also select the Resources button to download a PDF document
with these and additional instructions. The document also contains
instructions to help you adjust your screen text size.
6 Parts of this course feature video. The Video Player controls are detailed in
the image on the screen.
Use the Play button to start or pause the video.
You can move to any part of the video by selecting and dragging the
Progress Indicator forward or backward along the Progress Bar.
Use Rewind to go back to the beginning of the video.
The Maximize/Minimize button allows you to make the video larger.
Maximizing the video will allow it to fill the content screen. Select the button
again to minimize the video so you can view the other screen content.
3 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
7 The Course Highlights document provides an overview of the interactive
activities in this course.
Download the Course Highlights by selecting the Resources button on this
page.
8 When you select Next, you will begin the pretest for this course.
Your score will be reported to you, but will not be recorded.
There are 10 questions in this pretest.
10 By completing this course, you will learn the following:
The potential for various emergency scenarios on hazardous waste
sites,
The required elements of an emergency response plan,
The different levels of emergency response personnel,
The importance of a thorough evacuation plan,
How to take preventative measures against contamination,
Types of contamination and methods for decontamination,
The equipment and facilities used during decontamination,
And emergency decontamination procedures.
4 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
Site Emergencies
2 You may encounter one or more of the following releases or events at your
site. It is important that you understand how to evaluate the following
situations and how to initiate a proper response during:
Fires
Explosions
Chemical leaks
Releases of toxic vapors
Chemical reactions
Collapses of containers
Discoveries of radioactive materials
And worker-related emergencies
3 From the list of emergencies presented in the previous slide, there are a
variety of different hazards that can emerge. Here is a basic breakdown of
the possible hazards:
Explosions and fires are typically caused by chemical reactions and
the ignition of flammable substances.
Oxygen deficiencies are caused by the replacement of oxygen by gas
or another vapor.
Ionizing radiation is a risk associated with radioactive materials.
Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles.
Safety hazards can emerge with a loss of structural integrity or
slippery surfaces.
Extreme temperatures can develop from the use of personal
protective equipment.
And your site may have other hazards too.
5 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
4 Responders during an emergency response can come into contact with
hazardous substances in four ways:
1. Inhalation, which means breathing in substances or vapors.
2. Ingestion, which refers to swallowing a substance, usually by
touching your mouth, eating or smoking with contaminated hands.
3. Absorption, which occurs when substances pass through your skin,
eyes or cuts.
4. And Injection, which is where substances enter the body through
puncture wounds.
5 For every release and event, you must be able to recognize the difference
between an incidental release and a release that requires an emergency
response under HAZWOPER:
1. An Incidental Release has occurred when the release of a
hazardous substance can be absorbed, neutralized or controlled at
the time by employees in the immediate area or by maintenance.
2. An Emergency Release has occurred when the release of a
hazardous substance cannot be absorbed, neutralized or controlled at
the time by trained employees in the immediate area or by
maintenance. Emergency response releases are uncontrolled or likely
to result in an uncontrolled release, and employees from outside the
immediate area or designated responders are needed to handle the
release.
6 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
6 Incidental releases tend to be very limited in quantity and carry a low risk of
exposure potential and toxicity. When you attempt to determine whether a
release is incidental, keep the following factors in mind:
Quantity released
Properties of the substance
Ventilation
Whether the release is in a confined space
Availability of personal protective equipment (or PPE)
Existing standard operating procedures
And any engineering control measures that can be activated to
mitigate the release
8 If a release is an emergency response release, an emergency plan must be
initiated. Your company must have one the following two types of plans
available for use:
1. An Emergency Action Plan (or EAP) when all employees will be
evacuating from the danger area when the emergency release occurs
and no site employees will be permitted to assist in handling the
emergency release. Instead, an outside contractor or fire department
will handle the emergency.
2. And an Emergency Response Plan when your employer has
designated and trained at least some site employees to assist in
handling the emergency release.
7 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
9 If your employer opts for an EAP, then according to OSHA standards, your
plan must include the following elements:
Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency;
Evacuation procedures and exit route assignments;
Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to perform
critical plant operations before they evacuate;
Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation;
Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical
duties;
And the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted
for more information about the plan or duties under the plan.
10 During any emergency release, it's important to keep a safe distance from
the release area if you are not involved in the response effort. This isolation
distance may be:
Found on the safety data sheet (or SDS) for the hazardous substance
involved in the release,
Determined using the Emergency Response Guidebook (or ERG),
And/Or based on other factors.
