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HAZMAT/CBRN incidents/Terrorist Attacks
By Kalliopi Kravari
Categories: GROWTH-6
Course Content
Introduction
All emergency responders are routinely called to a wide variety of incidents where CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) would have a potential. As a result, exposure and contamination from chemical, biological, nuclear, and explosive/incendiary devices are probable. In this section, we will explore the issues that involve health and safety at events that disperse hazardous and toxic chemicals.
The module explores prevention and response to HaZMat and CBRN incidents that cause great damage to human lives and the environment and infrastructure. To provide current and prospective first responders with minimum knowledge and skills required to improve national HazMat and CBRN emergency preparedness and response arrangements, compliment national HazMat and CBRN training.
Upon successful completing of the module, learners:
• Recognize incidents of possible contact/contamination prediction/alert systems that might help to reduce damages of HazMat or CBRN agent.
• Be able to monitor indicators related to contamination by CBRN agents or HazMat.
• Understand the changes to the global security environment which have influenced CBRN preparedness.
• Understand the fundamental objectives of terrorism.
• Be aware of potential methodologies employed by terrorists.
• Understand the potential impact of HazMat and a CBRN incidents.
2 Chemical Agents
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2.1 Types of chemical involvement
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2.2 Chemical Asphyxiates – Blood Agents
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2.3 Respiratory Irritants – Choking Agents
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2.4 Lacrimators and Vomit Agents
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2.5 Outward Warning Signs and Indicators
3 Biological Agents
Microbes and mankind have been at odds with each other since the Black Death in medieval times. Plagues and epidemics have altered human history century after century. During the last fifty years, the military forces of the world have been using their knowledge of public health towards the militarization of sinister organisms. This presents us with a rapidly changing revolution in technologies and pharmaceutical expertise. The desire for the use and proliferation of these types of weapons has given the first responder a new and emerging threat.
Biological warfare offers a unique and difficult vulnerability to the first responder and society as a whole. It delivers a significant potential impact on emergency response. It includes the use of bacteria, rickettsia, viruses, and toxins, which involves the use against humans for the sake of creating a health impact on a society. However, the current opinion clouds the true potential issues at hand. With biological weaponry threats, the agents, methods of dispersion, detection, and physiological effects are distinctly different then the use of an intentional release of a chemical.
In contrast to the chemical environment, the biological is primarily an inhalation hazard. Particle size and incorporation into the respiratory tree are the primary objectives for infection. Although cutaneous hazards are present with biological substances, simple donning of firefighting and Emergency Medical Systems protective equipment represent a substantial level of protection.
Biological, i.e. bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses all must have a host or an environment, in which they can live and maintain their normal life cycle. This environment must be conducive to growth and procreation in order to make a level of organism, which can overwhelm a biological system. In order to do this, several barriers exist for the would be terrorist. First is the acquisition of the biological agent. All organisms must have an environment, which is conducive towards growth and procreation. Many times the environment is too cold or too hot, or may not the appropriate level of nutrients and water to support its growth. To maintain this organism a support or containment vessel which contains the appropriate level of nutrients are maintained. Secondly one would need to cultivate and design a system which can disseminate both the environment the organism needs and the organism itself.
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3.1 Chemical vs. Biological
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3.2 Agents
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3.3 Outward Warning Signs and Indicators
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3.4 Summary
4 Radiological Terrorism
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4.1 Types of radiation
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4.2 Internal Contamination
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4.3 Dissemination Methods
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4.4 Outward Warning Signs and Detection Clues
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4.5 Nuclear Indicators
5 Explosions
The threat of terrorist bombings is very real. Bombings are a weekly occurrence somewhere in the world. We will discuss how you as a first responder can safely respond to the different types of bomb incidents. Our goal is not to make you an explosives expert but to equip you with the knowledge necessary to assess an terrorist explosive incident so that you can properly mitigate a safe response. The information that we provide you here today may save your life and enable you to save the lives of others when responding to this type of incident.
The Chinese discovered gunpowder as early as the 10th century. Europeans began to use gunpowder in firearms in the 14th century. By the 17th century, gunpowder was being used for construction and mining purposes. Gunpowder was the only practical explosive available until the 19th century, when nitrocellulose and other explosives were invented.
Nitroglycerin was invented in 1847, but it was extremely dangerous for use in any type of practical application. The Swedish chemist, Alfred Nobel, invented dynamite in 1866. Dynamite was the most important explosive used in blasting during the early 1900’s. It has been replaced by slurry explosives and ammonium nitrate fuel-oil (ANFO) since the 1950’s. The use of explosives has increased dramatically, particularly in military use in both World Wars 1 and 2.
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5.1 Explosions and Explosives
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5.2 Types of Explosions
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5.3 Classifying Explosives
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5.4 Types of Explosives
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5.5 Improvised Bombs
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5.6 Types of explosive incidents
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5.7 Arrival At the Blast Scene
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5.8 Size-up issues
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5.9 Time, distance, and shielding
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5.10 Warning Signs
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5.11 Detection methods
6. Cues
An effective and efficient response to a terrorism incident relies on a comprehensive and integrated response from a variety of agencies and individuals. The initial phase of the incident will usually include incomplete information and involve a degree of confusion and chaos. Responders can minimize the effects of this confusion by learning to recognize indicators that can give information regarding the nature of the event and some possible associated hazards. In this lesson, we will discuss cues that can help us do that.
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6.1 On Scene Indicators
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6.2 Types of Incidents
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6.3 Timing of the Incident
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6.4 Other On-scene Cues
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6.5 Containers
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6.6 Summary
7 Clues
Responders need to be aware of clues to determine the nature of the hazards they encounter during emergencies to conduct operations that are safe and efficient. Incident priorities are described as life safety, environmental protection, and protection of property. Recognizing incident hazards, determining properties of materials involved, and estimating dissemination of those materials can help accomplish all of these incident priorities.
To that end, this lesson will describe clues that can help responders identify possible weapons of mass destruction and their influence on response procedures. Hazardous materials may be used as weapons of mass destruction or may be affected by the use of these weapons in proximity to their storage locations. It is important for responders to be able to recognize clues and associate hazards with them. Clues are defined as “hints” that can help responders determine the nature of the incident. These clues are described in detail below.
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7.1 United Nations Placards and Labels
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7.2 Colors
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7.3 Symbols
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7.4 UN Hazard Class Numbers
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7.5 Container Shapes
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7.6 Markings and Colors
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7.7 Emergency Response Guidebook
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7.8 International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC)
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7.9 Summary
8 Minimal Plan Requirements
Emergency incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction require careful planning by responders to successfully manage resources, determine response objectives, and implement appropriate tactics. The Incident Commander (IC), with help from Section Chiefs and Technical Specialists, must develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP) specific to the emergency at hand. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should be developed by each response agency and should be integrated into the IAP. The IAP then becomes the “road map” that specifies which SOPs are appropriate and determines incident priorities.
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8.1 Components of the Incident Action Plan
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8.2 Assignment List
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8.3 Incident Communications Plan
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8.4 Medical Plan
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8.5 Incident Organizational Chart
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8.6 Site Safety Plan
9 Management tools and methods
Responders to CBRN incidents can benefit from an organized and systematic response. Organization of resources and priorities will eliminate duplication of efforts and allow responders to more effectively control events as they unfold. This lesson will discuss some tools and methods that can be used to accomplish the mission.
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9.1 The Hazardous Materials Module of the Incident Command System
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9.2 The Hazardous Materials Group Supervisor
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9.3 Safety Officer/Assistant Safety Officer HazMat
TEST
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Assessment test
MODULE MATERIAL
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COURSE BOOK
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PPT
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