HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Question 1

Expand the Acronym – SISIACMR

Answer 1

• S: SAFE APPROACH
• I: INCIDENT COMMAND
• S: SCENE SECURITY
• I: IDENTIFY HAZMAT
• A: ASSESS POTENTIAL HARM AND MINIMISE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
• C: CALL IN RESOURCES
• M: MONITOR
• R: RENDER SAFE AND DECONTAMINATE

Question 2

List and define the three zone systems as outlined in SOGs Scene Security.

Answer 2

• HOT ZONE: (MIN 30m) where no personnel enter until a DRA determines appropriate actions and level of PPE
• WARM ZONE: (MIN 20m) where FRNSW conducts its operations
• COLD ZONE: where the Incident Control Point and support agencies are located and where the Police implement overall site control

Question 3

Hazardous chemical (Hazchem) emergency action codes provide information for the fire brigade and police on how to deal with a fire or spillage. What does the 3-digit code give basic information on?

Answer 3

1. FIRE FIGHTING MEDIUM: Jets, Fog, Foam, Dry Agent
2. Refers to the volatility of the substance and the PPE/PPC required.
   A. Will it react violently (P, S, W, Y)
   B. What level of Personal Protection is required
   C. Is spillage to be diluted or contained.
3. CONSIDER EVACUATION: Only appears if likely to spread, violent explosion, etc

Question 4

In relation to toxic chemicals, what are the four main types of military warfare agents?

Answer 4

• Blood
• Blister
• Choking
• Nerve

Question 5

Describe the term Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL).

Answer 5

• The short term exposure limit (STEL) is the maximum concentration of a substance to which a worker may be exposed for no more than 15 minutes, 4 times a day over an 8 hour day with 60 minutes between exposures.

Question 6

According to SOGs -You respond to a building fire and the contaminated run-off/pollutant is impacting a canal that runs into a creek. Which agencies are you required to notify?

Answer 6

• Environment Protection Agency

Question 7

According to Firefighters Training Manual - The numbers relayed back from FireCOM for the Hazmat Action Guide (HAG) sheet are used to determine PPE, form, hazards, effect with water, action, firefighting, and personnel decontamination. TX at the end of the transmission means there is text. What does the text usually refer to?

Answer 7

• TX or text usually relates to Additional Personal Protection (APP)

Question 8

According to SOGs - Decontamination is the process of removing contaminants from people and equipment to prevent further injury and reduce the spread of the contaminant. What are the three ways decontamination can be implemented.

Answer 8

1. STANDARD DECONTAMINATION: implemented where there is no life at risk
2. EMERGENCY DECONTAMINATION: implemented where there is a life at risk (a person is rescued from the Hot Zone), or an immediate response is required due to an accidental contamination.
3. MASS DECONTAMINATION: implemented in an unexpected and dangerous situation which must be dealt with immediately where a group of people are contaminated

Question 9

According to SOGs, what is the definition of decontamination?

Answer 9

• Decontamination is the process of removing contaminants from people and equipment to prevent further injury and reduce the spread of the contaminant.

Question 10

According to SOGs, there are five members of a decontamination team. Name all members.

Answer 10

• DECONTAMINATION OFFICER: establishes corridor, manages team, debriefs crews & provides update to IC
• WASH OPERATOR: Manages dirty area, directs, inspects & decontaminates people, manages extension airline for crews
• WASH ASSISTANT: Assists and relives WO, monitors auxiliary air and directs decontaminated people to disrobe area
• DISROBE ASSISTANT: Manages disrobe area, assists with removal of PPE, bags and tags, provides water for rehydration
• PUMP OPERATOR: Manages pump, ensures water supply, provides BACO for decon team

Question 11

According to Work Instruction- “Bagging contaminated gear” What equipment is required for bagging contaminated gear (not PPC) at an incident to minimise the risk presented by hazardous contaminants during storage or transport?

