This document discusses identifying hazardous materials. It covers seven categories of clues that can indicate the presence of hazardous materials, including location/occupancy, container type, markings/labels, and written documentation. It emphasizes that senses should not be used to detect materials, as that is dangerous, and instead discusses using vision at a distance and monitoring equipment. The overall goal is to understand how to safely identify hazardous materials at an incident.

1. Replace with manual graphic on slide master
Essentials of Fire Fighting
6th Edition
Chapter 23 — Hazards, Behavior,
and Identification of
Haz Mat/WMD

2. Recognize introductory information
regarding hazardous materials.
Learning Objective 1
23–1

3. Alternatively
called dangerous
goods Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD)
A hazardous material is a substance that
can be dangerous to human health or the
environment if not controlled.
23–2

4. Human error
Mechanical malfunction
Container failure
Transportation accident
Vandalism or terrorism
Haz mat incidents can be caused by
several factors.
23–3

5. Variety of
hazards
encountered
Potential
health
effects of
materials
Physical
hazards
associated
with
materials
Safely mitigating haz mat
incidents requires that firefighters
understand three concepts.
23–4

6. CAUTION
The presence of hazardous materials
may significantly change mitigation
strategies and tactics.
23–5

7. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the main causes of
hazardous materials incidents?
23–6

8. Explain the six types of hazardous
materials hazards.
Learning Objective 2
23–7

9. Acute
Chronic
There are two types of health effects
that may result from haz mat incidents.
23–8

10. Thermal hazards involve
extremes of heat or cold.
23–9
Elevated
temperatures
Low temperatures
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11. Radiological hazards are categorized
as nonionizing or ionizing.
23–10

12. REVIEW QUESTION
What do the four types of ionizing
radiation have in common; how do
they differ?
23–11

13. Radiation health hazards vary
depending on the type of dose.
23–12

14. Asphyxiation hazards prevent the
body from absorbing oxygen.
23–13

15. Chemical hazards are grouped
into several categories.
23–14
(Cont.)
Poisons/toxins
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16. CAUTION
All personnel working at hazardous
materials incidents must use
appropriate personal protective
equipment, including respiratory
protection.
23–15

17. Chemical hazards are grouped
into several categories.
23–16
(Cont.)
Corrosives

18. Chemical hazards are grouped
into several categories.
23–17
Irritants Convulsants
Carcinogens Sensitizers/allergens

19. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the common categories for
chemical hazards?
23–18

20. Viruses Bacteria
Rickettsias Biological toxins
Etiological or biological hazards cause
severe, possibly infectious, diseases.
23–19
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21. Mechanical hazards cause injury
through blunt physical force.
23–20

22. REVIEW QUESTION
What types of mechanical hazards
are created by explosions?
23–21

23. Describe routes of entry for
hazardous materials.
Learning Objective 3
23–22

24. There are four routes of entry into the
human body for hazardous materials.
23–23

25. REVIEW QUESTION
How do hazardous materials enter
the body?
23–24

26. Describe the physical properties of
hazardous materials.
Learning Objective 4
23–25

27. Each state of matter poses
different types of hazards.
23–26

28. Flash point
Autoignition
temperature
Flammable,
combustible,
explosive
range
The behavior of flammable materials
depends on several properties.
23–27

29. Vapor pressure is the measure of a
substance’s tendency to evaporate.
23–28

30. Temperature at which
• Vapor pressure greater
than or equal to
atmospheric pressure
• Liquid changes to gas
Usually expressed
• In degrees F (C)
• At sea level air pressure
Special fire hazards
• Present if low boiling
point
Boiling liquid
expanding vapor
explosion (BLEVE)
may be caused
Boiling point is another property that
influences material behavior.
23–29

31. Vapor density measures weight of a pure
vapor or gas in comparison to an equal
volume of dry air in similar conditions.
23–30

32. Percentage of material that
dissolves in water at ambient
temperature
Can help determine appropriate
spill cleanup methods,
extinguishing agents
Knowing a material’s solubility can
help determine important information.
23–31

33. Specific gravity is the density of a
substance in comparison to another
standard material, typically water.
23–32

34. Persistence is a material’s ability
to remain in the environment.
23–33

35. Reactivity is the ability of a substance
to chemically react with other materials.
23–34

36. Catalyst causes
molecules to
combine in
chain
• If uncontrolled,
tremendous energy
can be released
Inhibitors
• Slow down, prevent
unwanted chemical
reactions
• Added to
polymerizing
materials
• Many time-sensitive
Polymerization is also a type of chemical
reaction that can be dangerous.
23–35

37. REVIEW QUESTION
How do the nine physical properties
of hazardous materials help predict
the behavior of the material?
23–36

