Control measure
Recycling

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TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Recycling	Understand: The effects of recycling fire water run-off That materials within concentrated fire water run-off may preclude its use as an extinguishing agent The need to seek advice when disposing of recycled fire water run-off The health risks associated with fire water run-off

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Recycling

Understand:

The effects of recycling fire water run-off
That materials within concentrated fire water run-off may preclude its use as an extinguishing agent
The need to seek advice when disposing of recycled fire water run-off
The health risks associated with fire water run-off

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:
Health and safety 2976
K Safe working practices of your organisation. K Hazards and risks relating to hazardous materials and decontamination affecting people and the environment. K How to use risk assessment information to make decisions. K How to apply decisions based on the assessment of risk. K Your organisation's control measures to mitigate risk. K Guidelines, legislation and standard operating procedures that apply when dealing with hazardous materials and decontamination.
Health and safety
K Safe working practices of your organisation. K Hazards and risks relating to hazardous materials and decontamination affecting people and the environment. K How to use risk assessment information to make decisions. K How to apply decisions based on the assessment of risk. K Your organisation's control measures to mitigate risk.
Organisational
K Guidelines, legislation and standard operating procedures that apply when dealing with hazardous materials and decontamination.

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Recycling fire water run-off	Demonstrate the ability to: Use appropriate equipment when recycling fire water run-off Apply appropriate techniques for recycling fire water run-off Use appropriate control measures to mitigate the effects of fire water run-off Apply an appropriate process for disposal of concentrated fire water run-off

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Recycling fire water run-off

Demonstrate the ability to:

Use appropriate equipment when recycling fire water run-off
Apply appropriate techniques for recycling fire water run-off
Use appropriate control measures to mitigate the effects of fire water run-off
Apply an appropriate process for disposal of concentrated fire water run-off

NOS performance criteria

You must be able to:
You must be able to - TO BE ARCHIVED 2947
P Agree with relevant others your tasks and duties at an incident in line with your role and responsibilities. P Select equipment which can be safely used to minimise effects of hazardous materials in line with your organisation's guidelines. P Operate equipment in line with its limitations, safety and operating instructions. P Identify risks affecting your tasks and duties in line with your organisation's risk assessment procedures. P Use appropriate control measures to mitigate risk in line with your organisation's procedures. P Provide reports on hazardous materials to relevant others in line with your organisation's procedures, including: 6.1 The type 6.2 Location 6.3 Quantity 6.4 Physical properties P Use agreed methods and techniques to minimise the impact of risk from hazardous materials in line with your allocated tasks and duties at an incident. P Work in ways that keep yourself, others, property and the environment safe and free from harm.
Minimise damage to the environment from hazardous materials
P Agree with relevant others your tasks and duties at an incident in line with your role and responsibilities. P Select equipment which can be safely used to minimise effects of hazardous materials in line with your organisation's guidelines. P Operate equipment in line with its limitations, safety and operating instructions. P Identify risks affecting your tasks and duties in line with your organisation's risk assessment procedures. P Use appropriate control measures to mitigate risk in line with your organisation's procedures. P Provide reports on hazardous materials to relevant others in line with your organisation's procedures, including: 6.1 The type 6.2 Location 6.3 Quantity 6.4 Physical properties P Use agreed methods and techniques to minimise the impact of risk from hazardous materials in line with your allocated tasks and duties at an incident. P Work in ways that keep yourself, others, property and the environment safe and free from harm.

Control measure knowledge

Pumps can be used to recycle fire water at an incident. It is important that the act of recycling water does not make the situation worse. Consistent recycling of fire water run-off will increase the concentration of pollution, and the risk of spreading pathogens within recycled water spray. Incident commanders should make sure that the recirculated fire water is not harmful to either to personnel attending the incident or the local population.

Recycling water from mixed waste (household waste containing organic material, often nappies and food) should be avoided. For all other recycling sites (wood, plastic etc.) recycling the fire water run-off along with other tactics i.e. controlled burn presents a viable option to reducing damage to the environment.

Disposal of used recycled fire water may also present a problem for the fire service towards the end of an incident. Advice on continued use of recycled fire water run-off and its use and disposal of should be obtained from the:

Relevant environment agency
Public health body
Tactical adviser
Hazardous materials adviser

For further information see Section 3.2.8 Environmental Protection Handbook .

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Have procedures for recycling fire water run-off
Where appropriate, have procedures for testing pollutants in recycled fire water run-off. This maybe undertaken by:
- Relevant environment agencies (biological and chemical sampling)
- Sewage undertakers
- Public health bodies
- Alternative supplier/laboratories
- Tactical advisers
- Hazardous materials advisers/technical support teams

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Identify and assess the impact of the material on fire before the decision to recycle fire water run-off is made
Consider the possibility of responders and the local population inhaling pollutants within recycled water vapour, based on their location and distance from the fire
Carry out an environmental risk assessment and monitor the impact of tactics on the identified risk
Consider the possible recirculation of fire water run-off, to reduce water used
Consider the use of smooth bore branches to avoid blockages
Recognise the potential contamination of equipment and PPE. See National Operational Guidance: Operations
Consider hygiene. See National Operational Guidance: Operations
Use false bottom dams or pools (made of plastic trays), containment tanks or lagoons to reduce the possibility of blockages from particles contained within water run-off
Reduce the level of pollutants and debris in the firewater by replacing a proportion of the fire water each time it is recycled with fresh water
Identify future disposal options. See Disposal

Control measure - Recycling

Control measure Recycling

Control measure Recycling

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions

Control measure
Recycling

Control measure
Recycling