Hazardous Area Response Team

Early recognition of a biological event presents several challenges compared with a chemical event (CDC, 2000 Henderson, 1999). A chemical event will typically be overt, with a sudden onset in a localized area. First responders in a chemical attack will most often be traditional emergency personnel, usually from local police and fire departments, along with state and local hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response teams. Containment of the agent and decontamination of affected persons are key elements in the response (Henderson, 1999). In contrast, an unannounced, or covert, attack is... 

Do only those things that you possess adequate training to perform. Check the area for potential hazards such as electrical cords or wires near the spill or obstacles in the path of the emergency response team. Check for injuries and notify emergency medical personnel. Decontaminate victims, if possible. Cooperate with emergency personnel when they arrive, and pass on any information you ve gathered. 

If at any time the inspection team cannot comply with OPCW Regulations the inspection activities will cease until such time as a waiver is granted in accordance with paragraph 7 below. In the case of difficulties, the provisions of paragraph 3.3.3 below shall apply. Inspection team personnel are also responsible for their own safety and shall comply with advice from OPCW health and safety representatives at all times. At hazardous sites, inspection team personnel must remain constantly aware of their personal environment and must be alert to the activities of others in the immediate area. All members of an inspection team are required to comply with the OPCW Health and Safety Policy and Regulations and also with the inspected State Party national and site-specific health and safety policies and regulations, and, where appropriate, also with those of a relevant Host State. 

Evaluate possible use of less hazardous substances Create detailed spill containment plans and properly train response teams Conduct and document personal and area monitoring as required by OSHA standards Provide education and training for all workers with any potential exposures... 

Direction Area safety teams have clearly defined responsibilities. Employees discuss task hazards prior to starting to work. 

In the civil setting, unlike the military, there are few preset detection and alarm systems in vulnerable public places such as the metro system. Toxic releases are usually the responsibility of the fire and rescue services who have their own detection equipment. Increasingly, primary emergency medical response teams also have their own equipment for detection and identification of a toxic agent release. Figure 4.3 shows the range of equipment carried by the British hazardous area paramedical response teams (HART). 

As changing emergency conditions information is obtained, the AEC directs dispatch of OSC response teams. For example, if security personnel must remain in an area of unknown hazards, a team of HP Inspectors would be dispatched to survey the areas and provide protective measure guidance. 

Some recommendations are best handled by outside experts. For example, if the team has found that a certain compressor represents a hazard, the recommendation as to what needs to be done may need to come from the compressor manufacturer. For this reason, care should be taken about giving the hazards analysis team the responsibility for fuUy resolving recommendations. If it does have that responsibility, then the leader should understand the importance of reaching outside the team for specialist help. Hazards analysis teams are made up of people who are expert on the unit being analyzed, but who are not specialists in specific areas of technology. The team members may simply not have the knowledge to be able to find the right solution, and they will be less efficient than the experts. 

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