Effects Of Hazardous Materials On Fire Service - Essay Example

Running Head: Effects of hazardous materials on fire service Insert His/her Effectsof hazardous materials on fire service Hazardous materials: Before discussing the effects of hazardous materials on fire service a small research needs to be done to understand the meaning of the term “hazardous materials”. Hazardous materials are those substances or agents that can cause harm or danger to living organisms. These include biological and chemical substances both. Chemical and toxics are being used in a wide variety of products. These materials if not transported, stored or disposed off properly become hazardous materials. These materials are the cause of a large number of deaths and also large number of diseases in various parts of the world. These hazardous materials are also used and stored in homes routinely. Some hazardous materials are combustible, flammable, radioactive as well as poisonous. They are produced due to incidents in plants or other such activities. Effects of hazardous materials on the environment: There are a large number of hazardous materials that are used as chemicals in various walks of life such as in agriculture or cultivation of land. These chemicals get dissolved in the soil and contaminate the water sources as well as compromise the hygiene. The waste from the industries is also a main source of increasing amount of hazardous materials in the environment. These wastes are discharged in rivers, seas, and oceans hence polluting the water sources as well as the aquatic life. In order to understand the effect of hazardous material we must take into considerations the main causes of these hazards, the ways in which they can affect the human body, the precautions that must be taken in order to perform a safe rescue operation during fire service and also the handling of the situation from the beginning to the end with correct decisions and safety as the prime concern. Effects of Hazardous Materials: Study of Hazardous materials is divided into six main categories: 1. Physical condition 2. Ways of exposure during fire service 3. Toxic hazards 4. Radioactive hazards 5. Precautions 6. Handling Physical Conditions: Under the broad term of physical conditions there are two more terms that need to be understood before going forward that are: 1. Contamination 2. Exposure Contamination is simply defined as the contact of a hazardous material with the clothes or some part of a body such as hair, skin e.t.c. while exposure happens when a hazardous material enters a human body through respiration or other means or is in direct contact with human body. To avoid these issues fire service men are provided an apparatus and special kind of clothing that resists exposure as well as contamination. Exposure can happen without contamination however in certain case contamination usually results in exposure unless only the clothing is affected by the hazardous material. For example many gases can enter a human body without coming in contact with the parts of the body or the clothing through the process of respiration or breathing. The ways of exposure during fire service: The second issue that arises is the ways of exposure. There are three ways of exposure namely Absorption, Respiration and Ingestion. Absorption: The human skin has an ability to absorb certain substances which it comes in contact with. But this depends upon certain conditions namely the time for which the substance comes in contact with the skin. If a hazardous material comes in contact with the skin it is not always necessary that its effect will be visible spontaneously. Its effects may be identified with the passage of time. Intact skin provides more resistance against such materials than damaged or in wounded parts of the skin as the hazardous material may enter the blood supply thus making the health problems more severe. Respiration: As we know the respiration is the process in which exchange of oxygen and carbon-dioxide takes place between the human body and the environment. The breathing process of human body is also a source of “exposure”. Many hazardous materials in gaseous forms may enter the body with the individual not even knowing. Many parts of our human body consist of some anti-chemical shields that neutralize the effects of these chemicals to a great extent. Our lungs also consist of a shield made up of mucous cells that resist these effects to a great extent. Ingestion: Ingestion occurs when a hazardous material enters the human body by coming in contact with the mouth or some adulterated hands or garments come in contact with the mouth during the fire service. It also results in “exposure” but it is not as much severe as the other two types and its effects are quite slow. Toxic hazards: Due to the usage of a large quantity of chemicals in daily life, an individual is at all times at a risk of getting exposure or contamination. Some of the toxic hazards are as follows: 1. Corrosiveness 2. Irritants 3. Sensitizers 4. Asphyxiants Corrosives: Toxic materials can cause corrosives that cause an irreversible effect on the human tissues. The affect of corrosives resemble a burn mark. They are usually caused by acids. Irritants: Irritant is also caused by toxic hazards during fire service. Irritants cause