8 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
11 SDSs contain the most current and accurate information on hazardous
chemicals.
You may find the safe or isolation distance within the accidental release
measures section (section 6) of the SDS. That's because the modern-day
SDS calls for emergency procedures to be found there.
However, if you have an older SDS, this information may be found
elsewhere on the sheet.
Select Play now to watch a video explaining the importance of Safety Data
Sheets.
12 We will go over the contents of the ERG in more detail a bit later, but for
now, let's focus on how to use it to determine the isolation distance.
First identify the hazardous substance by its name or four-digit identification
number. Refer to the yellow- or blue-bordered pages and note whether the
hazardous substance is highlighted. If the hazardous substance is NOT
highlighted OR if it IS but there is a fire or a fire is involved, then find the
three-digit emergency response guide number there and turn to the guide
number in the orange-bordered pages. You'll find the isolation distance
you're looking for on the orange-bordered page. However, if the hazardous
substance IS highlighted on the yellow- or blue-bordered pages, but there's
no fire and no fire is involved, then take note of the 4-digit identification
number, and turn to the green-bordered pages to find the initial isolation
distance. There's even a downwind distance indicated.
9 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
13 After consulting the relevant Safety Data Sheet or Emergency
Response Guidebook section to determine the safe isolation
distances for the released substance, you may also need to
consider some additional factors, such as:
The properties of the substance,
The quantity released and its rate of release,
Vapor pressure and vapor density of the substance,
Wind speed and direction,
Air temperature,
And local topography.
14 Evacuation is moving people from a threatened area to a safe place. To
perform an evacuation, there must be enough time for people to be warned,
to get ready, and to leave the area. If there's enough time, evacuation is
the best protective action.
Once the initial isolation distance is determined, employees should be
directed to move, in a crosswind direction, away from the release to the
distance specified. Once the downwind distance is determined, a protective
action zone, the length and width of the downwind distance is formed, and
employees are directed to move crosswind away from the zone. Employees
should be sent to a definite place, by a specific route, far enough away so
they will not have to be moved again if the wind shifts.
10 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
15 In an emergency, you may be cut off from your normal exit. Therefore, your
site should establish alternate routes for evacuating, in advance. Both
primary and alternate routes should:
Run upwind from the Exclusion Zone, through the contamination
reduction zone, to the support zone, and then to an off-site location;
The routes should be easily accessible and kept clear;
And they should account for any mobility constraints of wearing
protective clothing and equipment;
While routes may be marked, you and your co-workers should know
where these escape routes are located.
16
If the emergency is localized and does not require a complete site
evacuation, a safety station can be set up in a relatively safe area to
provide emergency items such as:
A sitting or resting area for temporary relief
Water for decontamination
A wind indicator
A communication system with the Command Post
First-aid supplies such as eyewash, stretchers and blankets
Special monitoring devices such as extra detector tubes and personal
monitors
Fire extinguishers
And hand tools.
11 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
17 Shelter in-place means seeking shelter inside a building until the danger
passes. However, sheltering in-place is used only when evacuating would
cause greater risk than staying, or when evacuation cannot be performed.
In-place protection may not be the best option if release vapors are
flammable, or if it will take a long time for the gas to clear.
If you are ordered to shelter in-place, you may be directed to close all doors
and windows; shut off all ventilating, heating, and cooling systems; and
maintain communications with those outside.
18 In the case of site-wide evacuations, off-site refuges can be set up at a safe
exit destination that should be stocked with items such as:
Decontamination supplies
Oxygen and/or air
Water
Special testing equipment like pH paper or cyanide paper
A wind indicator
First-aid supplies
And a communication system
20 If your site employer has the potential for an emergency response to a
release and the site permits its own employees to assist in the handling of
an emergency release, then it must develop and implement an Emergency
Response Plan, prior to starting hazardous waste operations. This written
plan must be made available to all employees for inspection and copying.
12 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
21 OSHA also requires the emergency response plan to be:
A separate section of the Site Safety and Health Plan;
Compatible and integrated with local, state, and federal emergency
and disaster plans;
Rehearsed regularly;
And reviewed periodically and updated as necessary.
In addition, a compliant alarm system must be installed to alert you to
emergencies, to begin emergency procedures, to stop work if needed and to
lower background noise in order to speed communication.
