HAZ-MAT NOTEBOOK
VOLUNTEERS CORNER
The complexity of a hazardousmaterials incident may require making several important decisions in a short period of time. Think back to the last haz-mat incident to which your department responded: Were you organized and prepared to face the challenges presented?
As a volunteer department, the Frankfort (II.) lire Department could not be assured that a member with the combination of proper training (at minimum, operations level as per OSHA 1910.120 and NFPA 472) and practical, working knowledge of hazardous materials could be first on the scene of a haz-mat incident. Thus, we looked for ways to simplify whatever we could to enable members to make sound decisions at the onset and during the course of a haz.-mat incident. One way to simplify the job is the 1 lazardous-Materials Notebook.
NOTEBOOK CONTENTS
The notebook is a yellow, threering binder we keep in the cab of each first-due apparatus responding to a haz-mat incident. We also keep one copy in the communications center of each fire station. We chose the color yellow to coincide with our colorcoding system for other reference material on the vehicles (mapbooks are red. preplans are blue, mutual-aid listings are gray, etc.).
Inside the cover is a sticker showing a truck placarding chart as per DOT regulations for the transporting of hazardous materials. Since placards are one of the first clues to chemical identification when trucks and rail tankers are involved in a haz-mat incident, we put this chart at the beginning of the notebook.
The first page of the notebook is a sheet explaining how to use the notebook at an incident. It is in a transparent. plastic, three-hole protective cover.
The second page lists our standard operating procedures for dealing with a haz-mat incident (see chart on page 14). It is in an easy-to-read flowchart format. It also is enclosed in a plasticprotective cover.
The first section of the notebook contains a gas-tracking data reference sheet. It lists the gases our detector finds and gives their explosive ranges.
The second section has two CHEMTREC sheets: one for information CHEMTREC will request from us and one for information CHEMTREC will give us. These sheets are back-to-back on the same page to reduce the chance of misplacing one of them.
The third section contains a hazardous-materials exposure log. This form is to be completed for all personnel actually handling the chemical. Once the incident is mitigated, a copy of the sheet is placed in each individual’s personnel file. The original is attached to the incident report.
The fourth section contains a hazmat incident telephone directory. Hie directory is divided into several sections: chemical information, cleanup materials, cleanup services, construction equipment, disease control, evacuation, pipeline companies, radiation assistance, railroads, and utilities. It is a quick reference guide for requesting additional resources. We call each entry once a year to verify the contact information. It is important to list both day and night telephone numbers where possible.
Next is a letter stating Frankfort’s policy and degree of involvement during a hazardous chemical spill or leak (see box on page 15). This letter, which explains the actions we havetaken and the actions we expect in return, is presented to the spiller. On the back of the letter is a list of cleanup contractors and their specialties, should the spiller need such services.
The fifth section includes a series of diagrams of various types of chemical truck tankers. On each diagram, parts of the trailers where leaks could occur—valves, vents, lines, etc.—are highlighted in yellow for easy reference.
The sixth section contains two sheets dealing with foam data. One has data stating how much foam is required for flammable liquid fires of various sizes. T he other lists formulas for calculating the amount of foam needed and for identifying the limiting factors in an incident requiring foam application.
LETTER TO THE SPILLER
To Whom It May Concern:
A release of a hazardous material has occurred from a container within your charge. This sheet is to assist you in spill reporting and cleanup procedures.
Under federal law, you may be required to report this spill/release to one or more of the following:
- United States Environmental Protection Agency 1-800-424-9346
- United States National Response Center 1-800-424-8802 (24 hours)
- State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 1-217-555-1212
- Will County Public Health Department 555-1212
Failure to report a spill when required could result in fines up to SI 0,000.
Although the Frankfort Fire Department is prohibited from recommending any private vendors or services, hazardous materials cleanup contractors known to operate near the Frankfort Fire Protection District arc listed on the back of this letter.
Due to the hazardous nature of your spill, the Frankfort Fire Department may be obligated to stand by until the situation has been stabilized. However, if an unreasonable amount of time is spent between the time the spill occurred and a cleanup firm is contacted, the Frankfort Fire Department also may bill the spiller for standby fees, as this detracts from the fire protection service to the residents of the Frankfort Fire Protection District, at a charge of S25 per hour per vehicle and S10 per hour per firefighter responding. An additional charge may be levied to reimburse the district for extraordinary expense of materials used. This is in accordance with the Illinois Revised Statutes (1987) for nonresidents of a fire protection district.
If information or reports are needed at a later date concerning this matter or fire department actions, please call (815) 469-1700, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The seventh section contains an inventory listing the equipment available on our haz-mat vehicles. Equipment is listed alphabetically and also according to its location in cabinets on the vehicles. The quantities available are listed as well.
The last section consists of hazardous materials data sheets for a variety of chemicals. The sheets are alphabetized and color-coded according to the DOT’S hazard classifications.
Although it is easy to use, the Hazardous-Materials Notebook requires periodic practice for members to use it to its full potential: Only if members are familiar with it will they save valuable time in making decisions, requesting aid, and minimizing the effects of a haz-mat incident. Since the notebook is in a three-ring binder, we can add, delete, and change information easily. We have found it to be a most useful tool.
