This week we have a chemical leak at a commercial facility. What do we do?
1.) What is your first action upon entering the building to investigate?
2.) What steps would you take to identify the material? (Name 3)
3.) What affect does the quantity of material have on your decision making process? (if any)
4.) What is the difference between exposure and contamination?
5.) How long will your department be on scene for this scenario?
Isolate, evacuate, & deny entry. Only enter building to do a recon by being protected with the proper PPE, knowing your product & it’s characteristics, meters for identification, and have a reason for entering (don’t go just to go).
ID material by: MSDS, RP (responsible party), business type. Once product is ID’d use three forms of research to ID the products characteristics (IDLH, vapor pressure, flam limits, etc)
The quantity of material has a large effect on the decision because if they ID as a very small amount and it has a high vapor pressure, it could be gone. Large amounts, could produce additional hazards such as products running to other products etc.
Exposure is you came in contact (physically or by proximity) but if properly protected it may not have any effect. Decon may be, roll your suit off of you and dispose or meter the member and clear them that way.
Contamination is your exposed and need to be deconed.
On scene for as long as it takes!
Isolate, evacuate, & deny entry. If entering for a recon, know the characteristics of the product. Use the proper PPE for the product use the proper meters for atmospheric monitoring and pay attention to those meters. Have a reason for conducting the recon (have a plan) don’t go in to just go in. If the public is secured in accordance to what your dealing with, we have time.
2) MSDS, bill of lading, shipping papers, RP (resp party), business type.
Once product is identified use 3 reference sources to ID chemical physical properties of the product (IDLH, vapor pressure, vapor density, flam limits etc).
3) The quantity of material is important. If a very small amount has been spilled and it has a high vapor pressure it may be gone, on the other hand it may be a large spill which can increase the vapor production and amount, run into other products and react, or may be still leaking. Treat all spills with pessimism.
4) Exposure means you may have come in close contact of the product by proximity (perhaps even small amount may have gotten on gloves or boots etc) but you have been properly protected by PPE. Your decon may be roll your suit of and dispose and/or meter member when coming out with proper meters to clear.
Contamination means you have product that needs to be removed with a technical decon and meter member after decon is preformed.
5) As long as it takes.