22 According to the HAZWOPER Standard, an Emergency Response Plan will
include the 13 elements you see on the screen:
1. Pre-emergency planning;
2. Personnel roles, lines of authority and communication;
3. Emergency recognition and prevention;
4. Safe distances and places of refuge;
5. Site security and control;
6. Evacuation routes and procedures;
7. Any decontamination procedures which are not covered by the site
safety and health plan;
8. Emergency medical treatment and first aid;
9. Emergency alerting and response procedures;
10.Critique of response and follow-up;
11.PPE and emergency equipment;
12.Site topography, layout and prevailing weather conditions; and
13.Procedures for reporting incidents to local, state, and federal
government agencies.
Be sure that you understand the nature of each element and the roles that
have been assigned to you.
13 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
23 You will note that one element of the Emergency Response Plan is “Site
topography, layout, and prevailing weather conditions” or “site map” for
short. You should be very familiar with the site map. It will contain the
locations and hazards at the site, and will focus on potential areas where
emergencies may develop. The site map may include:
Site topography, buildings, and drainage
Tanks and other containers
Hazard areas where PPE is required
Areas where conditions could be Immediately Dangerous to Life or
Health
Site work zones, including the exclusion, contamination reduction and
support zones
Access and evacuation routes
Off-site populations at potential risk
And prevailing wind direction
14 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
24 According to OSHA, you must not rush into the situation when an
emergency response release occurs. Instead, there are four basic steps to
any response:
1. Notification of personnel;
2. Size up the situation by quickly evaluating casualties, hazards, and
response capabilities and allocating personnel and equipment for
response;
3. Respond according to appropriate steps in the plan by: taking rescue
actions to stabilize, extricate, decontaminate and transport victims,
evacuating personnel and/or the public and containing and
extinguishing the hazard;
4. And follow-up with termination procedures: by replacing or
rejuvenating damaged or exhausted equipment; debriefing
responders, critiquing the incident and updating the emergency
response plan.
25 As stated in the last slide, OSHA makes it clear in the regulation that you
should never rush in to a situation where there has been a release of
hazardous substances. It is always important to stay clear of vapors, fumes,
smoke and spills to minimize any health and safety risks. If you do need to
approach the released substance at any time, be sure to do so from upwind,
uphill or upstream.
26 The same “don’t rush in” concept is reiterated in the Department of
Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook (or ERG). For emergency
response, this guidebook is also recommended by OSHA, in addition to the
safety data sheet. The ERG may help you quickly identify hazardous
substances and their hazards, secure isolation distances, select proper PPE
and learn what fire and spill control measures may work best for that
substance.
15 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
27 The ERG is generally organized in the following manner:
White front pages contain instructions for using the guide and general
safety precautions, along with a list of hazard classes and divisions
and a table of placards.
Yellow-bordered pages present an index list of hazardous materials in
order of ID number.
Blue-bordered pages contain an index list of hazardous materials in
alphabetical order.
Orange-bordered pages list the potential hazards, public safety
recommendations and emergency response recommendations for
fires, spills and leaks.
Green-bordered pages have a table that lists toxic inhalation hazard
materials by ID number and safe distances information for each
material.
And the White back pages contain explanations for protective clothing, fire
and spill control measures and emergency response telephone numbers.
28 Your employer may implement a site-specific Incident Command System
(ICS) during an emergency response effort. Generally speaking, an ICS is
an organized approach to effectively controlling and managing operations at
an emergency incident.
The individual in charge of the ICS will be the senior official responding
to the incident. This person will handle communications, planning, logistics
and delegation during a response.
29 Select Play now to watch a video showing an example of how you might
use the ERG.
16 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
30 According to OSHA standards, a typical ICS unit would have these roles and
responsibilities during an emergency response effort:
Incident Commander to coordinate all aspects of the response.
Information Officer to develop and release information about the
incident to news media, incident personnel and other organizations.
Liaison Officer to assist in coordinating response activities.
And Safety Officer to assess health and safety hazards.
31 Your roles and responsibilities in an emergency response effort can vary
greatly depending on the amount of training you have received. Be sure you
know the requirements and limits of your duties in any emergency response
effort.
First responder at the awareness level takes no action beyond
notification.
First responder at the operations level attempts to contain the release
from a safe distance.
Hazardous materials technician attempts to stop the release.
Hazardous materials specialist supports the technicians and acts as
the liaison between the company and any government agencies.
And the On-scene incident commander assumes control of the
incident scene.
17 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
32 First responders at the awareness level are the individuals who witness or
discover a hazardous substance release and initiate the emergency
response by notifying the proper authorities.