Answer 11

• The following equipment is required to bag contaminated gear:
  o The appropriate bag for the type of containment
   Asbestos containment bags where asbestos is a suspected containment
   Yellow clinical waste bags for waste produced from providing first aid
   Clear contaminated gear bags for other contaminants, including smoke
  o Cable ties or strong tape to seal the bags
  o A contaminated equipment tag to attach to the bag with relevant details

Question 12

According to the clean firefighter policy describe onsite decontamination.

Answer 12

• Onsite decontamination occurs as people and equipment leave the Hot Zone to recycle, when entering rehabilitation, or when leaving an incident. All people and equipment that have been in the Hot Zone are considered to have been exposed to contaminants and require decontamination.

Question 13

According to the infection prevention and control manual - An infection occurs when another organism enters your body and causes disease. There are six main transmission routes, list four.

Answer 13

1. Direct contact transmission with blood or body substances
2. Indirect contact transmission
3. Droplet transmission
4. Airborne transmission
5. Gastrointestinal transmission
6. Vector borne (Zoonotic) transmission

Question 14

According to SOGs When dealing with radiological incidents, the first priority is to minimise the exposure to radiation while rendering the incident safe. What are the main considerations for protecting people at radiological incidents?

Answer 14

• TIME: minimise the duration of exposure
• DISTANCE: maximise the distance from the radiological source
• SHIELDING: maximise shielding between the radiological source and people

Question 15

According to SOGs - What are three types of radiation

Answer 15

1. Alpha (ionising): Positive electric charge, resulting in increased hazard (emitted by uranium and radium). Won’t penetrate surface of the skin, but will be caught in PPE and dry clothing. Most are stopped by a sheet of paper.
2. Beta (ionising): electrons or positrons emitted by radioactive nuclei. More penetrating than alpha particles and can penetrate to lower levels of the skin (tritium – fallout from nuclear explosion). Most beta particles are stopped by PPE and dry clothing.
3. Gamma & X-Ray (electromagnetic): penetrate and pass through the human body with most rays absorbed by a metre of concrete, or 30mm of lead

Question 16

According to SOGs - What is the unit of measurement for external radiation?

Answer 16

• The international system of units (SI) defines the measurement of radiation as a Sievert (Sv)
• Microsierverts per hour (Sv/h)

Question 17

According to SOGs - When an LPG container is involved in fire, what area of the container is considered most crucial and a high priority area for cooling?

Answer 17

• The container’s vapour space (area above the liquid) is most crucial and is to be considered a high priority area for cooling. Cool all containers by using sprays in preference to jets of water

Question 18

The operation (or non-operation) of the pressure relief valve on an LPG storage or transport container does not necessarily mean that a BLEVE is imminent. However, if the valve is operating on an LPG storage container that has no odorant and is labelled accordingly the internal pressure of the cylinder may be rising. According to the Firefighters Training Manual, what are the indicators of a possible BLEVE?

Answer 18

• Any increase in the noise level from the pressure relief valve; or
• Any sign of bulging or blistering on the outside of the tank or cylinder.

Question 19

According to SOGs - Materials that contain asbestos are known as asbestos containing materials (ACM). If asbestos is encountered at an incident, as far as practical, employ dust suppression tactics and leave ACM in situ. Provide three examples of dust suppression tactics.

Answer 19

1. Minimise disturbance – ie restrict salvage and overhaul work
2. Keep it lightly dampened down with fog spray
3. Apply a bonding agent such as a foam blanket or coloured PVA/water mix

Question 20

Materials that contain asbestos are known as asbestos containing materials (ACM). There are generally two categories of ACM name and describe them.

Answer 20

• ACM may be either friable or non-friable:
  o FRIABLE: Any ACM that is in powder form, or that can be crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.
  o NON-FRIABLE: Any ACM that is not friable, including materials containing asbestos fibres reinforced with a bonding compound. (Non-friable ACM that has been reduced to powder by fire or severe impact will become friable.)

Question 21

According to SOGs - The risk of developing asbestos related disease depends on many factors. List three factors.

