Managing hazmat incidents involves controlling the situation and mitigating the risks. Therefore, when responding to these events, you should follow a consistent procedure each time. As a result, you can more easily compare past incidents and identify new ways to prevent them in the future.
Free form!
This emergency preparedness form walks you through some of the major components of the plan that you should consider.
Using the incident command system (ICS)
Most fire departments have a hazmat response team and an incident command system (ICS). The purpose of an ICS is to make coordination across different teams easier.
You should always appoint a designated incident commander (IC) at your facility. This individual manages the situation and coordinates directly with the local Incident Command System (ICS). Typically, the highest-ranking person onsite for each shift serves as the IC. Therefore, when shifts change, you must also transfer IC responsibilities to the new leader.
If a hazmat incident occurs, you must notify your local emergency services department with key details:
- What happened?
- Is anyone hurt?
- Is there an immediate threat to the community?
- What are the next steps for controlling the situation?
Most municipalities follow the risk-based response process called APIE which stands for analyze, plan, implement, and evaluate. It basically provides a framework that emergency personnel can use to respond to hazmat incidents.
8 steps for managing hazmat incidents
As an operations manager or EHS professional, here are the 8 basic steps you can follow for managing hazmat incidents:
- Control the scene and evacuate (if necessary)
- Notify employees and emergency services
- Assess the risk level
- Identify the source of the problem
- Coordinate emergency resources
- Decontamination of people and equipment
- Implement corrective action
- Document and report the incident
Your hazmat incident report should include:
- Incident details (location, injuries, damages, etc.)
- Root cause analysis
- Immediate corrective action
- Future incident prevention strategy
- Supporting documentation (photos, videos, diagrams, etc.)
Correct PPE in hazmat incidents
Another major component of hazmat situations is knowing the right PPE for workers to use. There are four levels of PPE to consider:
1. Level A: Encapsulated chemical and vapor protective suit with a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
2. Level B: Hooded chemical-resistant clothing with an SCBA
3. Level C: Full-face air-purifying respirator, inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, an escape mask, and chemical-resistant boots
4. Level D: Face shield, chemical-resistant boots, coveralls, safety glasses, and chemical-resistant gloves
Figuring out the appropriate PPE level is critical for preventing injuries at the scene. The last thing you want is for your incident responders to get hurt while trying to help.
Different zones in hazmat incidents
In all hazmat incidents, the incident commander must establish and monitor three distinct zones to keep everyone safe.
The hot zone
The hot zone represents the immediate area where the incident occurs and where the risk of exposure is highest. Typically, this zone extends 100 to 200 feet in all directions. Therefore, only trained and fully equipped personnel may enter this area. In addition, they must wear the appropriate PPE to avoid hazmat exposure.
The warm zone
The warm zone serves as the designated area for decontamination near the hot zone. Generally, it sits 100 to 200 feet away from the incident site and functions as a buffer between the hot and cold zones. Responders in this area may still need to wear PPE, although the level of protection is lower than in the hot zone.
Cold/cool zone
Finally, the cold zone represents the area farthest away from the incident where support functions take place. Specifically, it sits more than 200 feet from the hot zone and houses the command centers, medical treatment areas, and equipment staging zones. However, personnel working in this area do not need to wear full PPE. However, they may still need protective clothing such as reflective vests.
Nevertheless, whether you use software or rely on a manual process, the most important element is the quality of the information you gather. Furthermore, involving employees and managers more directly in the incident investigation process is an effective way to boost engagement. As a result, you can achieve stronger participation and produce better results from your incident deep dives.
Hazmat incident documentation
Aside from the cleaning process, the most time-consuming step in managing hazmat incidents is documenting them. However, the documentation process plays a critical role in understanding the underlying causes and controlling them in the future.
Therefore, your team should have a standard way of compiling reports so that you can easily communicate the details both internally and externally. Moreover, the best way to oversee the documentation process is with incident management software.
Finally, a system like Frontline ACT, for example, gives you full control over the process by allowing you to:
- Create and assign action items for your team to complete
- Compile incident reports quickly
- Set up notifications and reminders of upcoming or past due tasks
- Upload supporting documentation like photos and videos
- See your team’s progress on the steps in the incident management process
But whether you use software or create your own manual process, the most important element is the quality of the information you gather. Furthermore, getting employees and managers more involved in the incident investigation process is a great way to boost engagement and get better results from your incident deep dives.
