HAZMAT
Members of the 32nd Civil Support Team (CST), Maryland National Guard (MDNG) training on HazMat/CBRN response with 3rd CST, Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG) with Level A suits, in summer 2000. They are pulling a wagon full of all their detection and monitoring gear.
kit forpurpose W
hile hazardous material (hazmat) responses are conducted primarily to mitigate the threat, detection and monitoring is essential to all responses, whether for a known or unknown
product. Monitoring, detection and agent identification are the basis for determining the potential health effects on victims, determining required PPE (personal protective equipment) for responder safety, the size of required hazard zones (hot, warm and cold), and for determining accurate downwind and/or public Protective Action Zones. While most responders understand this, the training and guidance
for monitoring and detection needs to be accomplished. Prioritisation of these varies greatly. This can hamper response efforts, endanger responders, and ultimately endanger the public that responders are there to protect.
Dusty G. Kitzmiller prioritises air monitoring during a hazmat response
US guidance In the US, 29CFR 1910.120 provides regulation and standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. NFPA 472 is the Standard for Hazmat Response which most teams follow. These two references provide varying levels of not-so-clear guidance and forces training providers and responders to interpret and extrapolate what really needs to be done. There are also specifics for Hazardous Waste Sites, where the various hazardous material threats should typically be known but does not address monitoring after decon. But this does not discuss initial entry prioritisation for monitoring.
So we must first look at Incident Response Priorities and Phases as they pertain to monitoring.
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL & NUCLEAR WARFARE | 2012/02 | 49
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84