N O T E S
AWR110
(formerly WMD5)
Jim Curio, KI6FGV
Sept. 2007
Human body damage caused by HAZMAT: Contact; Absorption; Ingestion; Inhalation; Injection
HARFUL EFFECT TO HUMANS
Thermal - Frostbite, burns
Mechanical - Lacerations, blisters
Poisonous - Internal organ or body system damage
Corrosive - Tissue damage or burns
Asphyxiative - Respiratory system damage
Radiological - Genetic damage, short or long term
Etiological - Diseases
First priority is HUMAN SAFETY; and second priority is preserving the environment;
Three basic elements of the environment that are at risk from HAZMAT are;
1. Air
a. Pollutants dirty the air affecting the breathers respiratory systems;
b. others displace oxygen leading to suffocation;
c. some release toxins as they burn;
2. Water
a. HAZMAT can pollute water as it absorbs the oxygen making it toxic or poisonous; milk or alcohol can consume oxygen as they decompose killing everything in the water;
3. Soil
a. contaminated soil kills plants and trees leading to erosion and mudslides and flooding
MODULE TWO - IDENTIFICATION
NINE DOT HAZARD CLASSES
CLASS 1: EXPLOSIVES
DIVISION 1.1: (MASS EXPLOSION HAZARD) TNT, BLACK POWDER, DYNAMITE, BLASTING CAPS, NITRO
DIVISION 1.2: (NOT A EXPLOSION HAZARD, BUT A PROJECTION HAZARD) AERIAL FLARES, DETONATION CORDS, POWER DEVICE COMPONENTS
DIVISION 1.3: (NOT A EXPLOSION HAZARD, BUT MINOR BLAST OR PROJECTION HAZARD) LIDUID FUELED ROCKET MOTORS, PROPELLENT EXPLOSIVES
DIVISION 1.4: (MINOR EXPLOSION HAZARD, EXTERNAL FIRE WILL NOT CAUSE INSTANTANEOUS EXPLOSION OF THE PACKAGE) practice ammunition, signal cartridges
DIVISION 1.5: (VERY INSENSITIVE - VERY LITTLE PROBABILITY OF DETONATION FROM BURNING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS) Ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, ANFO agents, blasting agents
DIVISION 1.6: (EXTREMELY INSENSATIVE ARTICLES) Explosive squib devices
CLASS 2: GASES
DIVISION 2.1 (FLAMMABLE GAS) RED SIGNS Inhibited butadlenes, methyl chloride, propane, methane, and hydrogen
DIVISION 2.2 (NON-FLAMMABLE GAS) GREENE SIGNS Anhydrous ammonia, cryogenic argon, carbon dioxide, compressed nitrogen, neon, helium and oxygen FLAMING "Q" ON YELLOW SIGN
DIVISION 2.3 (POISONOUS GAS) WHITE SKULL AND CROSSBONES SIGN Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, arsine, chlorine, and methyl bromide
CLASS 3: FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
DIVISION 3.1 (FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS) RED SIGN WHITE FLAME Acetone, amyl acetate, gasoline, methyl alcohol and toluene
DIVISION 3.2 (COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS) RED SIGN WHITE FLAME Other materials, Mineral & peanut oils, No 6 fuel oil, pine oil and plastic solvents
CLASS 4: FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
DIVISION 4.1 (FLAMMABLE SOLIDS) MAGNESIUM, NITROCELLULOSE, Safety matches, sulphur
a. Wetted explosives are wetted with sufficient water, etc. to suppress explosive properties.
b. Self-reactive materials
c. readily combustible materials
DIVISION 4.2 (SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL) Aluminum Alkyis, charcoal briquettes, magnesium, alkyls, phosphorus
a. Pyrophoric materials are liquids or solids that CAN IGNITE after coming in contact with air after five minutes with or without an ignition source
b. Self heating materials are liable to heat themselves within five minutes of coming in contact with air, even in small quantities without an ignition source
DIVISION 4.3 (DANGEROUS WHEN WET) Calcium carbide, magnesium powder, potassium metal alloys, sodium hydride
CLASS 5: OXIDIZERS & ORGANIC PEROXIDES
DIVISION 5.1 (OXIDIZERS) Ammonium nitrate, bromine trifloride, calcium hypochlorite, chlorate, and permanganate
DIVISION 5.2 (ORGANIC PEROXIDES) Dibenzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl letone peroxide, and peroxyacetic acid
CLASS 6: POISONS
DIVISION 6.1 (POISIONOUS MATERIALS) Parathion, potassium arsenate, tear gas candles, xylyl bromide, and hydro cyanic acid
DIVISION 6.2 (INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES) Anthrax, botulism, rabies, tetanus, and polio virus
CLASS 7 RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS Cobalt, uranium and plutonium
CLASS 8 CORROSIVES nitric acid, phosphorus trichloride, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and ammonium hydroxide
CLASS 9 MISC. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL Adipic acid, PCBs, molten sulfur, hazardous waste, dry ice, asbestos, and internal combustion engines
DIVISION 9.1 MISC DANGEROUS GOODS (Canada)
DIVISION 9.2 ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
DIVISION 9.3 DANGEROUS WASTES
MIXED LOADS -- The "Dangerous" placard is used with mixed loads which are loads of 2,200 pounds or less that contain hazardous materials and do not meet the quantity requirement for their hazard class or division. Mixed loads could have several classes/divisions or products except:
1.1 - 1.3 EXPLOSIVES
2.3 POSION GAS
4.3 DANGEROUS WHEN WET
5.2 ORGANIC PEROXIDE
6.1 POSION INHALATION HAZARD
7 RADIOACTIVE
OTHER DOT INDICATORS, ORM-D, MARINE, ELEVATED TEMPERATURE
OTHER REGULATED MATERIAL (ORM-D) A material that presents a limited hazard during transportation due to its form, quantity or packaging - Consumer commodities, small arms ammunition and furniture polish.
WMD REVIEW
Title 18 of the United States Code Section 2332a defines a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) as:
Any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title (which reads) any explosive, incendiary or poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge or more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or device similar to the above;
Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury thru the release, dissemination or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors;
Any weapon involving disease organism;
Any weapon that is designed to release radiation at a level dangerous to human life
CONTAINER SHAPES AND MATERIALS
CYLINDERS -
CLASS 2: COMPRESSED GAS
HIGH PRESSURE TRAILERS AND RAILCARS - Pressure tank vessels and characterized by rounded ends, MC-331 pressure cargo tank trailers are characterized by rounded ends
TUBE TRAILERS - Compressed gas/tube trailers contain several individual cylinders that are plainly visible from the side. There is usually a control station at the rear of the car.
CRYOGENIC CONTAINERS have a "thermos bottle" design in that they contain a tank within a tank MC-338. They are characterized by an absence of top fittings on most containers, a visible compartment at back, and ends that are dished, not rounded.
CLASS 3: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS are transported in drums, barrels, jerry cans, railcars and MC-306 flammable liquid tank cars.
TANK TRAILERS - are characterized by oval ends, spill rails along the top, and fittings visible at the bottom of the tank when viewed from the side. Flammable liquid vessel are also known as non- or low-pressure tanks.
CLASS 7: RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS - There are two types of radioactive material containers; protective overpacks and casks.
PROTECTIVE OVERPACKS - are characterized by cylindrical or boxlike configurations
CASKS - are characterized by rigid metal packaging up to 50 feet long and are made up of reinforcing rings and cooling fins.
CLASS 8: CORROSIVES are transported in carboys and corrosive liquid tanks MC-312
CARBOYS are glass or plastic bottles that may be encased in polystyrene or a protective wooden box.
CORROSIVE LIQUID TANK TRUCKS - is a long thin (usually no larger than 6 feet across) tank with stiffener rings and a working platform on top.
DRY BULK - here are two types of bulk cargo tanks, BOTH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY "V-SHAPED" BOTTOM STRUCTURES
PNEUMATIC HOPPER TRAILER -
PNEUMATICALLY UNLOADED HOPPER CAR
ADDITIONAL CONTAINER MARKINGS Placards, labels and orange panels are visual aids to ID HAZMAT.
UNITED NATIONS CLASS NUMBERS (UN ID) are four digit numbers that identify all chemicals and can be found in the ERG.
FIXED FACILITIES & TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS use marking systems that include placards, numbers, colors and symbols.
NFPA 704 MARKING SYSTEM is based on the NFPA 704 Diamond and is the system for identifying HZAMAT with facilities.
COLORS AND THEIR MEANINGS
HEALTH: BLUE
FLAMMABILITY: RED
REACTIVITY: YELLOW
SPECIAL NOTICE: WHITE
OX
AVOID USE OF WATER
NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANING
BLUE DIAMOND conveys HEALTH hazard information:
0 = NO HAZARD
1 = CAN CAUSE IRRITATION IF NOT TREATED
2 = CAN CAUSE INJURY; REQUIRES PROMPT TREATMENT
3 = CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DESPITE MEDIC AL TREATMENT
4 = CAN CAUSE DEATH OR MAJOR INJURY DESPITE MEDICAL TREATMENT
RED DIAMOND conveys FLAMMABILITY hazard information
0 = NO HAZARD
1 = IGNITES AFTER CONSIDERABLE HEATING
2 = IGNITES IF MODERATELY HEATED
3 = CAN BE IGNITED AT ALL NORMAL TEMPERATURES
4 = VERY FLAMMABLE GASES OR VERY VOLATILE FLAMMABLE LIQUID
WHITE DIAMOND is for SPECIAL hazard info:
W (with a strikethrough) = DENOTES THE MATERIAL IS WATER REACTIVE
OX = DENOTES AN OXIDIZING AGENT
YELLOW DIAMOND conveys REACTIVITY hazard
0 = NORMALLY STABLE, NOT REACTIVE WITH WATER
1 = NORMALLY STABLE, UNSTABLE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURE, REACTIVE WITH WATER
2 = NORMALLY UNSTABLE BUT WILL NOT DETONATE
3 = CAN DETONATE OR EXPLODE BUT REQUIRES STRONG INITIATING FORCE OR HEATING UNDER CONFINEMENT
4 = READILY DETONATES OR EXPLODES
MILITARY MARKING - opposite to the NFPA i.e., 4 is the least severe and 1 is the most severe
RED OCAGON WITH #1- CLASS 1, DIVISION 1: Materials that present a mass detonation hazard
RED CROSS WITH #2- CLASS 1, DIVISION 2: Materials that present an explosion with fragmentation hazard
RED TRIANGLE (UPSIDE DOWN) WITH #3: CLASS 3, DIVISION 3; materials with a mass fire hazard
RED SQUARE WITH #4 = CLASS 4, DIVISION 4: Material that present a moderate fire hazard
RED MAN IN BLUE CIRCLE - SET NO. 1; highly toxic chemical agent
YELLOW MAN IN BLUE CIRCLE - SET NO. 2; harassing agents
WHITE MAN IN BLUE CIRCLE = SET NO. 3: White phosphorous munitions
NO WATER WHITE SIGN: Apply no water
WHITE MASK ON BLUE SIGN: Wear protective mask (or breathing apparatus)
MODULE THREE - INCIDENT RESPONSE
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS - Have a delayed effect ranging from several hours to days. Biological agents can be either disease-causing pathogens (bacteria, rickettsia or viruses) or toxins produced by living agents. By weight, biological agents are generally more toxic than chemical agents.
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS - Can be catorigized as PATHOGENS or TOXINS. Bacteria, rickettsia and viruses are considered pathogens because they are living organisms
EXAMPLES OF THE DISEASES CAUSED BY PATHOGENS ARE:
PLAGUE
ANTHRAX
Q-FEVER
SMALLPOX
VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS
TOXINS - Are potent poisons produced by living organisms, including animals, plants & bacteria. For example, Ricin is 10,000 times more toxic than Sarin nerve agent.
EXAMPLES OF TOXINS
MYCOTOXINS
RICIN
STAPHYLOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN B (SEB)
BOTULINUM TOXIN (BOTULISM)
BIOLOGICAL AGENT INDICATORS: Produce a wide variety of effects ranging from skin irritation or death and are often invisible, tasteless and odorless
The following clues may indicate an intentional outbreak:
Unusual numbers of sick or dying people or animals;
Signs of symptoms that are "out of season"
Disease outbreaks that are not naturally occurring in the area/region
Unscheduled and unusual spray being disseminated, especially if outdoors during nighttime
An unusually wide distribution of the disease or simultaneous outbreaks of a disease in a concentrated area.
Abandoned spray devices with no distinct odors
BIOLOGICAL AGENT DISSEMINATION
In most cases biological agents must be inhaled, injected or ingested .
pathogens can be airborne, blood-borne, waterborne or transmitted by vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, flies and fleas,
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND RADIATION DISPERSAL DEVICES (RDD)
Indicators of a possible nuclear or radiological event are:
Unexplained incidents of blistering, burns, nausea, vomiting or deaths in a geographical area
Explosions accompanied by an unusual residue
PROTECTION
Limit the time people are exposed to the radiation
Increase the distance between people and the source
Shield people from the source with materials like lead or concrete
TYPES OF INCENDIARY DEVICES
TRIGGERING METHOD
CHEMICAL REACTION
ELECTRONIC IGNITION
MECHANICAL IGNITION
DELIVERY METHOD
STATIONARY
HAND THROWN
SELF-PROPELLED
CHEMICAL AGENTS
Are generally liquid when containerized
Are normally disseminated as aerosols or as gas and thus will dissipate with time.
