NCJ Number
218302
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 80,82,85
Date Published
April 2007
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the dangers faced by police officers facing hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents and the training required to keep them safe.
Abstract
While most community members have been taught to avoid chemical emergencies such as overturned trucks that spill toxic material and chemical explosions from gas companies and manufacturing plants, police officers must rush head-on into the chemical emergencies in order to save lives and contain the emergency. In 2006, there were more than 13,000 transportation-related hazmat accidents and an unknown number of other hazmat incidents, including those related to the production of methamphetamine. Officers need to have the proper training to be able to handle such scenarios and maintain their personal safety. Protecting officers and the public against hazmat emergencies begins with surveying the community for possible sources of danger, such as gas stations, chemical manufacturers, printing companies, and even hardware stores. Full-blown hazmat incidents are divided into three zones depending on the degree of chemical severity: hot, warm, or cold. Officers need to be aware of these distinctions and how to operate safely in each type of zone. Under the HAZWOPER rule, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has established training levels for all individuals responding to hazmat incidents. Level 1 generally includes 4 to 8 hours of instruction that involves a combination of classroom, video training, and actual hands-on incident simulations that focus on both fixed-facility incidents and transportation-related incidents. Level 1 focuses on awareness and prepares individuals to recognize the presence of hazardous materials and initiate protective actions to ensure the safety of persons in the area. Level 2 is usually a 3-day course that focuses on how to contain a hazardous incident and effectively evacuate an area. Equipment details are taught, as are decontamination procedures. Hands-on field simulations along side other first-response personnel, such as fire departments and other EMS personnel, are an integral part of Level 2 training.