Control measure

Dilution of polluting materials

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Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Provide relevant personnel with access to information regarding sensitivity of watercourses, aquifers and other receptors

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Consider diluting domestic quantities of polluting materials with a sufficiently large volume of water if other control measures are unsuitable
Carry out a risk assessment before diluting polluting materials, to consider the pollutant type and quantity, and the nature of any receiving water system
Unless there is a threat to life, obtain approval from the relevant organisation before diluting polluting materials
Avoid the use of detergents or cleaning products when diluting polluting materials, unless approved to do so by the relevant organisation
Avoid diluted polluting materials reaching drains unless given permission to do so by the relevant organisation

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Dilution of domestic quantities of polluting materials	Understand: That it may be appropriate to dilute domestic quantities of polluting materials if other control measures are unsuitable The need to carry out a risk assessment before diluting polluting materials to consider: The pollutant type and quantity The nature of any receiving water system
Approval for dilution of polluting materials	Understand: That approval should be sought from the environmental agency and sewerage undertaker before diluting polluting materials That if there is a threat to life, the environmental agency and sewerage undertaker should be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable
Use of detergents and cleaning products	Understand: That detergent or other cleaning products should not be added to polluting materials or spillages hosed to the drain without prior agreement by either: The appropriate environmental agency The sewerage undertaker
Sources of specialist advice about dilution of polluting materials	Understand: That advice about dilution of polluting materials may need to be obtained from specialists, including: A hazardous materials adviser (HMA) External specialist The Chemsafe service provided by the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC)

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 K The importance of limiting damage to property and the environment K How to limit damage to property and the environment K How to apply methods and techniques for controlling and containing hazardous materials K How to apply methods and techniques for decontamination including avoiding further contamination
Health and safety
K 1 Safe working practices of your organisation K 2 Hazards and risks relating to hazardous materials and decontamination affecting people and the environment K 3 How to use risk assessment information to make decisions K 4 How to apply decisions based on the assessment of risk K 5 Your organisation's control measures to mitigate risk
Organisational
K 6 Guidelines, legislation and standard operating procedures that apply when dealing with hazardous materials and decontamination
Technical
K 21 The importance of limiting damage to property and the environment K 22 How to limit damage to property and the environment K 23 How to apply methods and techniques for controlling and containing hazardous materials K 24 How to apply methods and techniques for decontamination including avoiding further contamination

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Consider diluting domestic quantities of polluting materials with a sufficiently large volume of water if other control measures are unsuitable	Demonstrate the ability to: Dilute polluting materials in an appropriate manner Control the dilution of pollutants so that they have minimal impact on the environment
Carry out a risk assessment before diluting polluting materials, to consider the pollutant type and quantity, and the nature of any receiving water system	Demonstrate the ability to: Before diluting polluting material, carry out a risk assessment to determine: The pollutant type and quantity The nature of any receiving water system
Unless there is a threat to life, obtain approval from the relevant organisation before diluting polluting materials	Demonstrate the ability to: Consult the relevant organisation prior to diluting polluting materials, unless there is a threat to life If there is a threat to life, inform the relevant organisation about the dilution of polluting materials as soon as reasonably practicable
Avoid the use of detergents or cleaning products when diluting polluting materials, unless approved to do so by the relevant organisation	Demonstrate the ability to: Ensure detergents or cleaning products are not used when diluting polluting materials, without the approval of the relevant organisation
Avoid diluted polluting materials reaching drains unless given permission to do so by the relevant organisation	Demonstrate the ability to: Ensure diluted polluting materials are not allowed to reach or be hosed into drains, without the approval of the relevant organisation

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 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 P Select equipment which can be safely used when decontaminating and operate it in line with its limitations, safety and operating instructions P Assist with the decontamination and safe disposal of contaminated items and materials in line with the decontamination and disposal guidance available P Work with others including colleagues and other agencies in line with your organisation's communication procedures
Minimise damage to the environment from hazardous materials
P 1 Agree with relevant others your tasks and duties at an incident in line with your role and responsibilities P 2 Select equipment which can be safely used to minimise effects of hazardous materials in line with your organisation's guidelines P 3 Operate equipment in line with its limitations, safety and operating instructions P 4 Identify risks affecting your tasks and duties in line with your organisation's risk assessment procedures P 5 Use appropriate control measures to mitigate risk in line with your organisation's procedures P 7 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 8 Work in ways that keep yourself, others, property and the environment safe and free from harm
Decontaminate people and property
P 10 Select equipment which can be safely used when decontaminating and operate it in line with its limitations, safety and operating instructions P 12 Assist with the decontamination and safe disposal of contaminated items and materials in line with the decontamination and disposal guidance available
Support operational incidents
P 17 Work with others including colleagues and other agencies in line with your organisation's communication procedures

Control measure
Containment of polluting materials
Control measure
Absorption of polluting materials

Environmental protection

Control measure

Dilution of polluting materials

Control measure

Dilution of polluting materials

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria