This page shall serve as the official Standard Operating Procedures for Hazmat Operations and Certification:

Last Updated:  04/16/2023
By:   Kidd B.

Standard Operating Procedure

Purpose

• Hazardous Materials incidents encompass a wide variety of potential situations including fires, spills, transportation accidents, chemical reactions, explosions and similar events. Hazards involved may include toxicity, flammability, radiological exposure, corrosives, explosives, health, and chemical reactions or a combination of factors. This plan provides a general framework for handling a hazardous materials incident, but does not address the specific tactics or control measures for particular incidents. Every incident presents the potential for exposure to hazardous materials; even the products of combustion of an ordinary fire may present severe hazards to personnel safety. This procedure is specifically applicable to known hazardous materials incidents, but it does not reduce the need for appropriate safety precautions at every incident. The use of FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND SCBA AS WELL AS SPECIAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING and the use of all Standard Operating Procedures on a continuing basis are foundational for this plan

• All San Andreas Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures, unless superseded by a specific part of this plan, remain in effect for Hazardous Materials incidents 

Dispatch

• The Dispatch Center will attempt to obtain any and all information from the person reporting a hazardous materials incident. The information should, if possible, include material name and/or type, amount and size of container(s), problem (leak, spill, fire, etc.) and dangerous properties of the materials AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED OR EXPOSED

• Any additional information shall be relayed to responding units after dispatch. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE THE SAFEST APPROACH OR BEST ACCESS TO THE INCIDENT IF AVAILABLE 

• The Dispatch Center will dispatch the APPROPRIATE Hazardous Materials Assignment COMPANIES to all reported hazardous materials incidents. Dispatch will inform units as to the prevailing wind speed and direction from the monitoring station NEAREST THE INCIDENT and advise responding units

First Arriving Unit

• The first arriving officer will establish Command and begin a size-up. The first unit must consciously avoid committing itself to a dangerous situation. When approaching, slow down or stop to assess any visible activity taking place. Evaluate effects of wind, topography and location of the situation. Route any other responding companies away from any hazards

• Command should consider ESTABLISHING LEVEL II STAGING WHENEVER POSSIBLE FOR OTHER RESPONDING UNITS. STAGED COMPANIES MUST BE in a safe location, taking into account wind, spill flow, explosion potential and similar factors in any situation. 

• THE 'SAFD ERG GUIDEBOOK' SHOULD BE USED TO ESTABLISH A SAFE DISTANCE FOR STAGING

Size Up

• Command must make a careful size-up before making a commitment. It may be necessary to take immediate action to make a rescue or evacuate an area. This should be attempted only after a risk/benefit analysis is completed. Personnel must take advantage of available personal protective equipment in these situations. 

• The objective of the size-up is to identify the nature and severity of the immediate problem and to gather sufficient information to formulate a valid action plan. Hazardous materials incidents require a cautious and deliberate size-up. 

• Avoid premature commitment of companies and personnel to potentially hazardous locations. Proceed with caution in evaluating risks before formulating a plan and keep uncommitted companies at a safe distance. IN MANY CASES, EVALUATION BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM MEMBERS BEFORE COMMITTING IS THE SAFEST APPROACH. 

• Identify a hazardous area based on potential danger, taking into account materials involved, time of day, wind and weather conditions, location of the incident and degree of risk to unprotected personnel. Take immediate action to evacuate and/or rescue persons in critical danger, if possible, providing for safety of rescuers FIRST. 

• The primary objective is to identify the type of materials involved in a situation, and the hazards presented, before formulating a plan of action. Look for labels, markers, DOT IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, NFPA DIAMOND or shipping papers, etc. Refer to pre-fire plans, and ask personnel at the scene for additional information (plant management, responsible party, truck drivers, fire department specialist). Use reference materials carried on apparatus and have Dispatch contact other sources for assistance in sizing up the problem (state agencies, fire department specialists, manufacturers of materials, etc.)

Action Plan

• Based on the initial size-up and any information available, Command will formulate an action plan to deal with the situation. 

THE ACTION PLAN MUST PROVIDE FOR: 

1. Safety of all fire personnel

2. Evacuation of endangered area, if necessary

3. Control of situation

4. Stabilization of hazardous materials, and/or

5. Disposal or removal of hazardous material 

• Most hazardous materials are intended to be maintained in a safe condition for handling and use through confinement in a container or protective system. The emergency is usually related to the material escaping from the protective container or system and creating a hazard on the exterior. The strategic plan must include a method to control the flow or release, get the hazardous material back into a safe container, neutralize it, allow it to dissipate safely, or coordinate proper disposal. 

• The specific action plan must identify the method of hazard control and identify the resources necessary to accomplish this goal. It may be necessary to select one method over another due to the unavailability of a particular resource or to adopt a "holding action" to wait for needed equipment or supplies. 

• Avoid committing personnel and equipment prematurely or "experimenting" with techniques and tactics. Many times it is necessary to evacuate and wait for special equipment or TECHNICAL help.

• As a general policy, the Hazardous Materials Team will respond to any situation where a private contractor is required to clean-up hazardous materials. 

Control of Hazardous Area

• A hazardous material incident has two initial zones associated with the scene, similar to a fire. There are the LIMITED ACCESS ZONE and the EVACUATION ZONE.

LIMITED ACCESS ZONE (LAZ) 

• The LAZ is the area in which personnel are potentially in immediate danger from the hazardous condition. This is established by Command and controlled by the Fire Department. Access to this area will be rigidly controlled and only personnel with proper protective equipment and an assigned activity will enter. All companies will remain in tact in designated staging areas until assigned. Personnel will be assigned to monitor entry and exit of all personnel from the LAZ. The LAZ should be geographically described to all responding units, if possible and identified by yellow fireline tape. (A Lobby Control Sector will be established to control access to the LAZ and maintain an awareness of which personnel are working in the area.) 

  • Establish a safe perimeter around hazardous area and identify with Hazard Zone tape.

  • Request adequate assistance to maintain the perimeter. 

  • Identify an entrance/exit point and inform Command of its location. 

  • Coordinate with Haz Sector to identify required level of protection for personnel operating in the Hazard Zone.

  • Collect/return accountability PASSPORTS of all companies entering/leaving the controlled area.

•  Restriction of personnel access into the LAZ includes not only Fire Department personnel, but any others who may wish to enter the L. A. Zone (Police, press, employees, tow truck drivers, ambulance personnel, etc.). Command is responsible for everyone's safety.

EVACUATION ZONE (EZ) 

• The EZ is the larger area surrounding the LAZ in which a lesser degree of risk to personnel exists. All civilians would be removed from this area. The limits of this zone will be enforced by the Police Department based on distances and directions established in consultation with Command. The area to be evacuated depends on the nature and amount of the material and type of risk it presents to unprotected personnel (toxic, explosive, etc.). 

• In some cases, it is necessary to completely evacuate a radius around a site for a certain distance (i.e., potential explosion). In other cases, it may be advisable to evacuate a path downwind where toxic or flammable vapors may be carried (and control ignition sources in case of flammable vapors). 

• Reference: Evacuation Sector, Police Liaison Sector) 

• NOTE: When toxic or irritant vapors are being carried downwind, it may be most effective to, (shelter in place), keep everyone indoors with windows and doors closed to prevent contact with the material instead of evacuating the area. In these cases, companies will be assigned to patrol the area assisting citizens in shutting down ventilation systems and evacuating persons with susceptibility to respiratory problems. 

• In all cases, the responsibility for safety of all potentially endangered citizens rests with Command. Once the Hazardous Materials Sector has been established, Haz Mat personnel will define and establish a hot, warm and cold zone. These zones will remain in effect for the remainder of the incident. 

Hazmat Technician Selection:

• Rank:  Specialist +

• Approval from Command Staff

• Approval from Hazmat Lead

• Trainee is responsible for coordinating training time through the Lead

• Lead is responsible for tracking overall progress and training hours per the SOP

• Once training program minimums have been met, Lead will present candidate to Fire Chief for approval

• Candidate shall operate in this capacity until Discord role is granted by the Chief

• Command reserves the right to approve or deny any certification process and it can be removed at any time at their discretion

HAZMAT TECH Turnover Process:

Phase 1:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 REVIEW/CLASSROOM 45 min SOP Review

• SESSION 2 REVIEW/CLASSROOM 30 min Basic Equipment & Commands

• SESSION 3 REVIEW/CLASSROOM 30 min

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL SESSION 1 hour

Phase 2:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 PRACTICAL SESSION 1 hour

• SESSION 2 PRACTICAL SESSION 1 hour

• SESSION 3 PRACTICAL SESSION 2 hour

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL SESSION 2 hour

• SESSION 5 PRACTICAL SESSION 1 hour

• SESSION 6 PRACTICAL SESSION 1 hour

Phase 3:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 SCENARIO UKN

• SESSION 2 SCENARIO UKN

• SESSION 3 SCENARIO UKN

• SESSION 4 SCENARIO UKN

• 5+ hrs of ____

**Certified Hazmat Technicians will have the 'Hazmat' discord role**