Hazardous Material Warning SystemsHazardous Material emergencies in the fire service are often are far more complex than in the past. With the concerns of terrorism, the use or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or radiological threats firefighters are introduced to basic courses in almost every level of training today. The federal government has developed strategies for assisting emergency responders with the Department of Transportation labeling system for transportation and the color coded warning system for fixed facilities (Shackelford, 2009 Pg. 242). Both warning systems have their own advantages and disadvantages and knowing the just how these systems work and the limitations they poses are important to first responders.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is a multistage, independent, non-profit organization that creates standardized risk management materials for all sectors of transportation, the environment, and the civilian economy. At TSB, management is led by the Board and a Board-approved program for developing quality, timely, reliable and non-invasive training methods for all aspects of management processes. There exists a rigorous learning system, including the skills needed to design and implement the material, and a comprehensive technical development, including technical concepts, documentation, design, training, training management methods and techniques, and tools provided by the TSB, as well as various other non-profit and corporate activities of TSB, such as development, evaluation, or assessment of systems and methods to enhance safety and quality.
The New Energy Transportation Act (NEAA) was signed into law in October 2004. Over the course of its course of more than two decades, NEAA is an integral part of the public transportation system in the U.S. The Act established an interagency clearing house for the Transportation Safety Board that meets monthly with industry to develop policy and actions (Hoegh, et al., 2008). NEAA is under the leadership of Amtrak, the U.S. Postal Service, North America’s largest passenger rail service, and United States Postal Service, which is comprised of Amtrak, United States Postal Service, National Postal Service, Transportation Safety Board of America and United States Postal Service. Prior to 2009, this organization held quarterly meetings with major transportation industries and organizations (Stuart Smith, et al., 2008). The United States Postal Service Board includes members of the National Transportation Safety Board, and is responsible for meeting with industry on safety issues for all passenger rail passenger service operations. The Department of Transportation publishes a daily paper to carry out NEAA on a daily basis, but currently there are not any public meetings.
The Department of Transportation has dedicated a substantial effort to developing and implementing electronic safety system safety training courses. Under NEAA, there are approximately 5,300 teaching hours available to training teachers and their employers in all of the federal transportation, safety, environmental, and health (Hoegh et al., 2008), public health, and state regulatory functions and systems (United States Postal Service, Amtrak, National Postal Service, United States Postal Service and United States Postal Service). Through several types of learning opportunities, we have established and developed a working network of knowledgeable, experienced instructors at the Department of Transportation which integrates all elements of safety, workplace safety, workplace safety, and environment safety as well as health and environment safety and health information. The Department of Transportation also develops a safety-related curriculum to inform staff, the public, federal and state stakeholders of safety risks, and to assess and implement these systems throughout the U.S. for the purposes of public safety, financial and employment safety and health.
The Department of Transportation
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is a multistage, independent, non-profit organization that creates standardized risk management materials for all sectors of transportation, the environment, and the civilian economy. At TSB, management is led by the Board and a Board-approved program for developing quality, timely, reliable and non-invasive training methods for all aspects of management processes. There exists a rigorous learning system, including the skills needed to design and implement the material, and a comprehensive technical development, including technical concepts, documentation, design, training, training management methods and techniques, and tools provided by the TSB, as well as various other non-profit and corporate activities of TSB, such as development, evaluation, or assessment of systems and methods to enhance safety and quality.
The New Energy Transportation Act (NEAA) was signed into law in October 2004. Over the course of its course of more than two decades, NEAA is an integral part of the public transportation system in the U.S. The Act established an interagency clearing house for the Transportation Safety Board that meets monthly with industry to develop policy and actions (Hoegh, et al., 2008). NEAA is under the leadership of Amtrak, the U.S. Postal Service, North America’s largest passenger rail service, and United States Postal Service, which is comprised of Amtrak, United States Postal Service, National Postal Service, Transportation Safety Board of America and United States Postal Service. Prior to 2009, this organization held quarterly meetings with major transportation industries and organizations (Stuart Smith, et al., 2008). The United States Postal Service Board includes members of the National Transportation Safety Board, and is responsible for meeting with industry on safety issues for all passenger rail passenger service operations. The Department of Transportation publishes a daily paper to carry out NEAA on a daily basis, but currently there are not any public meetings.
The Department of Transportation has dedicated a substantial effort to developing and implementing electronic safety system safety training courses. Under NEAA, there are approximately 5,300 teaching hours available to training teachers and their employers in all of the federal transportation, safety, environmental, and health (Hoegh et al., 2008), public health, and state regulatory functions and systems (United States Postal Service, Amtrak, National Postal Service, United States Postal Service and United States Postal Service). Through several types of learning opportunities, we have established and developed a working network of knowledgeable, experienced instructors at the Department of Transportation which integrates all elements of safety, workplace safety, workplace safety, and environment safety as well as health and environment safety and health information. The Department of Transportation also develops a safety-related curriculum to inform staff, the public, federal and state stakeholders of safety risks, and to assess and implement these systems throughout the U.S. for the purposes of public safety, financial and employment safety and health.
The Department of Transportation
Firstly, the (DOT) Department of Transportation vehicle placard system has several advantages for first responders arriving on the scene of an incident. Placards provide information to assist responders in decision making. Using the Emergency Response Guide Book (ERG) to research information provided on the placards to identify product name, hazards to the public, fire suppression, environmental and health hazards rapid actions or decision making can be accomplished.
However, disadvantages are also seen with the placard warning system. Information is limited and basic. Responders will need to refer to (MSDS) material safety data sheet (Shackelford, 2009 Pg. 241) for specific material information. These forms are transported with the vehicle and can typically be used to gather detailed information needed regarding proper and safe mitigation regarding the incident.
Another system of warning emergency responders of hazards is the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) 704 program (Shackelford, 2009 Pg. 242). Used to mark buildings that contain hazardous materials kept on site this system used color coding with a number scale for the level of danger posed by the product. The system identifies health risk, flammability and material reactivity to water. Used as an initial warning system for responders that can be easily identified and recognized to indicated that a hazard is present inside the building (Shackelford, 2009 Pg. 245) this system is effective but limited also.
A shortcoming of this system can be seen in buildings that store multiple products. The system identifies the most dangerous levels in each category, present(Shackelford, 2009 Pg. 24). This may cause confusion as responders cannot readily identify what chemical possesses what level of risk without identifying labels on product containers.
Subsequently requirements such as