Are influenced by weather - temperature, wind speed, direction, humidity and air stability
NERVE AGENTS affect the ability of the nervous system to properly function, resulting in paralysis and death if left untreated
VESICANTS also known as blistering agents, cause chemical burns that result in blisters. These agents affect the wet areas of the body first, such as the groin, armpits and mucous membranes and also poison the body which can result in death.
BLOOD AGENTS displace oxygen in the bloodstream by tricking the blood into believing it has oxygen, causing the body to suffocate and die.
CHOKING AGENTS affect the respiratory system by causing severe damage to lung tissue and can cause chemical pneumonia or death by suffocation if exposed to large amounts.
INDICATORS OF A CHEMICAL INCIDENT
DEAD ANIMALS/BIRDS/FISH
LACK OF INSECT LIFE
UNEXPLAINED ODORS
UNUSUAL NUMBERS OF DYING OR SICK PEOPLE
PATTERN OF CASUALTIES - Causalities will likely be distributed downwind, or if indoors, by the air ventilation system.
BLISTERS/RASHES
UNUSUAL LIQUID DROPLETS
LOW-LYING CLOUDS/FOG
CONCENTRATIONS OF DEAD VEGETATION
UNUSUAL METAL DEBRIS
DISSEMINATION OF CHEMICAL AGENTS
CHEMICAL AGENTS ARE INFLUENCED BY CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, WHICH AFFECT THE AGENTS CONCENTRATION AND HOW IT'S DISPERSED. POUND FOR POUND, CHEMICAL AGENTS ARE A THOUSAND TIMES LESS TOXIC THAN BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.
VOLATILE AGENT - Volatility in the case indicates how rapidly an agent will evaporate. The more volatile an agent, the more rapidly it will evaporate
PERSISTENT AGENT - A persistent agent remains in the target area for relatively long periods of time, generally greater that 12 hours. Hazards from both vapor and liquid may exist for hours, days, weeks and even months in exceptional cases. Most weaponized chemical agent will be disseminated as gases or vapors and are heavier than air.
DETECTION AND PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL AGENTS
CHEMICAL AGENTS CAN BE DETECTED BY MEANS OF:
Detection papers
colormetric tubes
military detection kits
pesticide tickets
electronic meters
Blister agents affect both the respiratory tract and the skin, so full protection s required. Decontamination is basically getting the agent off the skin and flushing with water.
EXPLOSIVES
USED IN MORE THAN 70% OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS
MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING - MADE FROM COMMON AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER AND NITROMETHANE RACING FUEL.
EFFECTS OF AN EXPLOSION
BLAST
FRAGMENTATION
THERMAL ENERGY
THE ERG
DIVIDED INTO 5 COLOR CODED SECTIONS
WHITE - Misc directions, notification phone numbers, table of placards, labels, railroad and trailer identification charts
YELLOW - table of chemicals and their corresponding ERG indexed by the chemical's UN ID number
The yellow pages contain , from left to right the UN ID no. and corresponding guide number in the ERG's orange section and the material's name.
BLUE - table of chemicals and their corresponding ERG indexed by the chemical's name
If the only information you have is the chemical's name, use the BLUE section alphabetical listing to find the most commonly transported chemicals.
The first column is the chemical's name, followed by the ERG guide number followed by the UN ID no.
ORANGE - Sixty-two ERG guides that provide hazard information, info on providing public safety and other emergency response information.
Two-page format with left-hand page covering info on potential hazards, public safety actions, protective clothing.
Right-hand pages outline emergency response actions for fires, spills and leaks and field first-aid measures
GREEN - TWO SECTIONS IN ONE.
First section contains initial isolation and protective action distances for specific chemicals, listed in order of the UN ID numbers
Second section provide info on WATER-REACTIVE chemicals and the hazardous chemicals produced
The "Table of initial isolation and protective action distances" provides specific guidance for small and large spills involving materials HIGHLIGHTED on the YELLOW and BLUE pages.
Protective action distances are further broken down by daytime and night time spills.
SMALL SPILL
Leak or spill from a single small package
Small leak in a large package including a 55-gallon drum or smaller
Small cylinders
LARGE SPILL
Leak or spill from a large package
Spill from many small packages
A leak or spill from a ton cylinder, tank truck or railcar
ISOLATION AND PROTECTION
INITIAL ISOLATION ZONE - An area surrounding the incident in which persons may be exposed to dangerous (upwind) and life threatening (downwind) concentrations of the material.
An initial isolation distance is the distance within which all persons should be considered for evacuation in all directions.
PROTECTIVE ACTION ZONE - An area DOWNWIND from the incident in which persons may be safely contained.
Protective actions distances are irregular shapes and only affect areas downwind of the spill.