As a first responder at the awareness level, you must be able to:
Recognize the presence of a hazardous material in an emergency,
Know how to identify the substance,
Understand the risks associated with each incident
And realize the need for additional resources.
33 First responders at the operations level respond for the purpose of
protecting persons, property or the nearby environment without actually
trying to stop the release. Working from a safe distance, these responders
take defensive action to keep the release from spreading and prevent
exposures. A first responder at the operations level must be able to do what
a first responder at the awareness level can do, but also:
Use basic techniques to assess hazards and risks,
Select and use proper PPE,
Perform basic control, confinement and containment operations
And implement basic decontamination procedures.
18 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
34 Hazardous materials technicians are the individuals who work to stop the
release. These responders take an aggressive role and approach the point of
release. As a hazardous materials technician, you must be able to, not only
do what a first responder at the operations level can do, but also:
Implement your employer's emergency response plan,
Know how to classify and identify unknown materials using field
survey equipment,
And perform advanced control, containment and confinement
operations.
35 Hazardous materials specialists are the individuals who support the
technicians, and demonstrate more specific knowledge of the substances to
be contained. As a hazardous materials specialist, you must be able to do,
not only what a hazardous materials technician can do, but also:
Implement the local emergency response plan,
Classify and identify unknown materials using advanced survey
equipment,
Know the state emergency response plan
And understand in-depth hazard and risk techniques.
19 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
36 The on-scene incident commander is the individual who assumes control of
the incident scene. This person must demonstrate competence in a broad
range of areas, and must also have training equal to the first responder
operations level. As on-scene commander, you must be able to:
Implement your employer's Incident Command System,
Implement your employer's emergency response plan,
Understand the hazards and risks associated with protective clothing,
Know how to implement the local emergency response plan,
Know about your state emergency response plan
And understand the importance of decontamination procedures.
38 In addition to the five emergency response roles described in the video,
responders and others may take on other roles, including, but not limited
to:
Safety officials to identify and evaluate health and safety hazards;
Backup personnel to provide assistance or rescue;
Advance first-aid support personnel;
Skilled support personnel to assist in the operation of certain
equipment;
Specialist employees to provide technical advice regarding specific
substances
And off-site personnel to provide rescue, response or support.
40 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson.
There are five questions in this test.
If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised
to review the lesson and take the lesson test again.
20 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
Emergency Response
2 If you determine a release is not incidental, meaning that it cannot simply
be absorbed, neutralized or otherwise controlled at the time of the release
by employees in the immediate area or maintenance, then you must follow
the procedures specified in your site's emergency plan -- either the
emergency action plan or the emergency response plan, whichever has
been implemented at your site. Your duties may be simply to immediately
report the release and evacuate, or they may be more involved. If your site
has an emergency response plan, and you are trained as an emergency
responder, you will initiate the notification process according to plan. Make
sure you're ready, by knowing:
Your company's emergency response procedure,
What means of communication to use,
Who to contact
And where to find the contacts' telephone numbers and extensions.
3 When notifying on-site emergency response personnel, you should be
prepared to provide the following information regarding the release:
The location,
Time of occurrence,
A description of the incident,
A report on any injuries or fatalities,
The extent of damage,
Any actions taken
And the identified response needs on site.
21 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
4 After notification, it's important to size up the situation and consider all
available information about the incident and emergency response
capabilities. If you are part of the initial response effort, you should try to
determine what happened. This includes:
The type of incident and its cause;
The extent of the release and the damage to structures, equipment
and terrain;
Any information on victims, including the number, location and
condition of any injured parties;
Any treatment that victims may require
And an update on any missing personnel.
5 Emergency response efforts also require you to make an evaluation of what
could still happen after a release of hazardous substances. You should try to
size up what could still happen. Consider:
The types of chemicals on site,
The potential for fire, explosion and release of hazardous substances,
The location of all personnel on site, relative to hazardous areas
And any potential dangers posed to off-site populations or
environments.
22 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
6 Finally, it is important for you to make an initial evaluation of what can be
done during the initial stages of an emergency response effort. You should
consider the following factors when making this assessment:
What equipment and personnel resources are needed for victim
rescue and hazard mitigation
The number of uninjured personnel that are available for response
efforts
The resources available on site
Resources available from outside groups and agencies
How long it will take outside resources to reach the site
And any potential hazards that may be involved in rescue and
response efforts.
