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Section 301.04
Personnel Safety
I. Scope:
This standard establishes guidelines for members to follow when engaged in an incident involving a hazardous material. It is designed to minimize the risk of death and injury during Hazardous Materials Incidents.
II. General:
A. The most important action to be taken, at a Hazardous Materials Incident, is to recognize that a hazardous material is present. If the potential exists, assume the worst until it can be confirmed that no danger exists.
B. The area must be secured and no one must be allowed to enter the area until the Incident Commander determines it is safe to do so. This includes roadways, streets, highways, etc.
C. Appropriate help should be summoned and the material or materials should be identified.
D. Once the problem has been identified, the Incident Commander should formulate an action plan to resolve the incident. Tactical surveys will be useful in this process. The action plan should focus on three goals:
1. Life Safety.
2. Environmental Protection.
3. Property Conservation.
E. The Incident Commander should appoint a Safety Officer early in this process. The Safety Officer must remain in constant contact with the Incident Commander and should immediately correct any unsafe conditions or practices.
III. Operations:
A. There are three recognized levels of response:
1. Level 1: The least serious and within the capabilities of the department. Evacuation, if required, will be limited to the immediate area. (e.g. Diesel or Gasoline spill)
2. Level 2: Beyond the capabilities of the department. A level 2 incident requires the services of a formal Hazardous Materials Response Team. (e.g. The rupture of a pipeline or a fire with the threat of a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion)
3. Level 3: The most serious type requiring special resources from public and private agencies. It will require a large scale evacuation and implementation of the Municipal Disaster Services Plan. (e.g. An incident that exceeds jurisdictional boundaries)
B. Operations will either be defensive or offensive.
1. Defensive operations focus on confinement without directly contacting the hazardous materials creating the problem.
2. Offensive operations focus on aggressive actions of the material, container or process, and they may result in contact with the materials. Offensive operations will not be conducted unless the Incident Commander can determine that the risk is worth the benefit.
C. Personnel will not be allowed to enter the warm zone or the hot zone without the proper level of training and personal protection.
D. Personnel will not be permitted to leave the warm zone or the hot zone without undergoing proper decontamination.
E. The Safety Officer will be responsible for monitoring members for indications of toxic exposure effects including:
1. Change in complexion, skin discolouration.
2. Lack of coordination.
3. Changes in demeanor.
4. Excessive salivation, papillary response.
5. Changes in speech pattern.
6. Headache.
7. Dizziness.
8. Blurred vision.
9. Cramps.
10. Irritation of eyes, skin or respiratory tract.
F. Any member exposed to a hazardous material shall complete an incident report form.
G. The Safety Officer shall establish a rehabilitation sector. Members shall be rotated through the rehabilitation sector as necessary.
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