HAZ-MAT RECIPES FOR DISASTER

BY STEVEN M. DE LISI

Following a recent hazardous-materials incident, a firefighter in one of the first-arriving engine companies commented that he found this call, like many others involving haz mats to which he had responded, long and boring—a lot of “hurry up and wait.” He explained that you wait for the haz-mat team to arrive, then wait for the haz-mat team to conduct research to figure out what to do, then wait for the entry team to get dressed and carry out the mission, then wait for a cleanup contractor to arrive.

Although this easily could have been mistaken for a negative comment, he was actually paying himself and his crew a great compliment, for the extent of just how boring, or exciting, a haz-mat incident becomes depends largely on the actions of first-arriving firefighters on the scene.

Remember that although some haz-mat incidents are catastrophic events from the very beginning, many more begin as minor events and escalate only when something goes terribly wrong. So, if it’s excitement (disaster) you want, here are some suggestions.

• Remember that the best route when responding to a haz-mat incident is the shortest one—all that stuff about responding from the upwind direction just takes too much time.
• Stop your vehicle as close to the scene as possible to get a good look. Remember that binoculars are clumsy to use and that the preconnected hoselines on your vehicle are only 150 feet each.
• For highway incidents, light road flares before you know if there is a potential that your actions could cause an explosion or fire.
• Spills of unknown substances on the highway are a nuisance. Just use a hose stream to wash these items off the roadway into nearby waterways and storm drains, especially if traffic is blocked.
• When responding to a call for an unusual odor in a building, using SCBA will hinder your investigation. Just walk through the building and “sniff around” until you figure out what the problem is.
• Don’t ask for help if you’re unsure of what to do, because if you do, somebody higher up in the organization will probably “blow the incident into a major event.”
• Treat sick or injured patients without considering the possibility of their being contaminated with a hazardous chemical. Remember that hospitals are eagerly awaiting your arrival!
• Remember that only those materials regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are hazardous and that transport vehicles without DOT placards are safe.
• When you discover an abandoned container, such as a 55-gallon drum, open the top to see what’s inside. Kicking or hitting the container will also let you know if the material is shock sensitive.
• When you arrive on-scene at a fire that could possibly involve haz mats (such as a truck fire in the cargo area), don’t waste time attempting to find out what the cargo is. Instead, just go ahead and put the “wet stuff on the red stuff.”
• For fires that involve flammable liquids, use any kind of foam available. You don’t have time to figure out if the fuel is a “hydrocarbon” or a “polar solvent.”
• If you respond to a serious accident that involves a box truck hauling haz mats, don’t worry about a leak from the contents. Just have the wrecker driver hook up to the vehicle—or, better yet, have him open the cargo doors to check for a leak.
• Don’t worry about incidents involving garbage trucks, such as accidents and fires, since they don’t present any special hazards. Remember that people never throw dangerous chemicals or used medical “sharps” in their household trash.
• Remember that getting your turnout gear contaminated with dangerous chemicals is not a problem. You can always clean these items later.
• If you are exposed to a haz mat during an incident, don’t waste time documenting your exposure. Your employer will just ignore you, and if you should develop cancer in 20 years, it would probably be because of your personal lifestyle, anyway.

If any of these suggestions sound frightening, they are! Yet, since most first-in units are not dispatched to “haz-mat incidents” but instead to events such as “fires,” “vehicle accidents,” and “EMS calls,” first responders may not always recognize the potential dangers posed by chemical exposure. This could have deadly consequences! Therefore, first responders should always do the following:

• Stay alert!
• Never assume that any response is “just a routine incident.”
• Look for clues that may indicate the involvement of haz mats.
• Keep a copy of the latest Emergency Response Guidebook in every emergency response vehicle in your organization, and know how to use it before you need it!
• Ask for help when confronted with a suspicious incident.
• Identify representatives from local, state, and federal agencies as well as private organizations and industry that may be available to offer assistance during an emergency; meet with them, if possible, before an incident; and remember to find out how you can contact them when you need them at 3 a.m.
• Attend at least First Responder Awareness Level training that complies with the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, or the latest edition of NFPA 472, Standard on Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents—1997.
• Remember that what you do during a haz-mat incident is just as important as what you don’t do.

STEVEN M. DE LISI, an assistant chief with the Virginia Air National Guard Fire and Rescue in Henrico County, is a 22-year veteran of the fire service. He has served as a company officer with the Newport News (VA) Fire Department and as a regional training manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. He is a certified hazardous materials specialist and previously served with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in the Technological Hazards Division. De Lisi has an associate’s degree in police science and a bachelor’s degree in governmental administration and is pursuing a master’s degree in public safety leadership.