7 Medical treatment of injured victims may be required during an emergency
response effort. Medical treatment may range from bandaging of minor cuts
and abrasions to life-saving techniques. First-aid sites should be set up in
safe areas at the site, and you’ll want to refer to your site map for locations.
Once casualties are assessed, trained responders will administer any
medical procedures that are necessary, remove or assist victims from the
release area, decontaminate them as their medical condition indicates and
arrange transport for further treatment.
8 Based on the available information, your response team will take a few
minutes to plan its response and allocate the proper resources. As the
response efforts unfold, this action plan should be checked and may need to
be revised.
23 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
9 There are three methods you can use to deal with an emergency response
release as a first responder:
1. Control it,
2. Contain it
3. And confine it.
10 Control measures are actions that can be taken to limit exposure risks and
damages during the release of a hazardous substance. Basic control
measures that you should know include:
Shutting off the control valve,
Diluting the spill with water if the spill is not water reactive
And dispersing gas releases.
11 If you have received the proper level of training, you may be required to
take an aggressive role and approach the point of release in order to stop it.
Containment is one such method.
Containment is designed to keep the remaining hazardous substance
inside its container, if the container is not compromised and the
substance is stable.
Plugging and patching a leak, for example are two ways to "contain"
a release.
You should refer to your training for any specific containment
techniques.
24 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
12 Confinement methods are designed to keep the release from flowing any
further by using absorption, diversion, dam building and digging techniques.
The confinement response method will be determined by factors such as:
The type of substance that has been released,
The extent of the release
And the characteristics of the site.
14 Effective communication is another important aspect of an emergency
response effort. On-site and off-site personnel must be able to pass along
information quickly and accurately, such as the location of an injured
person, evacuation orders, or notice of a blocked evacuation route, even
through noise and confusion. Let’s explore the details of an emergency
response communication system and techniques.
15 There are two sets of communication systems you may use during an
emergency response effort:
1. Internal communication systems
2. And external communications systems.
16 Internal communication systems such alarms, noisemakers, sirens and flags
play an important role in emergency response efforts. Internal
communication systems are used to:
Alert team members about emergencies,
Pass along safety information with rest period updates, such as the
amount of time left before the next rest period, breathing apparatus
air change or heat stress check
Communicate changes in work tasks
And maintain site control.
25 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
17 Because verbal communication may be impeded at the site, a number of
internal communication devices may be employed, including:
Intrinsically safe radios
Bells, horns, megaphones, sirens, whistles and other noisemakers
Flags, lights, signal boards, hand and whole body movements and
other visual signals
Flares and smoke signals may also be used from the support zone. The
primary system must have a backup, and any signals used should be pre-
arranged.
18 You should never enter a contaminated or otherwise hazardous area,
including the Exclusion Zone, without a buddy. OSHA defines the buddy
system as “A system of organizing employees into work groups in such a
manner that each employee of the work group is designated to be observed
by at least one other employee in the work group.”
The idea behind the buddy system is to provide rapid assistance to you or
your buddy in the event of an emergency. In many ways, your buddy is
much like a communication system, passing along information to you or
about you quickly and accurately, so we’ve chosen to include this important
control measure here in our discussion of communication systems.
19 Under the Buddy System, you must be able to:
Provide your partner with assistance;
Observe your partner for signs of chemical, heat or other exposure;
Periodically check the integrity of your partner's personal protective
equipment and clothing
And, if emergency help is needed, notify the Command Post
Supervisor or the On-Scene Incident Commander.
26 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
20 You need to understand all signals and alarms utilized at your worksite. In
fact, you’ll want to regularly rehearse your emergency signals for evacuate,
help, can’t breathe, no, okay and all clear. For example, clutching your
throat with your hand commonly indicates you’re out of air or cannot
breathe. In addition, you should know where communication devices are
located and under what circumstances each should be used.
21 You may also need to communicate externally during an emergency
response effort to help:
Coordinate emergency response efforts,
Report response progress to management,
Maintain contact with essential off-site personnel,
And present important information to the news media or government
officials.
The primary means of external communications are telephone and radio.
22 You may also be asked to deal with the media or you may be confronted by
the media during an emergency response situation. Your company will have
specific guidance based on the particular circumstances, but in general, it’s
important to:
Keep media members safe at the site;
Avoid unauthorized communication with the media;
Stick to basic, factual information, not opinions, predictions or who
might be to blame;
And prevent rumors and misinformation from spreading -- if you
don’t know the answer, it’s okay to say you don’t know.
