I. Introduction

A. Incident command responsibility for hazardous materials incidents in El Dorado County rests with the El Dorado County Sheriff or El Dorado County Environmental Management for non-roadway incidents, and the California Highway Patrol for all incidents occurring on a public roadway.

B. As the primary emergency responder for non-law enforcement incidents, we can expect to be dispatched to hazardous materials incidents when they occur in our response areas. We will assume command until the proper agency arrives.

C. We must keep the scope of our operations to our training and equipment limitations. We are not a hazardous materials team.

II. Scope

This standard operating procedure shall be followed for all reported hazardous materials incidents.

III. Operational Goals and Limitations

A. The operational goals for hazardous materials incidents shall be to isolate, deny entry, and identify.

B. Actual mitigation measures such as diking and neutralization shall only be performed when it is well within our capabilities and it is safe to do so.

C. Full structural firefighter's protective clothing or appropriate special protective clothing and SCBA shall be worn by all personnel when they are operating in the Exclusion Zone, Contamination Reduction Zone or any area that is or may become contaminated.

IV. Definitions

A. Contamination Reduction (or Warm) Zone is the area between the Exclusion Zone and the Support Zone. The Contamination Reduction Corridor or Decontamination Area is located in the Contamination Reduction Zone. Only personnel who are properly trained, clothed, and assigned specific functions, or people placed in a safe refuge area within the zone prior to decontamination shall be allowed entry.

B. Exclusion (or Hot) Zone is the inner perimeter into which only those emergency personnel in the proper level of protective clothing and who possess the proper level of training to safely operate with the chemical involved shall be allowed entry. All personnel exiting the Exclusion Zone shall be subject to appropriate decontamination.

C. Support (or Cold) Zone is the area of the outermost boundary beyond which the public is refused entry. The Incident Command Post may be located in the Support Zone, but never in the Exclusion Zone or the Contamination Reduction Zone.

V. Procedures

A. First Arriving Unit

1. Do not initially get close enough for positive identification of the hazardous material.

2. Approach from uphill, upstream and upwind if possible. Communicate proper approach and arrival instructions to other responding units. Designate a safe staging area.

3. Assume command. Request the appropriate law enforcement agency and Environmental Management for subsequent assumption of command. Obtain an estimated time of arrival for representatives of those agencies.

B. Initial Actions for Controlling the Scene

1. Utilize a cautionary approach, especially when people appear to be injured. Safety shall be the first operational thought.

2. Isolate the hazard area and deny entry.

3. Move and keep unnecessary people away.

4. Establish and clearly identify the perimeter areas (Exclusion, Contamination Reduction, Support Zones). Always make zone determinations on the side of safety.

5. Establish control of the Support Zone by stopping/rerouting traffic.

6. Establish a command post and position it well uphill, upstream and upwind from the incident if possible.

7. Attempt to identify the material(s) involved if you can do it safely.

a. use binoculars, if available.

b. placards/labels.

c. shipping papers.

d. container markings

e. driver/operator/occupant

8. Use D.O.T. Emergency Response Guidebook and follow the recommendations for the material involved. Use Guide 11 until the material is identified. When the material is identified, attempt to obtain information from at least three resources.

9. Avoid inhalation of all gases, vapors, and smoke.

10. Do not walk into, or touch any spilled material.

11 Attempt rescues only if you are sure you can do it safely.

12. Appoint a Safety Officer for the incident. The duties and responsibilities of a Safety Officer are outlined in ICS 420-1, Field Operations Guide.

C. Decontamination

1. All people exiting the Exclusion Zone shall be subject to appropriate decontamination. Decontamination shall be performed for all people suspected of being contaminated at the incident regardless of their location.

2. Field expedient or emergency decontamination shall be used when there has not been a decontamination area set up.

3. As a general rule, decontamination shall be accomplished by the use of copious amounts of soapy water.

4. All decontamination shall be accomplished by personnel in appropriate protective clothing and SCBA.

D. Exposure Reports

1. Any suspected contamination shall be immediately reported to the Incident Commander.

2. All personnel shall fill out an exposure report within 24 hours of the termination of an incident if there is any possibility of contamination. The District Safety Officer shall receive a copy of the exposure report.

3. Federal law requires that exposure reports be promptly filled out, and that employers keep them on file in the employee's medical file for thirty years after termination of employment.

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