Control measure

Absorption of polluting materials

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Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Consider providing environmental agency grab packs on pumping appliances, high volume pumps and environmental protection units
Have arrangements in place for the disposal of contaminated absorbents for incidents when the responsibility for waste disposal cannot be identified

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Determine if the polluting materials can be dealt with by using an appropriate type of absorbent materials
Consider using the grab packs provided by an environmental agency or alternatives to absorb polluting materials
Hand over the absorbent material waste to the responsible person, or make arrangements for its disposal
Be prepared to provide the responsible person with information about the disposal of polluting materials and cost recovery, if the environmental agency is not present

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Types of absorbent materials	Understand: What materials are suitable for use as absorbent materials The use of appropriate absorbent materials to contain spillages
Hazards of absorbed material	Understand: That polluting materials retain their hazardous properties when absorbed That absorbed material should be handled appropriately That absorbent materials should not be used for larger spillages because of the amount of waste that will be created
Environmental agency grab packs	Understand: That environmental agencies supply grab packs that should be made available on fire and rescue service: Pumping appliances High volume pumps (HVPs) Environmental protection units What is contained in the environmental agency grab packs and how to use the items
Responsible person duties and the ‘polluter pays’ principle	Understand: That the environmental agency officer should inform the responsible person about: Their responsibility to dispose of polluting materials The cost recovery implications of the ‘polluter pays’ principle That personnel may need to provide the responsible person with information if the environmental agency is not present

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
Determine if the polluting materials can be dealt with by using an appropriate type of absorbent materials	Demonstrate the ability to: Consider the amount and type of polluting material to determine if it can be contained using absorbent materials
Consider using the grab packs provided by an environmental agency or alternatives to absorb polluting materials	Demonstrate the ability to: Use appropriate absorbent materials to contain spillages of polluting materials
Hand over the absorbent material waste to the responsible person, or make arrangements for its disposal	Demonstrate the ability to: Dispose of absorbent material waste, either by: Handing it over to the responsible person Making arrangements for its safe disposal
Be prepared to provide the responsible person with information about the disposal of polluting materials and cost recovery, if the environmental agency is not present	Demonstrate the ability to: Provide the responsible person with information about the disposal of polluting materials and cost recovery

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
Dilution of polluting materials
Control measure
Treatment of polluting materials

Environmental protection

Control measure

Absorption of polluting materials

Control measure

Absorption of polluting materials

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria