HazMat Awareness-2025

HAZARDOUSMATERIALS

Gloucester CountyEMS

Hazardous Materials

All employees may encounter a situation involving a release of hazardous substances, thus we must all refresh yearly to the Awareness level of Hazardous Materials Response.

Objectives

Understand hazardous materials and their effects

Demonstrate the ability to identify a HazMat release

Know how to make the appropriate notifications when a release is detected and why doing so is important

Understand how to use the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) to identify substances and take initial protective actions to protect responders/the public

HazMat Training Levels

Responders can be trained to various levels of HazMat response.

Awareness

Operations

Detect a release

Take defensive actions

Identify materials

Prevent spread through basic containment techniques

Notify the proper authorities

Perform fundamental decontamination procedures

Isolate around an incident to protect responders and the public

HazMat Training Levels

Responders can be trained to various levels of HazMat response.

Technician

On-Scene Incident Commander

Take direct actions to mitigate a release

Follow local response plans for safe scene management

Determine decon procedures

Specialist

Direct all personnel and actions on scene

Technician who specializes in mitigation of certain substances

Know when to request state/federal resources

What is Hazardous?

Any material in transport, a workplace, or in waste which is capable of causing acute or chronic risks to health, safety, property, or the environment.

Health/Safety Risks can be:

Systemic: Affecting the entire body (Ex: toxic exposure causing cancer)

Local: only the area of exposure (Ex: chemical burn on small area of skin)

What is Hazardous?

Any material in transport, a workplace, or in waste which is capable of causing acute or chronic risks to health, safety, property, or the environment.

Physical Hazards may include:

Fire, burns, heat injuries

Explosions, blast injuries

Acids, tissue injuries

What is Hazardous?

Any material in transport, a workplace, or in waste which is capable of causing acute or chronic risks to health, safety, property, or the environment.

Health Hazards may include:

Immediate or delayed signs of illness

Respiratory, heart, neurological symptoms

Toxicity, sudden death

Chronic health concerns like cancers, tumors, effects on a developing fetus, and future birth defects or genetic abnormalities

Routes of Exposure

• Hazardous materials enter the body through 4 main routes:

• Ingestion
• On hands before touching the mouth or by splashes

• Absorption
• Through unprotected skin

• Injection

• From sharps, broken glass, etc. contaminated with a substance

• Inhalation
• Breathing aerosolized substances or particulates

Exposure Limits

• Exposure limits are set by OSHA and are expressed in a few different ways, based on time and amount of exposure

Threshold Limit Value (TLV)

Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL)

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

Immediately Dangerous to Life/Health)(IDLH)

Time-Weighted Average (TWA)

• It is important for Awareness-level responders to know that references to these values indicate a substance may be hazardous

Chemical Properties

• Vapor Pressure - tendency of a solid/liquid to become gas, mix with air

• Vapor Density - when a gas floats or sinks relative to air

• Specific Gravity - whether something floats or sinks in water

• Some basic gas/fluid properties that responders should know:

Chemical Properties

• Liquid/Vapor Ratio - how much gas is made when liquids leak/vaporize

• 1 gallon of liquid Propane produces 270 gal of gas
• 1 gallon of liquid Oxygen produces 860 gal of gas

Even smaller amounts in a release can produce large vapor clouds, risking fire, asphyxia, and toxicity

Chemical Properties

• Explosive Limit - range when a substance is flammable/explosive
• Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) - lowest concentration

• Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) - highest concentration

• Propane is 2.2-9.5% (is too concentrated at 10%)
• Acetylene is 2.5-100% (can ignite at anything >2.5%)

Vapor clouds in the right concentration can be extremely dangerous and explosive

Chemical Properties

• pH - the measure of how acidic or basic a substance is

Acids Bases

0 7 14

Sulfuric Acid

Milk

Bleach

Strong acids/bases are both corrosive to skin, clothing, materials

Chemical Properties

• Range in strength from Alpha Particles -> Beta Particles -> Gamma Rays

• Radiation - rays or particles in the air emitting potentially harmful energy

• Protection levels needed varies on the type of radiation
• Time of Exposure, Distance from the source, and Shielding are most important steps to limit radiation exposure

Radiation releases may not be as obvious as others. Be alert to signs/labels and keep a safe distance

Confined Spaces

• With a HazMat release, we may encounter confined spaces, which present special hazards such as:

• Physical hazards (electricity, instability, heat, explosion)
• Asphyxiation
• Biological hazards (wildlife)
• Mixing and concentrations of harmful substances

Working in confined spaces requires specialized training. Do not enter! Know when to call for additional resources

Protection

• The EPA designates 4 levels of protective gear:

Level A - Fully encapsulated suit, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

Level B - SCBA and splash protection when skin absorption and immersion are not a high risk

Protection

• The EPA designates 4 levels of protective gear:

Level C - Splash protection but a lower level of respiratory protection (filtered respirator)

Level D - A standard work uniform, when there is no expectation of chemical contact

Protection

• Rescues should NOT be attempted without the proper gear and training

• Don't risk exposing yourself to harm and becoming a patient!
• Work with qualified personnel to ensure victims are decontaminated

Detection

• Knowing the typical uses in our area can help determine where HazMat releases may occur. Here are a few examples:

Westville

Paulsboro

Fuel refining and storage

Detection

• Knowing the typical uses in our area can help determine where HazMat releases may occur. Here are a few examples:

Cento Foods, West Deptford

Liscio's, Glassboro

Food preparation and storage

Detection

• Knowing the typical uses in our area can help determine where HazMat releases may occur. Here are a few examples:

Utilities Authority, West Deptford

Industrial Park, Clayton

Industrial, manufacturing, and waste processing facilities

Detection

• Knowing the typical uses in our area can help determine where HazMat releases may occur. Here are a few examples:

Commodore Barry Bridge, Logan Twp

Paulsboro Marine Terminal

Highways, port facilities

Detection

• Aside from the major examples, HazMat releases can occur in locations of any type or size where chemicals may be present

Education

Business

Residences

Detection

• All vehicles/vessels transporting hazardous materials must have shipping papers listing the contents aboard

Cargo Ship: With the captain on the bridge (elevated control room)

Train: In the front locomotive cab with the engineer & conductor

Truck: In the cab within access of the driver

Detection

• All vehicles/vessels transporting hazardous materials must have shipping papers listing the contents aboard

Plane: With the pilot or a crew member

Detection

• Reliance on the senses to identify a substance should be a last resort, and never using taste, smell, or touch

Attempt to visually identify from a safe distance

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

• The US Dept. of Transportation updates & releases the ERG every 4 years

• "...intended for use by first responders during the initial phase of a transportation incident involving hazardous materials/dangerous goods"

• Is required in every emergency vehicle
• Is also available as an app on all GCEMS devices

Emergency Response Guidebook

• The ERG contains information to identify chemicals and guide initial actions on a HazMat scene, separated by colored sections:

• White: Visual identifiers
• Placards
• Rail Car shape
• Road Trailer shape
• Yellow: Lists chemicals by UN Number
• Blue: Lists chemical by name

• White: Visual identifiers
• Placards
• Rail Car shape
• Road Trailer shape

• Yellow: Lists chemicals by UN Number

• Orange: Steps to guide initial response

• Green: Initial isolation and special hazards

In the physical book, Page 1 gives a How-To:

Emergency Response Guidebook

• The white pages (or the tab in the app) show visual identifiers

"Placards"

Each placard or vehicle shape corresponds to an numberwith instructions on initial steps

For example: If the placard on the bottom of the screen were viewed, the responder would turn to

RailCars

Placards

Road Trailers

Orange Guide

Guide 112

UN Number

• All transported materials have a unique number for identification

• Placards and panels should be posted on ends and sides of a container
• This should be provided when notifying of a HazMat situation

NFPA Hazard Signage

• In facilities, but not in transport, we may encounter the NFPA 704 symbol

• White section shows special hazards (ex: water reactivity, oxidizer, asphyxiation)

• Blue/Red/Yellow sections show a Health/Flammability/Instability risk, respectively

• Does not identify the exact substance, but shows hazard risks in a space

• Range in severity from 0-4

Red

Yellow

Blue

Instability

Flammability

Health

OX

White

Globally Harmonized System

The white pages also contain a reference of the GHS labeling pictograms (this is not present in the app)