temporary but sometimes severe irritation to the eyes, skin and other parts of human body. They can cause complexity in breathing and other functions of the human body. Sensitizers: Sensitizers are also caused by toxic hazards. They are like an allergy that is caused due to repeated exposure and can affect the respiration as well as healing abilities of an individual. It can also cause rash on human skin or damage it permanently. Asphyxiants: These are the agents that have the ability to remove oxygen from human body thus causing respiration problems resulting in immediate death. They are usually present in gaseous state only and use the process of exposure to enter into the human body and damage the lungs as well as other parts of the respiratory system. Radioactive hazards: Radioactive materials emit different types of radiations. One can only secure himself from these radiations by limiting the time near the source of radiations. These radiations are very harmful. If subjected to them for a long period of time they can destroy the tissues. Therefore a type of shielding material is used in fire service to protect the individuals. Infections: Radioactive hazards can cause infections. Infections are caused by different types of viruses that enter the human body through exposure or contamination. Carcinogens: Another dangerous effect is of carcinogens that can cause cancer. They can affect an organ or many organs at the same time. They include benzene and vinyl chloride. Also neurotoxic chemicals can cause some permanent damage to nervous systems including the brain functions. Precautions: Before handling a certain condition of fire under the effects of hazardous materials some precautions are to be taken under consideration namely: 1. The fire service men have all the necessary gadgets and apparatus required. 2. Flammable and combustible hazardous materials should be secured 3. The life of individual is a prime concern 4. The affected area should be carefully examined for any traces of hazardous materials. 5. Escape routes should be properly understood 6. There should be an emergency backup plan in case of some unavoidable incident. 7. Baring flammable materials in areas of the facility 8. Appropriately storing/using, hazardous materials that may be required inside the building for storage or operational necessities (as solvents in spray booths). After all the precautions have been taken into account and all the necessary requirements are dealt with, the time comes for the rapid response and handling of the situation. Handling: 1. The first part of the handling process for any fire service men is to analyze as well as understand the problem through proper investigations. 2. After analyzing the problem comes the planning for the rapid response with the life of the affected as a prime concern. 3. After the planning is completed the time comes the hardest part of implementation that includes both the knowledge of the fire fighter as well as the decision making capabilities. Managing Hazardous incidents: Emergency incidents can be avoided effectively when the health and safety of the service -men is maintained as the main concern, when calculated objectives are proper for the recognized goals and when the scene is managed in a systematic manner. Efficient scene management depends on a precise structure that is outlined in standard working procedures, routinely practiced, and used at all incidents. A procedure without an incident management system results in poor utilization of resources and endangers the health and security of response personnel. If such situations arise when hazardous materials become a source of danger for the service-men the first thing to do is to isolate hazard area and refuse entry means to keep everyone away from the area if they are openly involved in the emergency response action. Secondly the evacuation must be done with the main goal in mind that is to minimize the losses as much as possible .Evacuate means to move all people from the endangered area to a protected place. Thirdly managing the people ones evacuated to a safer place. This procedure is called in place protection. In place security means to direct people to rapidly go inside a building and stay inside until the risk passes. References Anonymous. (2008). Hazardous Materials Incident Response. In Fire Department (Chapter 4). Retrieved from http://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/27181/title%2013%20-%20chapter%204.pdf Dana F. K. Jefferey L. B. Kelly B. K. James F. L. Joan E. R. Peter P. R. Carl A. B. (2002). Psychological Effects of Hazardous Materials Exposures. Psychosomatic Medicine 64:841-846. Retrieved from http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/content/64/5/841.full The Company Officer. n.d. Respiratory Disease and the Fire Service Report Issued. Retrieved from http://thecompanyofficer.com/2010/09/18/respiratory-diseases-and-the-fire-service-report-issued/ Jamaica Fire Brigade Training Department. n.d. Hazardous Materials. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicafirebrigade.org/haz.pdf LBNL, LRDP, EIR. (2007). Hazards and Hazardous Materials. Environmental Impact, Setting and Mitigation Measures, ESA / 201074. Retrieved from http://www.lbl.gov/community/LRDP/pdf/DEIR/4F_Hazards_DEIR.pdf Read More