27 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
24 An emergency response effort does not end when the release has been
controlled. If you are a first responder, you must understand the
decontamination and termination procedures relevant to you. We provide
more about decontamination procedures in a later lesson, so our focus here
will be on the termination procedure. You may be expected to take part in
this procedure and/or provide information upon request.
25 After a response effort has been completed, there are four general steps
you may take part in to terminate the response process: debriefing, a
critique of the response, recordkeeping activities and restocking equipment
and supplies.
26 Within 24 to 72 hours after a response effort is completed, all responders
should meet to share and gather information that will go into the incident
report. This is the time to openly share opinions and details on how the
effort unfolded. Nothing said during a debriefing should be debated or
argued, as the process is merely about sharing and gathering information.
27 After any emergency response effort, it is important to review the process
and ask key questions like:
What caused the emergency?
Was the situation preventable? If so, how?
Were procedures for prevention of the emergency adequate? If not,
how can they be improved?
Were all phases of the response adequate? How could it have been
improved?
How did the incident affect the site?
And was the public safety protected?
The emergency action plan or emergency response plan will be updated as
necessary, based on lessons learned.
28 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
28 An incident report and a written critique are two parts of the recordkeeping
process, but you may also be asked to produce or maintain exposure
records, activity logs and any required federal, state or local report.
Exposure records might include monitoring records, safety data sheets and
the site’s chemical inventory.
29 Before normal site activities may be resumed, you must be fully equipped to
handle another emergency. That means:
All equipment and supplies must be restocked,
Damaged equipment must be replaced or repaired
And equipment must be cleaned and refueled.
31 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson.
There are five questions in this test.
If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised
to review the lesson and take the lesson test again.
Decontamination
2 Despite the measures you use to prevent contamination, it may be
impossible to prevent all contamination. Therefore, OSHA requires all
personnel, clothing, equipment and samples leaving contaminated areas
(generally referred to as the exclusion zone) to be decontaminated.
The decontamination process removes or neutralizes contaminants that
have accumulated on you and your equipment. This process is critical to
health and safety at the site. Decontamination also minimizes the transfer
of hazardous substances into clean areas. Decontamination procedures are
based on factors specific to the site or emergency response incident. They
are also based on the site-specific safety and health plan.
29 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
3 Simply put, contamination is contact with contaminants. During day-to-day
hazardous waste site activities and during emergency response, hazardous
substances may contaminate your protective clothing and other equipment.
You will encounter two basic types of contaminants:
Surface Contaminants that can be easily detected and removed from
your equipment and clothing.
And Permeated Contaminants that are difficult or impossible to detect
and remove, and may cause unexpected exposure if not properly
removed by decontamination.
4 When you are dealing with a Permeated Contaminant, five factors generally
affect the extent of permeation:
1. Contact time. The longer a contaminant is in contact with an object,
the greater the probability and the extent of permeation. For this
reason, minimizing contact time is one of the most important
objectives of a decontamination program.
2. Concentration. Molecules flow from areas of high concentration to
areas of low concentration. As concentrations of chemicals increase,
the potential for permeation of personal protective clothing increases.
3. Temperature. An increase in temperature generally increases the
permeation rate of contaminants.
4. Size. Smaller contaminant molecules and larger pore spaces in
protective clothing means an increase in permeation.
5. And the physical state of chemicals. As a rule, gases, vapors and low-
viscosity liquids tend to permeate more readily than high-viscosity
liquids or solids.
30 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
5 The good news is you have some ways to help avoid contamination:
Limit contact with hazardous substances whenever possible.
Use remote sampling and handling techniques.
Check protective equipment for cuts or punctures.
And dress properly before entering the exclusion zone.
Make sure fasteners are fully closed, boots are tucked under pant legs of
outer clothing, and detached hoods are worn outside the collar. Gloves too
should be tucked under sleeves, but then a pair of outer gloves is often
worn over the sleeves. It is also a common practice to tape gloves to
sleeves and boots to pant legs. Your site will have standard operating
procedures you'll want to follow for minimizing contact with hazardous
substances.
6 The HAZWOPER Standard specifically calls for decontamination to be
performed in geographical areas that will minimize the exposure of
uncontaminated employees or equipment to contaminated employees or
equipment.
At a hazardous waste site, decontamination facilities will be located in the
Contamination Reduction Zone (or CRZ) to ensure that contaminants and
hazardous materials do not enter the Support Zone. In other words,
decontamination will occur between the Exclusion Zone (the contaminated
area) and the Support Zone (the clean area).
