Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPT ED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 11/01/201 8
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
_________________________
412 - Hazardous Material Response 1 POLICY 412 HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE
412.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Hazardous materials present a potential harm to employees resulting from their exposure. To
comply with Title 8, California Code of Regulations , § 5194, the following is to be the policy o f this
Department.
412.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This section pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 41.2.4 , 46.1.4 , 46.3.2 , 46.3.4, 61.2.1 ,
61.2.2 , 61.2.3
This section pertains to the following Standard Operating Procedures: CP502
412.2 DEFINI TIONS
Hazardous Material - A hazardous material is a substance which by its nature, containment and
reactivity, has the capability of inflicting harm during exposure; characterized as being toxic,
corrosive, flammable, reactive, an irritant or strong sens itizer , and thereby posing a threat to
health when improperly managed.
As defined in Title 4 9, Code of Federal Regulation; Hazardous material means a substance or
material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an
unreas onable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce ; and has been
designated as hazardous under §5103 of the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law
(§49 USC 5103 ). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marin e pollutants,
elevated temperature materials, materials designed as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials
Table (see §49 CFR 172.101).
412.3 HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE
Employees may encounter situations involving suspected hazardous materials , such as a t the
scene of a traffic collision , chemical spill, or fire. When employees come into contact with a
suspected hazardous material, certain steps should be taken to protect themselves and citizens.
The following steps should be considered at any scene invo lving suspected hazardous materials:
a) Attempt to ident ify the type of hazardous substance (identification can be determined by
placard, driver’s manifest or statements from person transporting) ;
b) Notify Fire Department ;
c) Provide first -aid for injured parties if it can be done safely and without contamination ;
d) Begin evacuation of immediate area and surrounding areas depending on the substance.
Voluntary evacuation should be considered; however, depending on the substance,
mandatory evacuation may be necessary ;
CATEGORY DATE ADOPT ED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 11/01/201 8
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
_________________________
412 - Hazardous Material Response 2 e) Notify the local health authority. Such notification is mandatory when a spilled or released
item is a pesticide (Health and Safety Code §105215);
f) Notify the Department of Toxic Substances Control. This is mandatory when an officer
comes in contact with, or is aware of, the presence of a suspected hazardous substance at
a site where an illegal controlled substance is or was manufactured (Health and Safety §
25354.5).
Further response options and information is outlined in the “Emergency Response Guidebook ”
(ERG) available in each marked unit.
412.4 HAZMAT INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM HIGHWAY
TRANSPORTATION
Any hazardous material incident occurring as a result of highway transportation, the responding
officer should immediately notify:
a) A commercial enforce ment officer certified in hazmat transportation regulations as
specified in Title 49 ;
b) Local Department of Transportation inspector (all hazmat transportation is regulated by
DOT) ;
c) The Orange County Environmental Crimes Unit of the District Attorney’s offic e;
d) A certified hazmat clean -up respo nse unit ;
e) The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) .
Criminal prosecution or investigation follow -up is a law enforcement responsibility. OCF A staff are
not regulatory or enforcement agents of hazmat transportation and ar e not in a position to compel
the carrier to reveal the nature of the material being transported.
Carriers of hazardous materials are required to have in the transport vehicle a bill of lading or
proper shipping paper describing the hazardous material bei ng transported . Operators are
required to display such papers upon demand of any member of the CHP or any city police officer
who is on -duty for the exclusive or main purpose of enforcing the provisions of this code, in the
event of a release of hazardous material (CVC § 34510).
Since warning placards on the exterior of the transport vehicle may not be required, depending on
the actual nature of the material or quantity, drivers who transport hazmat on highways are a key
witness to any hazardous material i ncident. If they are not injured, these individuals should be
immediately identified and secured as they are the best resource to identify any immediate
hazards represented by the material being transported, shipping paper descriptions or locations,
and fo r any future investigation follow -up to the shipper, carrier or consignee.
412.5 REPORTING EXPOSURE(S)
Department personnel who believe that they have been exposed to a hazardous material shall
immediately report the exposure to a supervisor. An exposur e report will be routed to Human
Resources and the Area/ Division Commander of the involved employee. Injury or illness caused
or believed to be caused from exposure to