Hazmat Overview
What three things do hazardous materials pose an unreasonable risk to if not properly controlled?
Health, safety, and the environment.
What must Awareness Level Personnel be able to recognize and identify at a hazmat incident?
The presence of hazardous materials.
What is the primary purpose of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)?
To provide guidance for initial actions at hazmat incidents, especially during transportation.
What type of properties describe the characteristics of a material without involving its chemical nature?
Physical properties
What type of containers carry gases or liquids under pressure?
Pressure containers
What happens when there is a loss of situational awareness at a hazmat incident?
It creates opportunities for errors and improper decisions to be made.
What is a weapon designed to cause death or injury through toxic chemicals, biological agents, or radioactive materials called?
A Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)
What type of container has an oval cross section and flat or nearly flat ends?
Nonpressurized containers.
Where can responders find the most specific initial action guide in the ERG?
By using the four-digit ID number or chemical name.
What change occurs when a material transitions from solid to liquid, such as melting?
Change of state
Name 4 common shapes of hazardous material dispersion patterns from pressure containers?
Hemispheric, cloud, plume, and cone.
How can natural disasters contribute to hazardous materials incidents?
They can expose environmental crimes, such as illegal hazmat dumps.
Which is the most common route of exposure for hazardous materials to enter the body?
Inhalation
How many hazard classes does the United Nations (UN) system use to categorize hazardous materials?
Nine hazard classes.
What term describes the distance within which all persons should be considered for evacuation from the hazmat spill or leak source?
Initial isolation distance.
What is the term for the behaviors and interactions that occur at the molecular level of a material?
Chemical properties
What type of container is likely nearby if you see vents and fill pipes?
Underground bulk facility tank.
What type of attack may not be immediately obvious compared to a bomb or chemical attack?
A biological attack.
What term refers to the transfer of hazardous materials to people, equipment, or the environment in quantities greater than acceptable?
Contamination
What is a key indicator that the contents of a container are under high pressure?
The container is spherical in shape.
Where in the ERG can responders find a flowchart addressing each step in the decision-making process at a hazmat incident?
On the last page of the ERG.
What three common elements does the General Hazardous Materials Behavior Model (GEBMO) assume in hazmat incidents?
Material, container, and exposure.
What type of container carries the bulk of hazardous materials transported by rail?
Tank cars
What is the only way to confirm the presence of radiation at an incident?
By using radiological monitoring equipment.
What is the term for a single or repeated exposure to a hazardous material over a short period of time?
Acute exposure
Which section of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) contains a key to the four-digit UN/NA identification numbers?
The yellow-bordered section.
What is the most important consideration when determining protective actions like isolation and evacuation at a hazmat incident?
To separate people from the potential source of harm.
What happens when a container is stressed beyond its limits and can no longer recover?
The container breaches and releases its contents.
What is the primary hazard associated with intermodal containers used for transporting hazardous materials?
They can be used interchangeably across different modes of transport, which increases risk during transitions.
What is a typical onset time for medical symptoms during a chemical incident?
From minutes to hours.