018 - HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/01/96 STANDARD NO. 018 REVISED: 06/21/18 REPLACES: SOP Hazardous Material Spillage 08-02.1-2 – Rev. 01/01/03; Rev. 02/05/14 OBJECTIVE: To provide procedures for handling calls involving hazardous or harmful substances. POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to provide guidelines for officers to ensure their safety along with that of the public when dealing with incidents relating to the spillage of hazardous or harmful materials. SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth below. I. DEFINITION: A. Hazardous Materials/Suspicious Material means any explosive, flammable, oxidizer (i.e., acids), poisons, biohazard (i.e., medical waste or disease causing agent), corrosive, pesticide, radioactive substance, or other substance in a quantity or form that may pose an unreasonable risk to the health and well being of people, or property and the environment. II. IDENTIFICATION PLACARDS: A. Federal and state statutes require diamond-shaped placards when hazardous materials are transported. Placards are color coded for easy identification. Officers shall maintain the DOT Chart 9 for ready access when needed. 1. Red: Flammables and combustible materials, whether liquid, solid or gaseous; e.g., gasoline, gasohol, kerosene or diesel fuel. 2. White: Substance is a severe health hazard; e.g., poison, poison gas, chlorine or corrosive materials. 3. Green: Substance is highly pressurized and could explode in the heat of a fire. 4. Orange: Explosives or blasting agents; e.g., gunpowder or dynamite. 5. Yellow: Substance that may react violently with other chemicals, producing toxic or flammable gases. 6. Blue: Substance that reacts violently with water. 7. Multiple Colors: Multiple hazards exist. III. PROCEDURES: Hazardous Material Response – SOP# 018 A. The following general plan of operation shall be utilized when any hazardous materials incident is reported. 1. First Arriving Officer: a. Identifies that a spillage of an unknown chemical has occurred. b. Request fire/rescue be dispatched. c. Request back-up units to establish a perimeter to exclude pedestrians and vehicular traffic from entering the area. d. Attempts will be made to identify an individual on the scene who has knowledge of the type, quantity, and effects of the hazardous material. The dispatcher will be notified as soon as the above information is ascertained. e. Request a supervisor to respond. 2. First Arriving Supervisor: In addition to monitoring the response of personnel to ensure safety, the responding supervisor shall: a. Ensure that the Fire Department has been notified. Upon arrival of the Fire Department, perform joint unified command responsibilities for events. b. Notify the Incident Commander of available information and keeping them up to date, and if demand of resources exceeds agency capability, activate mutual aid agreements. c. Establish a CP (Command Post) to coordinate resources, which should be upwind and at a safe distance away from the actual incident site. This will ensure that responding personnel and the public are kept in one safe area and are readily accessible to provide information or assistance for appropriate incident handling. d. Maintain a perimeter for total exclusion of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. e. Establish liaison with the Fire Department and specialized agencies. The highest-ranking on-scene Fire Department official is considered to be the Incident Commander. f. Command officers from the Fire Department will determine the necessity of, and notify, the appropriate Hazardous Materials Team for removal of hazardous material. g. Assist the Hazardous Materials Team in securing a facility if isolation is necessary. The Hazardous Materials Team will be responsible for removing hazardous materials. Hazardous Material Response – SOP# 018 h. Consult with the Fire Department and Hazardous Materials Team for procedures to be followed for proper disposal or decontamination of equipment exposed to a hazardous substance. 3. Safety: a. Until proven otherwise, all materials and incidents will be treated as "worst case" situations. No unnecessary risks will be taken. Assume the cargo is hazardous.