HAZARDOUS MATERIALS | NCM 120 | TOPIC 03

DISCUSSION BY MA’AM SEHM DANOS RN MAN

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CLASS 9:  Some hazardous materials do not fall
v Hazardous material (HAZMAT) is any substance with the MISCELLANEOUS into any of the first 8 categories
potential to harm people, property, or the environment.
6 PRIMARY CLUES THAT SIGNIFY PRESCENCE
v This includes not only chemicals, but also biological, OF HAZMATS (NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY AND NATIONAL EMERGECY TRAINING CENTER)

radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances. OCCUPANCY/LOCATION

v The location of the HAZMAT incident or the victim’s occupation
HAZMAT CLASSFICATION can provide an indication as to the involved material.

CLASS 1:  The explosives category includes any CONTAINER TYPE

EXPLOSIVES items or materials that can rapidly v The type of container typically provides a good indication as to
detonate or conflagrate as the result of
a chemical reaction the contents. The more substantial, durable, and fortified a

o Division 1.1  Has mass explosion container is, the more likely the material inside is dangerous.
hazard v The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations describe
o Division 1.2  Have projection
container specifications for the transport of HAZMATs.
hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
o Division 1.3  Have fire hazard and MARKINGS/COLORS
wither a minor blast or minor projection v Facilities and vehicles must use special markings, including
or both but NOT mass explosion
o Division 1.4  Present no significant identification numbers and colors, to indicate the presence of
hazard HAZMATs (see the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook).
o Division 1.5  Very insensitive
explosives with mass explosion
o Division 1.6  extremely insensitive
articles which not have mass explosion

CLASS 2:  Substances with a vapor pressure and

GASES those that are completely gaseous.
o Division 2.1  Flammable gases
o Division 2.2  Non-flammable, non-
toxic
o Division 2.3  Toxic gases

CLASS 3:  They are defined as liquids, liquids

FLAMMABLE containing solids in solution or mixtures
LIQUIDS of liquids.

CLASS 4:  Self-reactive substances that may

FLAMMABLE undergo strong exothermic reactions or
SOLIDS solid desensitized explosions
o Division 4.1  Flammable solids, self-
reactive substances and solid
desensitized explosives
o Division 4.2  Substances liable to
spontaneous combustion
o Division 4.3  Substances which in
contact with water emit flammable
gases

CLASS 5:  Are substances that may contribute to

OXIDIZING or cause combustion by yielding oxygen
SUBSTANCES as the result of a chemical reaction
o Division 5.1  Oxidizing substances
o Division 5.2  Organic peroxides

CLASS 6:  Infectious substances are materials that

TOXIC & are known to or likely to contain
INFECTIOUS pathogens such as viruses, bacteria,
SUBSTANCES parasites, fungi and other
microorganisms that can cause disease
in humans and animals.
o Division 4.1  Toxic substances
o Division 4.2  Infectious substances

CLASS 7:  Materials containing radionuclides

RADIOACTIVE

CLASS 8:  Include substances that disintegrate or

CORROSIVES degrade other materials on contact by
way of chemical action

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Hazardous materials NCM 120
accompany all shipments and list a 24-hour emergency
information telephone number.
SENSES
v Odor, vapor clouds, dead animals, and dermal/ ocular irritation
can indicate the presence of HAZMATs. However, some
chemicals can impair an individual’s sense of smell (e.g.,
hydrogen sulfide) while others have no odor, color, or taste at
all (e.g., carbon monoxide)

HAZMATS INFORMATION SYSTEM

AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE
REGISTRY (ATSDR)
v Provides 24-hour assistance to emergency responders in
managing HAZMAT incidents.
CHEMM INTELLIGENT SYNDROMES TOOL (CHEMM-
IST)
v Decision support tool to aid in toxidrome identification in
HAZMAT victims.
CHEMTREC
v Provides 24-hour emergency contact for identification of
HAZMAT and precautionary measures.
FIRST RESPONDER SUPPORT TOOLS (FRST)
v Provides critical map-based information to emergency
responders in managing HAZMAT incidents.
NATIONAL PESTICIDE INFORMATION CENTER (NPIC)
v Provides information about pesticides and pesticide-related
topics. Available only weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
NIOSH POCKET GUIDE TO CHEMICAL HAZARDS
v Provides general information and industrial hygiene information
for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals.
REGIONAL POISON CONTROL CENTER
v Provides 24-hour assistance to emergency responders and
healthcare personnel in managing HAZMAT victims.
TOXMAP ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MAPS
v Provides information on previous HAZMAT incidents and
location of HAZMAT.
TOXICOLOGY DATA NETWORK (TOXNET)
v Provides peer-reviewed information on toxicity, chemicals,
medications, diseases, environmental health, occupational
safety and health, risk assessment, and regulations.
WIRELESS INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS (WISER)
v Provides assistance to emergency responders in managing
HAZMAT incidents. Decision support tool to aid in chemical
identification based on properties, symptoms, etc.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT/

DISPOSAL SYSTEM
PLACARDS/LABELS v Treatment
v Placards are used when HAZMATs are being stored in bulk,  Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical, thermal,
such as in cargo tanks. Labels designate HAZMATs kept in biological, and physical methods.
smaller containers. v Chemical methods

SHIPPING PAPERS  include ion exchange, precipitation, oxidation and

v These should provide the shipping name, hazard class, reduction, and neutralization.
identification number, and quantity, and may indicate whether v Thermal methods
the material is waste or poison. Shipping papers are required to  is high- temperature incineration.

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Hazardous materials NCM 120

v Biological treatment,
 of certain organic wastes is also an option. One method
used to treat hazardous waste biologically is called
landfarming.
v Physical treatment,
 on the other hand, concentrates, solidifies, or reduces the
volume of the waste. Physical processes include
evaporation, sedimentation, flotation, and filtration. Yet
another process is solidification, which is achieved by
encapsulating the waste in concrete, asphalt, or plastic.
v SURFACE STORGAE AND LAND DISPOSAL
 Temporary on-site waste storage done through
constructed waste piles over an impervious base.
 Piles must be protected from wind dispersion or erosion.
 For hazardous liquid waste common type temporary
storage is an open pit or holding pond, called a lagoon.
v SECURE LANDFILLS
 Landfilling of hazardous solid or containerized waste is
regulated more stringently than landfilling
v REMIDIAL ACTION
 Undertaken to control or completely remove all the waste
material from the site and transport it to another location
for treatment and proper disposal.

RESOURCE:
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2021-
01/ERG2020-WEB.pdf

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