Hazardous Materials Response Flashcards

At a hazardous materials incident, a first responder uses the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) and knows the 4-digit UN identification number of the substance. Which section of the ERG should they consult first to identify the material and its corresponding guide number?

Answer: The yellow-bordered pages

The yellow-bordered pages of the ERG list hazardous materials in numerical order by their 4-digit UN/NA identification number. This allows for rapid identification of the substance and directs the responder to the appropriate orange guide page for initial actions.

A firefighter responds to a tanker truck rollover. The truck displays a diamond-shaped placard that is red with a flame symbol and the number '3' at the bottom. This placard indicates the material is what type of hazard?

Answer: A flammable liquid

According to the DOT hazardous materials placarding system, a red placard with a flame symbol and the number '3' at the bottom specifically identifies a Class 3 hazardous material, which is defined as a flammable liquid.

Which of the following activities is MOST appropriately conducted within the Warm Zone (Contamination Reduction Zone) of a hazardous materials incident?

Answer: Decontamination of personnel and equipment

The Warm Zone, also known as the Contamination Reduction Zone, is established as a buffer between the Hot (Exclusion) Zone and the Cold (Support) Zone. Its primary purpose is to host decontamination procedures for personnel and equipment exiting the Hot Zone to prevent the spread of contaminants.

According to NFPA 1072, a responder trained to the Operations level is expected to perform which of the following actions at a hazardous materials incident?

Answer: Perform defensive actions such as diking, damming, and diverting.

Responders at the Operations level are trained to take protective, defensive actions from a safe distance to control the spread of a hazardous material. These actions, such as building dikes or diverting a spill, are meant to confine the product without coming into direct contact with it. Offensive actions like plugging and patching are reserved for Technician-level responders.

A hazardous gas is released into the atmosphere. If the material's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) indicates it has a vapor density of 1.8, where will the gas likely concentrate?

Answer: It will sink and accumulate in low-lying areas.

Vapor density is the weight of a gas or vapor compared to an equal volume of air, with air having a value of 1. A vapor density greater than 1, such as 1.8, means the gas is heavier than air and will sink, collecting in low spots like ditches, basements, and confined spaces.

What is the primary goal of performing technical decontamination on entry team personnel at a hazardous materials incident?

Answer: To remove contaminants and prevent their spread into the Cold Zone.

Technical decontamination is the systematic process of removing and neutralizing contaminants from personnel and equipment. Its main purpose is to ensure that hazardous substances are not transferred from the Hot Zone to clean areas, thereby protecting responders, the public, and the environment from secondary contamination.