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The
8-Step Process
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| "The 8 Step Process" is a video training series produced by Emergency Film Group designed to provide training to emergency response personnel who may be called upon to respond to a leak, spill or a fire involving hazardous chemicals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Management
& Control
Identifying the Problem The second program
in the series covers the importance of recognizing, identifying and
verifying the hazardous material or materials involved in the incident.
The video shows how to recognize the presence of hazmats, and, if
the material cannot be identified specifically, how to determine the
general hazard class or chemical family of the material. Specific
information needed to identify the problem is listed. The program
also discusses the basic design and construction features of hazardous
materials containers. DOT hazard classes and placarding are explained,
as is NFPA's Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards
of Materials for Emergency Response.
Hazard and Risk Evaluation In Program 3, responders learn how to determine response objectives, sources for hazard information, and how to evaluate risks. The importance of maintaining an attitude of safety and responsibility is stressed. Risk factors - those factors that influence the level of risk at an incident - are outlined and air monitoring instruments are studied. A basic understanding of how hazmats and their containers behave is provided through Ludwig Benner's General Hazardous Materials Behavior Model (Gebmo).
Protective Clothing & Equipment This program covers the different types of protective clothing and equipment, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The difference between structural firefighting clothing and chemical protective clothing is explained. Respiratory protection, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and SAR (supplied air respirators) is studied. NFPA standards that mandate the quality that protective clothing must meet are examined and EPA levels of protection are listed. The viewer is warned about the dangers of degradation, penetration and permeation.
Information Management & Resource Coordination The fifth program in the series examines the types of information needed to manage a hazmat incident safely, how to evaluate that information, and how to coordinate multiple resource groups at a hazmat incident. The importance of controlling the flow of information and having effective leadership is emphasized. The Incident Management System is outlined and the various roles played in a response are explained. Efficient storage and recovery of information is also discussed.
Implementing Response Objectives Program 6 explains how the incident commander implements the best available strategic goals and tactical objectives to produce the most favorable outcome to the incident. The differences between tactics and strategies are explained. Primary hazmat strategic goals are covered, including rescue, public protective actions, spill control, leak control, fire control, and transfer and recovery. Other topics covered include selecting goals; decision-making; and offensive vs. defensive mode.
Decontamination Contamination is any form of hazardous material that physically remains on people, animals or objects and that poses a threat to life, health or the environment. This video tells how contamination occurs and discusses decontamination of persons and equipment after leaving the hot zone. All current methods of decontamination are covered, including dilution, absorption, adsorption, heating, freezing, blowing, vacuuming, degradation, neutralization, solidification, disinfection, and sterilization. Setting up the decon site and the responsibilities of the decon officer and the decon team are explained. Other topics covered include emergency decon, multiple station decon, medical emergencies, evaluating the effectiveness of decon operations, and clean-up.
Terminating the Incident The transition phase between the end of the emergency and the start of restoration and recovery operations is the topic of the final program in "The 8-Step Process." This program tells how to do a post-incident analysis, how to conduct a debriefing, and how to critique the response. It is important during this phase of the process to focus on lessons learned.
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