For a deeper dive into the GHS, refer to the Hazard Communication (HazComm) training

Emergency Response Guidebook

• Yellow-bordered pages list materials by UN Number

• For green-highlighted materials, use the green pages if there is no fire

green-highlighted materials

green

Emergency Response Guidebook

• Blue-bordered pages list materials alphabetically by name

• For green-highlighted materials, use the green pages if there is no fire

green-highlighted materials

green

Emergency Response Guidebook

Yellow

• The app does not separate into or sections

Blue

The "Name/UN" tab shows lists by Name or UN Number and allows searching by both criteria

Emergency Response Guidebook

• Orange pages show specific hazards, initial first aid, and isolation/ evacuation measures based on the material

• They also show general safety precautions when operating near a release of the material

• For green-highlighted materials, use the green pages if there is no fire

green-highlighted materials

green

Emergency Response Guidebook

• Green-bordered pages have special instructions for when no fire exists

• References to Table 2 indicate a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) if the material comes in contact with water

• Table 1 lists Initial evacuation distances (EMS may be asked to assist with evacuation)
• All materials in Table 1 are sorted by their UN Number

Emergency Response Guidebook

• Green-bordered pages have special instructions for when no fire exists

• Table 3 lists the 6 most common Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) materials

Emergency Response Guidebook

Spills are referred to by two sizes: Small and Large

Small

Large

Small spills are a 55-gallon drum or less

Large spills are larger than 55 gallons or multiple small releases

Scene Management

At the Awareness level, we can:

• Attempt to safely identify the substance released

• Initiate the Incident Command System (ICS) and transfer command when qualified personnel arrive
• We then report to our designated leader in the chain of command

• We have the potential to be first on scene or we may discover a HazMat release

Scene Management

At the Awareness level, we can:

• Notify the communications center of the release so that the proper resources can be dispatched
• Effect rescues if safe and able to do so, ensuring not to risk exposure
• Establish an isolation area to protect other first responders and the public

At the Awareness level, we can:

• Effect rescues if safe and able to do so, ensuring not to risk exposure

Scene Management

UPHILL UPWIND COLD

• Remember to stage and of a release
• EMS should be in the zone and not approaching the materials

Cold Zone

Warm Zone/Decon

Hot Zone

Putting It All Together

Now that we've covered the basics of HazMat Awareness, let's look at a few sample scenarios! Be sure to take out an ERG or open the app on a GCEMS device.

Scenario Practice

While working BLS 16, you are dispatched to E. Adams St in Paulsboro for a Respiratory Emergency. A resident walked to his car in the morning fog and began having difficulty breathing. Looking past the dead end of his street, you see...

Scenario Practice

You retreat from the foggy area with the patient and retrieve binoculars. Looking at the end of the rail car, you see this placard:

Scenario Practice

As you finish your truck check at BLS 38, you are dispatched to Rt. 45 IAO Harrison House Diner for a Commercial MVC

Scenario Practice

Approaching the scene, you view this vehicle in the middle of the intersection, appearing to be leaking:

Scenario Practice

You have left Inspira-Mullica Hill and are driving through Glassboro to get lunch when you see someone running towards the road from a Rowan campus building. This person flags you down.

Scenario Practice

The person says they were unloading a shipment when they tripped and fell with a box in their hands. Now, 10 people in the area are coughing heavily.

The person is a chemistry major and states they were unloading Phenyl Isocyanate

Phenyl Isocyanate

Scenario Practice

While working BLS 43, you are dispatched to a structure fire on Forest Grove Rd. It is about a mile from your station and you are the first unit on scene.

Scenario Practice

You arrive and meet the farmer who owns the property. He states the fire involves a pole barn where he keeps his tractors and several drums of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

Things to Remember

• Keep yourself and your partner safe

• The ERG can help protect responders and the public in the early stages of a HazMat incident

• Inform dispatch as soon as possible when hazardous materials are suspected

Additional Information

Questions/concerns can be directed to our HazMat contact:

HazMat Chief Andrew Halter1200 N. Delsea Dr. Clayton, NJ 08312 856-307-7120 Ext. 7122 ahalter@co.gloucester.nj.us

If after hours or unable to reach, contact the ODS: 856-364-5761

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