38. Explain the six stages of the
General Emergency Behavior Model
(GEBMO) used to describe typical
hazardous materials events.
Learning Objective 5
23–37

39. The General Emergency Behavior Model
(GEBMO) describes the typical
sequence of events at an incident.
23–38

40. Thermal
Chemical
Mechanical
There are three ways in which a
container stressed beyond its
design strength may breach (fail).
23–39

41. A container breach may occur in various
ways and can be partial or total.
23–40

42. After a breach, release of the
contents and stored energy occurs.
23–41
Detonation
Violent
rupture
Rapid
relief
Spill/leak

43. Several patterns describe the
dispersion/engulfment of a
container’s contents after release.
23–42
(Cont.)

44. Several patterns describe the
dispersion/engulfment of a
container’s contents after release.
23–43
(Cont.)

45. Several patterns describe the
dispersion/engulfment of a
container’s contents after release.
23–44
(Cont.)

46. Several patterns describe the
dispersion/engulfment of a
container’s contents after release.
23–45

47. Short-term
Seconds
Minutes
Hours
Medium-term
Days
Weeks
Months
Long-term
Years
Generations
Exposure/contact is measured
in three time frames.
23–46

48. Estimations
• Always include worst-
case scenario
Estimation of harm is assessed for the
environment and/or human health.
23–47

49. DISCUSSION QUESTION
How can urban environments affect
releases?
23–48

50. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the six stages of the
General Emergency Behavior Model
(GEBMO)?
23–49

51. Identify the seven categories of
clues to the presence of hazardous
materials/weapons of mass
destruction.
Learning Objective 6
23–50

52. There are seven clues to the
presence of hazardous materials.
23–51

53. Locations and occupancies are the first
indicator of hazardous materials.
23–52

54. REVIEW QUESTION
What types of occupancies and
locations are most likely to have
hazardous materials?
23–53

55. Causing the greatest number of casualties
Causing panic and/or disruption
Damaging the economy
Destroying property
Demoralizing the community
Terrorism intends to do harm by
one of several actions.
23–54

56. Certain occupancies are more likely
to be targets for terrorist attack.
23–55
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57. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are some examples of each of the
occupancy types that may be the target
of terrorist attacks?
23–56

58. Container types and shapes fall
into several main categories.
23–57
Bulk-capacity fixed-facility containers
Bulk transportation containers
Intermediate bulk containers
Ton containers
(Cont.)

59. CAUTION
Structural fire fighting PPE does not
provide adequate protection against the
hazardous materials commonly stored in
ton containers.
23–58

60. Container types and shapes fall
into several main categories.
23–59
Nonbulk packaging
Containers for radioactive materials

61. REVIEW QUESTION
How can container types and shapes
give clues about the presence of
hazardous materials/weapons of
mass destruction?
23–60

62. U.S. DOT Four-digit
UN
identification
numbers
Other
Transportation placards, labels, and
markings take several forms.
23–61
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63. Railroad car
markings
• Reporting
marks
• Capacity stencil
• Specification
marking
Intermodal
container/tank
Railroad car and international
intermodal markings are found in
various forms and locations.
23–62
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64. REVIEW QUESTION
What types of transportation,
placards, labels, and markings are
used when transporting hazardous
materials?
23–63

65. There are several other marking
and color systems in use as well.
23–64
(Cont.)

66. There are several other marking
and color systems in use as well.
23–65
(Cont.)

67. CAUTION WARNING
DANGER POISON
There are several other marking
and color systems in use as well.
23–66
(Cont.)

68. There are several other marking
and color systems in use as well.
23–67
(Cont.)
“Red
you’re
dead”
“Yellow
you’re
mellow”
“White
is
bright”

69. CAUTION
When the military ships hazardous
materials by common carrier, it is not
required to use DOT and TC
transportation markings.
23–68

70. There are several other marking
and color systems in use as well.
23–69
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71. Describe the written resources used
to identify hazardous materials.
Learning Objective 7
23–70

72. There are several written resources that
can help identify hazardous materials.
23–71
(Cont.)Shipping
papers

73. There are several written resources that
can help identify hazardous materials.
23–72
(Cont.)
Safety
data
sheets

74. There are several written resources that
can help identify hazardous materials.
23–73
ERG
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75. REVIEW QUESTION
What are three common written
resources used to identify hazardous
materials?
23–74

76. Explain the ways to safely use the
five senses, along with monitoring
and detection equipment, to detect
the presence of hazardous materials.
Learning Objective 8
23–75

77. WARNING
Never use your senses to detect
hazardous materials. This method is
unreliable and extremely dangerous.
23–76

