HAZMAT Incident Safety Officer

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

I am curious to know if anyone has any experience as a HAZMAT incident safety officer that they are able to share. On Wednesday, as part of a HAZMAT class exercise I was appointed as the Safety Officer for a HAZMAT incident involving a TDSF. I have read the NFPA 472 standard on HM Incident SO's but I would like to know if there is any advice or tips that could be shared.

Since this is a class of students and not a professional drill, obviously things will not be perfect but I am curious to know what hazards I should be aware of, what some of the common injuries are, what are some of the actions of SO's have taken during these events. I am considering using some of ICS paper work that I was given during my ICS 300 class (thanks chris) and I would like to know if people think that would help. I.E. operations wont proceed until a 201, 202, 203, 204 are completed and distributed.

[Guest MahopacFF101]

On Wednesday, as part of a HAZMAT class exercise I was appointed as the Safety Officer for a HAZMAT incident involving a TDSF.

Sometimes i feel a little stupid cause I can't remember all the acronyms. What's a "TDSF"?

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Sometimes i feel a little stupid cause I can't remember all the acronyms. What's a "TDSF"?

TDSF or more correctly TSDF is a treatment, storage and disposal facility of hazardous waste under RCRA or the Resource Conservation and Recovery with standards contained in 40CFR.260-265.

[firemoose827 324]

TDSF or more correctly TSDF is a treatment, storage and disposal facility of hazardous waste under RCRA or the Resource Conservation and Recovery with standards contained in 40CFR.260-265.

I have been a Haz-Mat Tech for some time now and never heard that before.

Maybe start by the age old method of "K.I.S.S" and drop some of the un needed acronyms so no one operating the scene becomes confused. Keep the terminology simple and universal, too many people use too many acronyms when they are not needed. Communicate well with the IC and give reports on the scene, the crews, and the support. Make sure everyone has full PPE when in the area, keep all un-necessary personnel out of the warm and cold zones, only entry teams. Make sure no entry member goes in more than twice without full EMS work-up and rehab. Always have a backup team ready and partially dressed in suits ready to respond if something happens.

Hydrate the crews often. Monitor for de-hydration and fatigue. Monitor the air readings in the cold zone frequently to insure the incident hasnt spread.

Just a few thoughts, hope they help. Its been a while since I was at a decent Haz-Mat drill or event so Im a little rusty.

STay Safe.

[tonyc856 16]

My full time job is safety. One of the very first thing you need to day (and this is under the OSHA Standard) is do a site safety plan. It will involved how you will need to work with Incident Comand on what is their action plan, need to do a site map showing your zones and how you are going to do DECON, what PPE is required and so on. Remember OSHA can ask for this plan.

I would make sure you had enough ambulances available and rehab set up.

Here is what the site safety plan needs to contain under OSHA

1910.120(b(4)(ii)

Elements.

The site safety and health plan, as a minimum, shall address the following:

1910.120(b(4)(ii)(A)

A safety and health risk or hazard analysis for each site task and operation found in the workplan.

1910.120(b(4)(ii)(

Employee training assignments to assure compliance with paragraph (e) of this section.

1910.120((4)(ii)©

Personal protective equipment to be used by employees for each of the site tasks and operations being conducted as required by the personal protective equipment program in paragraph (g)(5) of this section.

1910.120((4)(ii)(D)

Medical surveillance requirements in accordance with the program in paragraph (f) of this section.

1910.120((4)(ii)(E)

Frequency and types of air monitoring, personnel monitoring, and environmental sampling techniques and instrumentation to be used, including methods of maintenance and calibration of monitoring and sampling equipment to be used.

1910.120((4)(ii)(F)

Site control measures in accordance with the site control program required in paragraph (d) of this section.

1910.120((4)(ii)(G)

Decontamination procedures in accordance with paragraph (k) of this section.

1910.120((4)(ii)(H)

An emergency response plan meeting the requirements of paragraph (l) of this section for safe and effective responses to emergencies, including the necessary PPE and other equipment.

1910.120((4)(ii)(I)

Confined space entry procedures.

