Control measure

Containment: Toxic materials

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TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Contain toxic materials	Understand: Key factors that determine how toxic substances are contained Alternative methods of managing toxic substances that cannot be contained Key properties that affect behaviour of toxic: Solids Liquids Vapours Refer to – Containment – Environmental training specification

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Contain toxic materials

Understand:

Key factors that determine how toxic substances are contained
Alternative methods of managing toxic substances that cannot be contained
Key properties that affect behaviour of toxic:
- Solids
- Liquids
- Vapours

Refer to – Containment – Environmental training specification

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:
You need to know and understand - TO BE ARCHIVED 2816
K Safe working practices of your organisation when responding to fire and rescue incidents K Hazards and risks of fire and rescue incidents affecting people, property and the environment K Your organisation's control measures to mitigate risk K Legislation, policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols that apply to your role
Health and safety
K 3 Safe working practices of your organisation when responding to fire and rescue incidents K 4 Hazards and risks of fire and rescue incidents affecting people, property and the environment K 7 Your organisation's control measures to mitigate risk
Organisational
K 9 Legislation, policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols that apply to your role

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Contain toxic materials	Demonstrate the ability to: Assess the impact of a toxic substance release Liaise with a specialist adviser to determine suitable methods of containment Apply effective techniques to contain toxic substances Reduce vaporisation by appropriate means Effectively manage the mixing of toxic materials, containment systems and water Refer to – Containment – Environmental training specification

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Contain toxic materials

Demonstrate the ability to:

Assess the impact of a toxic substance release
Liaise with a specialist adviser to determine suitable methods of containment
Apply effective techniques to contain toxic substances
Reduce vaporisation by appropriate means
Effectively manage the mixing of toxic materials, containment systems and water

Refer to – Containment – Environmental training specification

NOS performance criteria

You must be able to:
Provide special advice to control fire and rescue incidents
P 1 Gather information for fire and rescue incidents within your area of expertise in line with your organisation's procedures P 2 Identify and maintain awareness of risk for fire and rescue incidents within your area of expertise in line with risk assessment processes P 3 Identify control measures to reduce fire and rescue risks in line with risk assessment processes P 4 Assess factors affecting fire and rescue incidents for your area of expertise and in line with the organisation's procedures P 8 Identify tactics which allow effective control methods in line with your organisation's requirements

You must be able to:

Provide special advice to control fire and rescue incidents

P 1

Gather information for fire and rescue incidents within your area of expertise in line with your organisation's procedures

P 2

Identify and maintain awareness of risk for fire and rescue incidents within your area of expertise in line with risk assessment processes

P 3

Identify control measures to reduce fire and rescue risks in line with risk assessment processes

P 4

Assess factors affecting fire and rescue incidents for your area of expertise and in line with the organisation's procedures

P 8

Identify tactics which allow effective control methods in line with your organisation's requirements

Control measure knowledge

Managing a release of a substance with toxic health hazards will be primarily determined by their physical form. The overall objective is to disrupt the spread and prevent access to areas where the concentration is high enough to cause harm. The physical form as well as quantity are key factors that determine where harmful concentrations will spread. The physical form will then dictate vulnerable routes of entry, for example, inhalation risk from gases and vapours. In circumstances where it is not possible to prevent spread, dispersal to low concentrations should be considered. This option must be weighed against the wider impact on public health and the environment.

Where there is a continuous release, a key priority will be to prevent further material from escaping, minimising the size of the release and therefore the size and duration of any hazard zone.

Solids

Key properties that will affect the way solids behave, and therefore their spread, include

Size of particles
Melting point
Water reactivity and miscibility

Liquids

Key properties that affect the way liquids behave, and therefore spread, include:

Vapour pressure (vapours may be given off in dangerous quantities)
Water reactivity and miscibility
Relative density
Vapours

Key properties that affect the way vapours behave, and therefore spread, include:

Vapour density
Level of toxicity
Solubility in water

To make a full assessment of substances and their properties, suitable equipment and advice may be required. For crews who operate in this area, key control measures are to prevent toxic substances from getting into the body, therefore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and decontamination should be assessed.

See National Operational Guidance: Hazardous materials

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Consider their local risks and provide procedures and support arrangements for gas and vapour monitoring including equipment purchase, mobilising, use and maintenance
Provide suitable containment equipment to prevent the spread of hazardous materials

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Attempt to contain the spill or release of any toxic substances as close to the source as possible
Determine the potential spread of toxic substances
Protect emergency responders’ routes of entry based on the physical form of the toxic substance
Consider options to contain or disperse the spread of toxic materials in consultation with HMA
Consider options to contain or disperse the spread of toxic materials in consultation with a hazardous materials adviser (HMA)
Consider reducing vaporisation or gassing-off by covering or reducing the surface area of spills
Consider reducing vaporisation or gassing-off by absorbing spills with inert materials
Consider reducing vaporisation or gassing-off by reducing the temperature of bulk containers
Consider the potential reaction between the toxic material and containment material / water
Consider the potential reaction between the toxic material and containment material/water, in some cases producing heat and/or flammable/toxic gas
Prevent accidental mixing of different toxic materials as this can lead to reactions which may give off large amounts of heat and or gas
Consider using water spray or curtains to contain and control toxic vapours and gases

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Containment: Toxic materials

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand - TO BE ARCHIVED 2816

Practical application

NOS performance criteria

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions