Hazmat Operations:roles And Responsibility

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hazardous material

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(HazMat) is any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) capable of causing harm to people, property, and the environment. A HazMat incident involves the actual or potential release of hazardous materials.

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Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act (HMTUSA)

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instructed the Department Of Transportation (DOT) to make available grants for training public sector employees who respond to hazardous materials emergencies and to assist states in the development of improved Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plans

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Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

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enforced by federal and state agencies and containing statutes for the function of federal government.

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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

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4) known as CERCLA or SUPERFUND, it addresses hazardous substance releases into the environment and the cleanup of inactive hazardous waste sites; it also requires those who release hazardous substances, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), above certain levels (known as "reportable quantities") to notify the National Response Center

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First responders at the operations level have four main objectives when dealing with an incident:

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○ Analyze an incident
○ Plan a response
○ Implement a response
○ Evaluate the progress of the response

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OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 and EPA 40 CFR 311

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They are identical regulations mandated by SARA, which specifically addresses emergency response. Included in paragraph q are the requirements for emergency response plans, pre-emergency planning and coordination, organization of work groups using the “buddy system,” use of backup personnel, the required use of an Incident Command System (ICS), required personal protective equipment, site characterization and air monitoring requirements, assignment of a safety official, annual physicals,and the requirement for decontamination procedures.

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Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)

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(1986) As the name implies, SARA acted to amend and reauthorize the Superfund (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 [CERCLA]). A major focus of SARA was hazardous waste site cleanup; however, this act also addressed some areas previously unaddressed by CERCLA. In essence, SARA established a national baseline with regard to planning, response, management, and training for chemical emergencies.

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The various training levels of response personnel certification.

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○ First Responder at the Awareness level
○ First Responder at the Operations level
○ Hazardous Materials Technician
○ Hazardous Materials Specialist
○ On-scene Incident Commander

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National Fire Protection Association (NFAP) 471

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Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Material Incidents
It outlines the minimum operations considerations and guidelines for incidents involving haz mat. It applies to all responders and addresses terminology, communication, personal protection, and safety, incident response planning, response levels, control options, personal protective clothing, chemical protective clothing, and decontamination.

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NFPA 472

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Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Material Incident
Generated by the NFPA Technical Committee on Haz Mat. Sets the competence levels and specific knowledge that responders must have in order to safe. It classifies responders into four basic groups, and is identical to OSHA 1910.120.

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NFPA 473

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Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incident
Addresses the specific competencies needed bye EMS personnel for the management of responders and victims at hazardous materials incidents.

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First responders at the awareness level

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are individuals who are likely to witness or discover the release of a hazardous substance. Their primary function is to notify proper authorities that a release has occurred and to initiate an appropriate response. They may also establish isolation areas. They operate in a nonintervention mode at incidents.

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First responders at the operations level

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are part of the initial response to a hazardous substance release for the purpose of protecting people, property, and the environment. They function primarily in a defensive mode, without actually trying to stop the release. Their function is to to prevent exposures and contain the release from a safe distance. First responders at the operations level must have an understanding of the Incident Management System (IMS) used in their jurisdiction.

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Hazardous materials technicians

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personnel who respond to releases or potential releases in order to prevent or stop the incident

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Hazardous materials specialists

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perform activities similar to those of the technician, except the specialist's responsibilities require a greater depth of knowledge of the substances involved. The specialist acts as the liaison for federal, state, and local governmental authorities regarding site activities.

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Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant Program (HMEP)

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was developed to meet legislated responsibilities set forth in the 1990 Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act (HMTUSA). It instructed the Department Of Transportation (DOT) to make available grants for training public sector employees who respond to hazardous materials emergencies and to assist states in the development of improved Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plans.
These guidelines are intended to
○ function as a tool for state self-assessment so that courses funded comply with the curriculum,
○ support state self-determination of a national list of courses, and
○ ensure that public sector employees can safely and efficiently respond to hazardous materials emergencies.