FOCUS
Operational challenges
There is generic guidance that is supported by specific hazard guidance divided into three areas: physical, health and environmental. The diagram (on page 25) shows how this works. Generic hazmat guidance was published
in April 2016, and covers the generic hazards and controls when dealing with hazmat incidents. Guidance for initial operational response (IOR) to CBRNe (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence) was developed early on in the programme, in response to the political imperative. A separate piece of guidance on the special operational response to CBRNe would then follow, and when the generic hazmat guidance was later developed, it drew in much of the IOR guidance that is not specific to CBRNe. More recently, the programme was asked to
include National Resilience (NR) guidance into the guidance framework. The hazmat guidance will incorporate NR guidance on both IOR and specialist operational response (SOR) CBRNe, as well as NR guidance on mass decontamination and detection, identification and monitoring (more commonly known as DIM). In addition to developing guidance for
fire and rescue services, the project team commissioned a foundation document. It aims to provide fire and rescue service personnel with the detail required for effective, safe and proportionate hazardous material operations. At a local level, policy writers in fire and rescue services can take this document along with the
detailed guidance and produce local policies that reflect their local risk. It is all part of a risk based, technical framework produced by the programme.
Collaboration
We also want everyone to understand why we have made these changes to hazmat guidance, and that includes training providers. The training specifications that are being developed alongside the guidance will help fire and rescue services specify hazmat training that is in line with the GHS approach. I am really grateful to our non fire service
partners on this project. We have worked particularly closely with the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC). The NCEC was set up by the UK government in 1973 to provide emergency response support to incidents involving hazmat. The NCEC annual conference has been a vital part of developing the guidance, as we shared our work in progress with those most involved in its future use. The NCEC’s hazmat conferences are now
well established in the calendar as the must attend event for hazmat professionals. They draw upon the knowledge and experience of a range of hazmat professionals and industry leaders, as well as that of NCEC’s own emergency responders and experts. Given the NCEC’s long term support of the project, it will be very satisfying to confirm the
26 APRIL 2018
www.frmjournal.com
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