RESPONSE
When responding to a HazMat release incident, where do we start? Dusty Kitzmiller and Phil Salinas have a plan
be developed in the operations section. These objectives must apply to both response and public protection.
STEP 4 Select PPE and Equipment
Based on the knowledge of hazardous materials known or suspected to be involved in the incident, or the chemical and physical characteristics of such products, PPE should be selected to best protect personnel while allowing them to accomplish incident objectives and tactics. Secondly, equipment for detection, identifi cation and containment is selected to implement incident objectives.
STEP 5 Information Management and Resource Coordination
The next step overlaps with 1, 2, and 4 and estab- lishes formal communications to share information, support the chain of command, and ensure unity of command while identifying and requesting appropriate resources needed to accomplish the incident objectives.
STEP 6 Implement Response Objectives
At this point the objectives are implemented and their evaluation should be ongoing to ensure that response activities are successful and that new strategies could be developed.
STEP 7 Decon and Clean-up Operations
Objectives and tactics should include emergency and technical decontamination for responders and gross and mass decontamination for victims, depending on the specifi cs of the incident. It is also important to consider decontamination of response equipment and the proper disposal of materials from the decontamination process. Looking further at strategies and objectives for
public protective actions, there are many options during a HazMat/CBRN release. Typically, the ERG determines downwind hazard plume predictions or
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2012 Emergency Response Guide for North America. Provides a quick reference for initial responders to potential or known HazMat / CBRN incidents
protective action zone (PAZ). The initial option for the PAZ is evacuation. The second option is to shelter in place (SIP). But, how are these decisions made? Some ICs
prefer evacuation of downwind public while others prefer SIP. The truth is there are many incident- specifi c considerations which could potentially save or endanger tens to thousands of members of the public. Can structures keep the product vapour out? How long is the potential plume hazard? How vulnerable is the populace aff ected? How well can we warn and notify them? How well can we enforce evacuation or SIP? The potential risk in evacuating people into a
possible plume of toxic or noxious fumes - based on the amount, weather eff ects on the product, and the distance and concentration of product at those distances - must all come into play when weighing these decisions. The Command and General staff must also consider the mobility of evacuees to include non-ambulatory civilians such as nursing home and day care patients. Other decisions must be made to protect victims. These can include rescue vs. recovery. With these victim protection decisions, additional decisions must be made to protect responders while expedit- ing protective actions. PPE considerations would include bunker gear vs. chemical protective clothing, APR/PAPR (Air-Purifying Respirator/ Powered Air-Purifying Respirator) vs. self-contained breathing apparatus/supplied air respirators SCBA/ SAR. These decisions will be made based on intelligence gathered in steps 3 and 4.
STEP 8 Terminate the Incident
While making decisions for rescue, decon and immediate downwind public protective actions, we must also look at off ensive measures such as plugging, sealing and chemical neutralization, and defensive measures - fogging, damming, diking, diverting, and other containment/control options. In the end, the number one Priority in any response must be Life Safety – that is, 1 Responder Life Safety, 2 Victim Life Safety, 3 Public Life Safety.
Dusty G. Kitzmiller is Chief Operating Offi cer and Sr. Preparedness Consultant for Hazard & Homeland Security (HHSCG), LLC, which advises on HazMat and CBRN response planning, training and exercises. Phil Salinas is a Programs Manager with the Michigan State Police Emer- gency Management and Homeland Security Training Center and is Lead Hazmat Instructor with HazMat Solutions.
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