HAZARDOUS MATERIAL EXPOSURELEARNING OBJECTIVE:Recognizeh a z a rd o u s m a t e r i a l p e r s o n a l s a f e t yg u i d e l i n e s a n d h a z a rd o u s m a t e r i a linformation sources.Hazardous materials are substances with thepotential of harming people or the environment.Hazardous materials can be gaseous, liquid, or solid,and can include chemical or radioactive materials.(Radiological exposure will be covered in depth inchapter 8 of this manual. Radioactive materials areregulated by specific instructions/directives.) Themost common substances involved in incidents ofhazardous material (HAZMAT) exposure are volatileorganic compounds, pesticides, ammonia, chlorine,petroleum products, and acids.Your initial action at the scene of a hazardousmaterials incident must be to assess the situation, sinceyour safety—as well as that of the public and anypatients—is of primary concern. You must firstdetermine the nature of the HAZMAT, then establish asafety zone. Only after these things have beenaccomplished can a victim who has been exposed tohazardous materials be rescued, transported to anappropriate facility, and properly decontaminated.The Department of Transportation (DOT)publication, Emergency Response Guidebook (ERGseries, published every four years), RSPA P5800.8, is auseful tool for first responders during the initial phaseof a hazardous materials/dangerous goods incident.ERG series addresses labeling, identification, toxicity,safety/contamination zones, and decontaminationprocedures.IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALLPERSONNEL INVOLVED WITH HAZMATINCIDENT RESPONSE BE FAMILIAR WITHTHIS PUBLICATION.It is also available on theInternet at http://hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm.DETERMINING THE NATURE OF THEHAZARDOUS MATERIALWhen an incident involving the exposure ofhazardous material occurs, it is of prime importance toany rescue operation to determine the nature of thesubstance(s) involved. All facilities that produceHAZMAT are required by law to prominently displaythis information, as is any vehicle transporting it. Anycarton or box containing such material must also beproperly labeled. The name of the substance may alsobe displayed, along with a required four-digitidentification number (sometimes preceded by theletters UN or NA).The various kinds of hazardous materials usuallyhave different labels to assist in their identification.These are generally diamond-shaped signs that havespecific colors to identify the type of HAZMATinvolved. Table 5-7 provides a list of the Departmentof Transportation (DOT)-mandated classifications ofhazardous materials.The ERG series provides a list of hazardousmaterials and appropriate emergency response actions.The Guidebook is primarily a tool to enable firstresponders to quickly identify the specific or genericclassification of the material(s) involved in theincident, and to protect themselves and the generalpublic during the initial phase of the incident.SAFETY GUIDELINESYour first objective should be to try to read thelabels and identification numbers FROM ADISTANCE. If necessary, use binoculars. DO NOTgo into the area unless you are absolutely certain thathas been no hazardous spill. Relay any and allinformation available to your dispatch center where itcan be used to identify the HAZMAT.Once the HAZMAT has been identified, it can beclassified as to the danger it presents (i.e., toxicitylevel). Based on this classification, the appropriatespecialized equipment (known as personal protectiveequipment, or PPE) can be determined to provideadequate protection (i.e., protection level) from5-22HAZMAT Type Label DescriptionExplosivessolid orange colorNonflammable gases solid green colorFlammable liquids solid red colorFlammable solids white and red stripesOxidizers & peroxides solid yellow colorPoisons & biohazards solid white colorRadioactive materials half white/half yellow with blackradiation symbolCorrosives half white/half blackOther usually whiteTable 5-7.—Hazardous Materials Warning Labels
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