Laserfiche WebLink
9.0 EXPOSURE CONTROL FOR EMERGENCY WORKERS <br />9.1 GENERAL <br />This section establishes the means and responsibilities for controlling <br />hazardous materials exposure to emergency workers. Local emergency <br />response organizations will limit exposure to emergency workers by: <br />1. Limiting the amount of time spent in hazardous areas; <br />2. Limiting entry into hazardous areas to the maximum extent <br />possible; and <br />3. Using protective clothing and equipment. <br />Because they are frequently the first on the scene, firefighters and law <br />enforcement personnel should use proper safety precautions when <br />approaching a hazardous materials incident. First response personnel <br />should have copies of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous <br />Materials Emergency Response Guidebook and should know how to find <br />and interpret shipping manifests. <br />9.2 EXPOSURE MONITORING <br />After notification that a release has occurred, it is crucial to monitor and <br />assess its impact, both on-site and off. A detailed log of all sampling <br />results should be maintained of the situation. Decisions about response <br />personnel safety, citizen protection, and use of food and water in the area <br />will depend upon an accurate assessment of spill or plume movement and <br />concentration. <br />Both initial and periodic monitoring are required at hazardous materials <br />incidents. Initial monitoring must be conducted to identify any Immediate <br />Dangers to Life/Health (IDLH) concentrations or other dangerous <br />situations, such as the presence of flammable atmospheres, <br />oxygen -deficient environments, and toxic contaminants. Once chemicals <br />have been identified, standard information sources such as NIOSH <br />Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and CHEMTREC (Chemical <br />Transportation Emergency Center) should be consulted to identify <br />potential hazards, recommended exposure limits (RELs), permissible <br />exposure limits (PELs), emergency action, personal protective equipment, <br />and first aid procedures. MSDSs should be consulted for information <br />including; manufacturer's name, chemical synonyms, trade name, <br />chemical family, hazardous ingredients, physical data, fire and explosion <br />Indian River County Emergency Plan for Hazardous Materials Page 61 <br />