1910.120((4)(ii)(J)

A spill containment program meeting the requirements of paragraph (j) of this section.

1910.120(b(4)(iii)

Pre-entry briefing.

The site specific safety and health plan shall provide for pre-entry briefings to be held prior to initiating any site activity, and at such other times as necessary to ensure that employees are apprised of the site safety and health plan and that this plan is being followed. The information and data obtained from site characterization and analysis work required in paragraph © of this section shall be used to prepare and update the site safety and health plan.

<a name="1910.120((4)(iv)">1910.120((4)(iv)

Effectiveness of site safety and health plan.

Inspections shall be conducted by the site safety and health supervisor or, in the absence of that individual, another individual who is knowledgeable in occupational safety and health, acting on behalf of the employer as necessary to determine the effectiveness of the site safety and health plan. Any deficiencies in the effectiveness of the site safety and health plan shall be corrected by the employer.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Thanks for all of the response so far.

@moose, I am surprised you have never heard of a TSDF, it is an EPA term coming from the joint OSHA and EPA HAZWOPER standards.

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/fac_reqs.htm

@tony, I am familiar with a Health And Safety Plan and have read the 29 CFR 1910.120 regulations.

This is not a full HAZMAT drill, this is simply a run through of the procedures regarding a hazmat incident requiring emergency response. While people will be suiting up and ICS and decon will be implemented the class is only 15 people big with an additional 2 instructors so we are somewhat limited in what we have and don't have.

I have to oversee the safety of a 2-man entry team, 6 man decon team, an IC, Planning Chief, Finance/Logs Chief, Ops Chief, Intel/Plans Chief and a Public Info Officer.

I was not sure to write a separate safety plan for each task and group as well as the incident as a whole, or to just write a safety plan for just the incident. Additionally, I am not totally sure what kind of info to include in my safety sheet, obviously the chemical hazards and alike but should slip, trip, falls be included? Weather and Environmental conditions?

Edited May 3, 2011 by SRS131EMTFF

[JohnnyOV 2]

quick google search yielded this result:

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:6tsI-8grX1EJ:www.pullman-wa.gov/Content/WYSIWYG/fire/HAZMAT-Safety%2520Officer%2520Checklist.pdf+hazmat+safety+officer+checklist&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShidGEE-FUt5KWYbDt0u7DI-mQfHRP-lhY10y5Rw5Q0db_oO6tZ3yFZhSSdDUJXpFKoKlGqsCCXYAPViDITcn_c0Fg4zYek6myjy5O8Xtj_3q4tLnd6ax0XXZvmW6nq0jpDIOTr&sig=AHIEtbSiw6oGoZ8XiX46SiZnclq52J0zQQ&pli=1

[JohnnyOV 2]

also from the San Benito County Hazmat plan:

SAN BENITO COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT RESPONSE AREA PLAN

The San Benito County Environmental Health Draft Area Plan / January 2007

4.15 Safety Officer's Checklist

Haz-Mat Alarm # ___________

Duty Position Responsibility: Safety of all Haz-Mat Team personnel.

Duty Equipment: Protective clothing, Haz-Mat Safety Officer Vest, Haz-Mat Portable Radio,

clipboard with checklist, binoculars, whistle.

Duty Checklist:

Obtain duty equipment from Haz-Mat team.

Join Haz-Mat team for situation briefing, advise Incident Commander of the risks involved.

Read Entire Duty Checklist

Identify Decontamination Team Lead and coordinate efforts and any pertinent information with him.

Identify existing and potentially hazardous risks and situations associated with the incident. (Be aware of up-dates.)

Keep all Haz-Mat Team members informed of existing and impending hazards.

Exercise emergency authority to stop and prevent unsafe actions.

Record names and protective numbers during Haz-Mat Team donning process.

Ensure that decontamination team is completely ready before Haz-Mat team entry into Hot Zone.

Ensure that all safety teams and equipment are in place (i.e., hose lines, fire extinguishers, etc.).

Ensure that all Haz-Mat entry teams and back-up team members are thoroughly safety checked prior to entry into Hot Zone.

Keep Attention on the Hazardous Materials Entry Team in the hot zone.

Monitor time in Hot Zone and breathing air used. (Allow time for decontamination process.)

Notify Haz-Mat Team Leader if additional supplies are needed.

Watch for signs of heat stress or physical exhaustion of Haz-Mat team members.

After Haz-Mat exits Hot Zone, continue to monitor their safety during the decontamination process.

When ordered by Haz-Mat team leader, secure operations.

Return completed Safety Officer Checklist, forms, and equipment to Haz-Mat team leader.

SAN BENITO COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT RESPONSE AREA PLAN

The San Benito County Environmental Health Draft Area Plan / January 2007

4.16 Incident Safety Protocols

The following general safety protocols and procedures should be instituted and enforced at all

hazardous material incidents. Additional incident-specific policies and procedures detailing

specific safety issues and concerns will be developed by Incident Command and on-site safety

personnel.

1- Safety shall remain the primary operational objective at all hazardous materials incidents.

2- An incident Safety Officer will be designated on all declared HMIs. When necessary the Assistant Safety Officer will be assigned to monitor hazardous material operations.

3- Incident Command will ensure that a safety component to the Incident Plan is in place.

4- The designated Safety Officer shall enforce all policies, procedures, and protocols associated with maintaining incident safety.

5- The Safety Officer shall have the authority to correct unsafe conditions or halt hazardous practices anywhere at the incident.

6- Control zones will be established and maintained to control the risk of exposure to response personnel.

7- Possible sources of ignition should be eliminated whenever flammable or combustible liquids or gases are involved.

8- Operating procedures shall be reviewed by the incident Safety Officer to ensure the proper level of personal safety.

9- Tools and equipment will be used in the appropriate manner by personnel trained in their use.

10- Personnel experiencing medical difficulties or injuries will be treated by EMS personnel on scene, and transported to an acute care medical facility as deemed appropriate. The Safety Officer and Incident Command will be informed of all injuries and events of possible personnel exposure or contamination.

11- All potentially exposed casualties will be decontaminated prior to being transported to an acute care medical facility.

12- All casualties discovered within the designated HOT Zone will be considered potentially contaminated, requiring decontamination, until evaluation proves otherwise.

13- All personnel entering or conducting operations within designated HOT or WARM zones shall be outfitted in the appropriate level of Personal Protective Equipment.

14- Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) will be identified for all personnel entering or conducting operations within the designate HOT or WARM zones. Entry and decontamination

personnel shall be monitored as to levels of exposure. Exposure levels will be monitored and recorded.

15- All protective clothing and equipment will be inspected and tested for operability prior to and following use. A Standby Team will remain in the WARM Zone, suited-up and ready to respond anytime the primary Entry Team has accessed the designated HOT Zone.

16- Only trained hazardous material technicians or specialists will be permitted to access contaminated zones or to operate specialized response equipment or monitoring instrumentation.

17- Medical personnel will be informed of the level of potential exposure involving all casualties and injured persons.

18- Contaminated equipment, clothing, and materials will be properly decontaminated or package for safe disposal.

19- Response and support vehicles will be positioned at the scene to afford unobstructed mobility in the event rapid egress or evacuation is required.

20- No food or beverages will be permitted or consumed within either the designated HOT or WARM control zones.

21- Personnel rehabilitation facilities will be established and services provided to all reasons personnel at the scene. Special Attention will be given to rehydration and rest opportunities.

22- All private contractors, non-public safety reasons clean-up personnel will be made aware and required to adhere to established incident safety protocols.

SAN BENITO COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT RESPONSE AREA PLAN

The San Benito County Environmental Health Draft Area Plan / January 2007

49

4.17 Safety Officer’s Log Sheet

I. Location: ___________________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________

II. Contaminants:

______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________

III. Haz-Mat Members:

NAME | SUIT # | "TASK" | AIR RECORD:

ON ENTRY | DECON | OFF

*NOTE: List “Task” above as ENTRY, BACKUP, RELIEF, etc.

IV. Remarks (significant occurrences and times):

Edited May 3, 2011 by JohnnyOV