31 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
7 Decontamination procedures required will always depend on site-specific
factors, including:
The chemical, physical and toxicological properties of the hazards;
The amount, location and containment of contaminants;
The potential for exposure;
The potential for wastes to permeate, degrade or penetrate clothing,
equipment and structures;
The proximity of incompatible wastes;
The movement of personnel and/or equipment among different
zones;
Emergencies;
The methods available for protecting workers during decontamination
And the impact of the decontamination process and compounds on
worker safety and health.
9 There are three basic decontamination methods you may be asked to use:
1. Physically remove contaminants,
2. Inactivate contaminants by chemical detoxification or
disinfection/sterilization
3. And Remove contaminants by a combination of both physical and
chemical means.
Click the Resource button on your screen to access a flowchart for
evaluating which decontamination method or methods to use.
32 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
10 You can physically remove some contaminants by dislodging, wiping or
rinsing them. Physical removal is appropriate for the following types of
contaminants:
Loose contaminants like dust and vapor can be removed using water
or a liquid rinse.
Adhering contaminants such as glues, cements, resins and muds can
be removed by scraping, brushing and wiping.
And volatile contaminants can be removed by evaporation followed by
a water rinse.
11 Physical removal of gross contamination should be followed by washing and
rinsing using cleaning solutions. Here are some methods of chemical
removal:
Dissolving contaminants using organic solvents or halogenated
solvents.
Rinsing to remove contaminants.
Disinfecting or sterilizing to inactivate infectious agents
Using surfactants like household detergents to reduce adhesion forces
between contaminants.
And solidifying contaminants using absorbents or freezing techniques.
12 While decontamination is performed to protect your health and safety, it can
also pose hazards under certain circumstances. For example,
decontamination solutions may:
React with contaminants to produce an explosion, heat or toxic
products;
Permeate or degrade your protective clothing;
Or create toxic or flammable vapors.
33 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
13 As stated earlier, decontamination procedures will be based on many
factors, but there are two basic types of decontamination you should
understand:
1. Decontamination to allow you to safely exit or remove your PPE.
2. And Decontamination for reuse of your PPE.
14 The on-site supervisor or designated safety professional is the only person
with authority to decide that decontamination for reuse of PPE can occur.
Reuse can only be considered if the supervisor determines:
No "significant" exposures have occurred,
Or that decontamination methods have been successful in reducing
contamination levels to safe or acceptable concentrations.
15 There is no completely accurate way to determine if decontamination of PPE
or clothing has been effective enough for reuse to be safe, but here are a
few methods the on-site supervisor or designated safety professional may
use:
Visually examining PPE and clothing for signs of discoloration,
corrosion or degradation,
Wiping external surfaces for additional analysis
And evaluating the final rinse solution for elevated levels of
contaminants.
34 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
16 In addition to routine decontamination procedures, emergency
decontamination procedures must be established at your site. During a
medical emergency, the primary concern is always to prevent the loss of life
or severe injury to site personnel. Here are some general decontamination
rules you can follow in the event of a medical emergency:
Decontaminate immediately if it will not interfere with life-saving
techniques or first aid activities.
Or wait to decontaminate the victim if immediate medical treatment
is needed to save his or her life. You can proceed with
decontamination when the victim is stabilized.
18 Whether your clothing or equipment is being decontaminated or you are a
decontamination line worker, you will learn that decontamination facilities
involve a variety of stations, decontamination solutions, PPE, and other
equipment, no matter what the contaminant. This section goes over some of
the basics. It does not, however, cover the decontamination equipment for
radioactively contaminated personnel and equipment. A health physicist
should be consulted if this situation arises.
19 Decontamination procedures occur in a specific sequence. For example, your
outer, more heavily contaminated items (like your boots and gloves) will be
decontaminated and removed first, followed by decontamination and
removal of inner, less contaminated items (like your jacket and pants). And
each procedure will occur at a different station, in a line fashion, to prevent
cross-contamination during each phase of decontamination. Flow patterns
will isolate workers from incompatible hazards, and dressing stations will be
separate from re-dressing stations.
35 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
20 Because of the potential hazards, any solvents used during decontamination
should only be selected by an industrial hygienist or other qualified health
professional. However, generally speaking:
Water is used on inorganic compounds, salts and some hydrocarbons
and organic acids.
Dilute acids are used on caustic compounds, amines and hydrazines.
Dilute bases like detergents and soaps are used on acidic compounds,
phenols and certain other compounds.
And organic solvents like alcohols, ethers and fuel oils are used on
non-polar compounds.
21 If you are a decontamination worker, you need to wear the proper PPE,
selected by a qualified health and safety expert. If you come in contact with
personnel and equipment leaving the exclusion zone, you will require more
protection from contaminants than decontamination workers who are
assigned to the last station in the decontamination line. In some cases, you
will be required to wear the same level of PPE as the workers in the
exclusion zone. In other cases, you might be protected by wearing one level
lower protection. Before entering the clean support zone, you too, as a
decontamination worker, will need to be decontaminated to the extent
determined by your site employer.
36 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
22 In selecting decontamination equipment, your site should consider whether
the equipment itself can be decontaminated for reuse or can be easily
disposed of during cleanup. While other types of equipment may be selected
and used for decontamination at your site, here are some typical examples:
Plastic drop cloths
Lined cans or drums
Absorbents
Large tubs, tanks or pools
Long-handled brushes
Paper or cloth towels
And showers and wash sinks
23 Hazardous conditions can quickly change, so it is important to know when to
upgrade your PPE level for greater protection and when to downgrade your
level of PPE to safely limit heat stress, as well as physical and psychological
stress. Here is a recap of the four basic levels of PPE protection:
Level A provides the greatest level of skin, respiratory and eye
protection. Examples include totally-encapsulating chemical
protective suits with self-contained breathing apparatuses (also
known as SCBAs).
Level B provides the greatest level of respiratory protection, but a
lesser level of skin protection than Level A. Examples include
chemical resistant clothing items with SCBAs.
Level C provides skin protection, but a lesser level of respiratory
protection than Level B. Examples include chemical-resistant clothing
items with air purifying respirators.
And Level D, which provides only minimal protection from nuisance
contamination. Examples include general coveralls, hard hats, safety
glasses and boots.
37 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
24 Heavy equipment and vehicles may require further decontamination
equipment, including, but not limited to:
Storage tanks for temporary storage and/or treatment of
contaminated wash and rinse solutions;
Drains or pumps for collection of contaminated wash and rinse
solutions;
Long-handled brushes for general exterior cleaning;
Pressurized sprayers for washing and rinsing in hard-to-reach areas
And containers for storage and disposal of contaminated wash and
rinse solutions, damaged or heavily contaminated parts and
equipment to be discarded.
Click the Resource button on your screen to access a decontamination
checklist.
25 Properly decontaminating and/or disposing of all items used in the
decontamination procedure is an OSHA requirement. You should be
prepared to deal with:
Clothing,
Equipment,
Wash liquids,
Runoff
And any other contaminated items.
If something cannot be completely decontaminated, it must be dealt with in
a way that best protects the safety and health of those on-site and in the
surrounding community, pending further decontamination and/or disposal.
Commercial laundries, if used, must be informed of the potential hazards of
contaminants.
38 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
27 When you select Next, you will begin the test for this lesson.
There are five questions in this test.
If you do not get at least three questions correct, you will be advised
to review the lesson and take the lesson test again.
Conclusion
2 You should now have knowledge of the following:
The potential for various emergency scenarios on hazardous waste
sites,
The required elements of an emergency response plan,
The different levels of emergency response personnel,
The importance of a thorough evacuation plan,
How to take preventative measures against contamination,
Types of contamination and methods for decontamination,
The equipment and facilities used during decontamination,
And emergency decontamination procedures.
3 Now that you've covered everything in the course, it's time to review for the
exam.
To help you prepare for the exam, you can now move back and forth
within the course.
Use the drop-down menus at the top of the screen, or the Back and
Next buttons at the bottom.
The Review Questions will also help you review main concepts
covered on the exam. Select Next to download the Review
Questions.
39 HAZWOPER: Emergency Response and Decontamination
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.® Copyright © 2012
4 The Review Questions will open in a separate window.
Keep this original window open. That way if you don't know an
answer, you can go back into the course and find it.
Once you've finished the Review Questions and have finished
studying, continue on to take the exam.
To begin the Review Questions, select Resources.
5 Now it’s time to take the Final Exam.
This exam includes 15 questions.
If you close the exam before finishing, your answers will not be saved
for later.
You will have three chances to take the Final Exam.
Your highest score will be recorded.
To begin the exam, select Next.
7 Congratulations, you have completed this course.
top related