ISOLATION OF HAZARD AREA AND DENIAL OF ENTRY - The prevention of everyone not directly involved in the emergency response operations from entering the affected area. Unprotected emergency responders should not be allowed entry.
AWARENESS LEVEL RESPONDERS should use this table for those materials that are highlighted in YELLOW and the BLUE BORDERED PAGES, and when no more than 30 minutes have elapsed since the time the HAZARDOUS material was discovered.
DETERMINING WHICH ERG PAGE TO USE:
1. UN/NA ID NUMBER = Use the YELLOW pages to look up the 4 digit ID number found on:
PLACARDS
AN ORANGE PANEL
SHIPPING PAPERS
PACKAGING
2. NAME THE MATERIAL - Use the BLUE pages to look up material names which may be found on
SHIPPING PAPERS
PACKAGING
PLACARDS
3. PLACARDS - use the table of placards in the WHITE pages to look up placards
MSDSs & SHIPPING PAPERS - TWO IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO HELP FIRST RESPONDERS DETERMINE THE HAZARDS OF MATERIALS ARE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDSs) AND SHIPPING PAPERS.
MSDSs are shipped with the material and must also be kept in fixed facilities. There is no requirement for how that info appears, so MSDSs for the same material may look different;
GENERAL INFORMATION: Includes chemical name, trade name, manuf. name, address and emergency phone number.
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENT STATEMENT: Breaks out the active ingredients by percentage. trade secrete restrictions may sometimes minimize the amount of info available.
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL DATA: includes physical properties, boiling/melting point, vapor pressure & density, water solubility and appearance/odor.
FIRE & EXPLOSION DATA Includes control and extinguishment measures, proper extinguishing agents, UEL/LEL, flash point, auto-ignition temp., and any special fir fighting equipment needed.
SPILL OR LEA PROCEDURES Include clean-up procedures and precaution for handling/storing materials as well as waste disposal measures.
HEALTH & REACTIVITY HAZARD DATA includes toxicology info, sign and symptoms of exposure, emergency first aid procedures, chemical incompatibilities, decomposition products, etc.
SPECIAL PROTECTION INFO: Includes protective clothing and respiratory protection requirements.
SHIPPING PAPERS are transportation documents that list the hazardous materials being carried and should include the shipper's and receiver's name and address along with a list of the shipped materials;
Shipping papers also should include:
proper class or division
Hazard class or division
product identification number
Standard transportation Commodity Code (STCC) seven-digit number (only in rail)
WHERE TO FIND SHIPPING PAPERS IN AN EMERGENCY Awareness-level responder must be able to match the name of the shipping papers found in transportation with the mode of transportation, location, person responsible, and where the person responsible can be found. The STCC code indicates hazardous materials on a consist by beginning with a 48 or 49. In some cases shipping papers hazardous materials entries printed in red or identified by large print accentuating information
1. HIGHWAY
Called "Bill of Lading" or "Freight bill"
Located in the cab
Person responsible is the driver
2. RAIL
Called "Waybill" and "Consist"
Located with member of train crew
Person responsible is the conductor or engineer
3. WATER
Called "dangerous Cargo Manifest"
Located in the wheelhouse or in a tube-like container on a large
Person responsible is the captain or master
4. AIR
Called the "Air Bill"
Located in the cockpit/flight deck or attached to a package
In emergencies, can be obtained from the shipper/manufacturer or through CHEMTREC
person responsible is the pilot
RESPONSE ACTIONS
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS should be taken to accordance with the Local Emergency Response Plan (LERP) or stand operating procedures (SOP's/SOCs)
Take protective action to isolate the hazard area
Evacuate those in danger from the immediate area. To perform an evacuation there must be enough time to warn the people, get them ready to go and leave the area
if evacuation is not possible - provide in=place protection. "Shelter in place" means people should seek shelter inside a building and remain inside until the danger passes. Sheltering in place protection is used when evacuation would put them at greater risk than directing them to shelter in place.
CRIMINAL OR TERRORIST ACTIVITY
When an incident is suspected of involving criminal or terrorist activity, the responder at the awareness level will carry out the following response actions:
Communicate the suspicion during notification of the incident
isolate potentially exposed people
Document details of your observations and communicate to appropriate personnel in accordance with your SOP
NOTIFICATION
MILITARY
Fire and or police department, command post
911 or equivalent number
LOCAL COMMUNITY
911
CHEMTREC - a 24 hour emergency response communication service and can be reached at 800-424-9300
CANUTEC - is the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre operated by the Transport Dangerous Goods Directorate of Transport Canada. CANUTEC can be called at 613-996-6666