78. Chemical reactions
Physical actions
Indicators of physical or chemical actions/reactions
Vision, at a distance, can be the
safest sense to alert you to the
presence of hazardous materials.
23–77

79. Hearing
Smell
Taste
Touch
Other senses can also provide clues.
23–78

80. Changes in
respiration
Changes in
level of
consciousness
Abdominal
distress
Changes in
activity level
The senses of other people can also alert
firefighters to hazardous materials.
23–79
Visual
disturbances
Skin changes
Changes in
excretion or
thirst
Pain

81. Used to determine
presence,
concentration Require specialized
training
Monitoring and detection
devices are effective only if in
contact with the material.
23–80

82. REVIEW QUESTION
How are the senses, as well as
monitoring and detection equipment,
used to safely detect the presence of
hazardous materials?
23–81

83. Identify common indicators of
terrorist attacks.
Learning Objective 9
23–82

84. Deliberately target people
Higher potential for civilian casualties and greater risk
from contaminated victims and structural collapse
May involve booby traps, armed resistance, secondary
devices
Terrorist attacks differ from other haz
mat incidents in several ways.
23–83

85. Unusually large number of people with similar
symptoms reporting
Explosion at movie theater, government building, or
location with historical or symbolic significance
Two or more medical emergencies in transportation
hub, office building, or other public place
May be preceded by threat or warning of attack
There are several circumstances that
may be indicators of terrorist attack.
23–84

86. Each type of attack has specific
indicators and signs to be aware of.
23–85
(Cont.)
Chemical
Biological
Radiological
Nuclear
Explosive/incendiary

87. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the five categories of
terrorist attack indicators?
23–86

88. Describe the common indicators and
types of illicit laboratories.
Learning Objective 10
23–87

89. Firefighters should know several facts
regarding illicit laboratories
23–88
Produce illegal or controlled substances
Can be found almost anywhere
May be portable
Many contain products that are toxic, explosive, or highly flammable
May involve booby traps or armed resistance

90. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What drug is being made in most drug
labs?
23–89

91. The most common hazard for
meth labs is flammability.
23–90
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92. CAUTION
Fire suppression at illicit labs can be
difficult because chemicals such as
sodium and lithium are highly water-
reactive.
23–91

93. Meth labs may be indicated by
equipment and other indicators.
23–92

94. Chemical labs are indicated by
the presence of several items.
23–93

95. Explosive labs are the second most
common type of lab discovered.

96. REVIEW QUESTION
What are the indicators a responder
should look for when trying to
identify the difference between a
drug lab and an explosives lab?
23–95

97. Biological lab indicators
include several items.
23–96
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98. Explain ways to protect against
secondary attacks and booby traps.
Learning Objective 11
23–97

99. Used to
Secondary devices –
May be used
Booby traps
Typically detonated
Hidden or camouflaged
• Create chaos
• Divert responders from primary attack
• Terrorist attack
• Criminal event
• Illicit labs
• Often set at illicit labs
• May utilize other weapons
• Timer
• Radio-controlled or cell phone-
activated device
• Disguised as almost anything
Secondary devices and booby traps
target those already at the incident.
23–98

100. There are several items that should
arouse curiosity at an incident.
23–99
Containers with
unknown liquids or
materials
Unusual devices or
containers with
electronic
components
Devices containing
several flammable
materials
Materials attached to
or surrounding an
item that could be
used for shrapnel
Ordnance

101. Anticipate presence
of a secondary
device
Perform visual search
for suspicious items
before moving into
the incident area
Never touch or move
any item that may
conceal an explosive
device
Establish scene
security and scene
control zones
Evacuate victims and
nonessential
personnel as quickly
as possible
Firefighters should follow several
guidelines to guard against
possible secondary devices.
23–100

102. There are a wide variety of types of
booby traps to be aware of.
23–101

103. Always maintain
situational
awareness
Avoid
complacency
Use explosion-
proof equipment
Take aerial
reconnaissance
photographs
before entering
Do not touch or
move loose items
Check doors and
openings for wires
and/or traps
There are several steps firefighters
can take to avoid booby traps.
23–102

104. REVIEW QUESTION
What types of devices may be
commonly used as booby traps or
for a secondary attack?
23–103

105. • Hazardous materials can be present at
any incident scene, and responders
should always be aware of their
possible presence and the unique
challenges they pose.
• Responders must be able to recognize
containers that may contain hazardous
materials, and be able to predict what
types of hazards may be involved.
Summary
23–104
(Cont.)

106. • Responders should also be able to
predict the behavior of hazardous
materials, and how to recognize and
respond to incidents involving terrorist
attacks and illicit laboratories.
Summary
23–105