Answer 21

• CONCENTRATION OF EXPOSURE: Greater quantities of inhaled fibres will increase the likelihood of developing disease
• DURATION OF EXPOSURE: the longer the duration you are exposed, the greater the likelihood of developing disease
• FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS: the types of fibres inhaled have an effect on the likelihood of developing disease. Shorter, straights fibres are more likely to be breathed deeper into the lungs
• OTHER EXPOSURES: exposure to other hazardous materials may compound the likelihood of developing disease. For instance, people who have smoked have a much greater likelihood of developing an asbestos-related disease.

Question 22

Fumigation is a process of applying a pesticide chemical to a sealed area for a period, generally to treat insects or other vermin. The pesticide is applied in gas form (or a state that produces a gas) to the area. According to SOGs if a firefighter is exposed to chemicals at a fumigation what actions need to be taken on arrival back at station?

Answer 22

1. Have the FF shower and dress in clean clothing
2. Record the exposure in the Occurrence Book and in the eAIRS report
3. Ensure that Notification of Injury, Illness, Exposure or Near-Miss (NIIENM) form is completed.

Question 23

According to STP - What are the 3 Golden rules to follow when applying foam?

Answer 23

• Do not start to apply foam unless you have enough to extinguish the fire or cover the fuel spill
• Point branch away from fire until good finished foam is being produced
• You cannot mix different foam concentrates

Question 24

According to STP - List 3 hazards/considerations when using CAFS at a structure fire.

Answer 24

1. CAFS hoselines have a build up of pressure when the branch is closed, this causes a larger jet reaction than a standard hose
2. SLUG FLOW: when the proportion of foam, air and water is wrong. It will cause the finished foam to “shudder” or “pulsate” as it is exiting the branch
3. Does not contain enough water for internal attack. Must never be used for an internal attack

Question 25

According to STP - List 5 actions to take when combatting a natural gas leak with no fire involved.

Answer 25

- Structural PPE and SCBA - Evacuate all persons from the immediate area - Remove all sources of ignition - Respond gas company - Only use intrinsically safe equipment - Dampen ground around the site of the gas release to prevent static electricity - Keep protection line in place using fog - If possible crimp line to stop release of gas

Question 26

According to STP - Acetylene is a very volatile gas, exploding cylinders can penetrate double brick walls or metal freight containers & land 200m away. How many hours after the cylinder is removed from the fire or heat source, if it is not cooled, can this explosion occur?

Answer 26

- The explosion can occur up to 24 hours after the cylinder is removed from the fire or heat source, if it is not cooled

Question 27

According to STP - List and describe three ways foam controls and extinguishes fire.

Answer 27

- EXCLUDING: the fire’s supply of oxygen (smothering) - SUPPRESSING: flammable vapours to stop them from igniting - COOLING: the surface temperature to prevent re-ignition

Question 28

According to STP – What are the characteristics of liquid petroleum gas?

Answer 28

1. ODOURLESS 2. COLOURLESS 3. HEAVIER THAN AIR - An odourant is usually added, this may be Ethyl mercaptan or Dimethyl sulphide (rotten egg gas) - 1.5-2 times heavier than air. It may pool in low lying areas forming pockets of gas that may explode

Question 29

According to STP - What is the term used when a liquid within a container reaches a temperature well above its boiling temperature, boils, expands and the container fails sending flammable gas outwards where it ignites.

Answer 29

- BLEVE: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion

Question 30

According to STP - What can be used to conduct a thermal check of an acetylene cylinder.

Answer 30

- Thermal Check: may give an indication that decomposition is occurring internally. If there are hot spots on the cylinder, or the cylinder is a higher temperature than surrounding objects, the cylinder is heating. o Use a THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA to conduct the thermal check every 15 minutes for 1 hour and record the results. o Alternatively, conduct a wetting test: Get a clear view of the cylinder, then spray it. Ensure the cylinder is completely wet. Stop the spray and check for signs of steam or rapid drying of the cylinder. A cool cylinder shouldn’t dry in 1-2 minutes o If the cylinder temperature rises above ambient/expected levels, recommence water cooling for at least 1 hour. Conduct a thermal check of the cylinder.