Hazardous Materials

fuel spill cleanuypTechnicians are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to answer hazardous materials calls. Technicians answer pages from dispatch, receive notifications about releases that do not require a team response and manage the team on incidents that do require a response. The team responds to about 250 calls a year, ranging from investigations to full-scale industrial or transportation accidents. Less than 50% of these incidents involve full-team responses.

Technicians are required to maintain their certification as hazardous materials technicians through a combination of regular in-house training, contract classes, exercises and drills. 

When a Chemical is a Hazardous Material

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration identifies how a chemical becomes classified as hazardous, which is any chemical that creates a health hazard of any kind to humans. Health hazards can be from immediate contact with the material or through long exposure to the substance. Chemicals that burn, explode, or can start burning by themselves are classified as hazardous. Also classified as hazardous are chemicals that react with air, water, or other chemicals to form heat or toxic gases.

Chemical Storage

The way chemicals are stored can also classify them as hazardous. Gases that are stored under high pressure, such as oxygen, are not an immediate threat to anyone. But if the container is ruptured, damaged or involved in a fire, the container can become a deadly missile or an explosion hazard. Some chemicals are stored at very high temperatures and others can be stored in cryogenic or very cold temperatures, which present the risk of burns, fires and even frostbite are present if there is an accident.

Extremely Hazardous Substances

Some chemicals are more dangerous to human health and the environment if there is a release. These chemicals are known as Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS). A chemical is classified as an EHS, it has a higher toxic or damaging effect and is regulated in smaller quantities. Examples of EHS are chlorine and ammonia. When used properly and safely, these products can be used in industry and homes every day. During an accident or unplanned release, these chemicals can do extensive damage to human health and the environment. That is why these chemicals have special reporting requirements and facilities that maintain them have special responsibilities.

Response vehicles

One or more of six primary response vehicles and four trailers with specific capabilities can respond to an emergency. Operating off a tiered response system, our team has modified response patterns to send only the personnel and equipment needed for a specific type of response. Our tailored capability includes mass decontamination, harbor boom and off-road (ATV).

Hazmat Equipment Collage1
  1. Hazmat 1
  2. Hazmat 2
  3. Hazmat 3
  4. Hazmat 4
  5. Hazmat 5

A modified 2004 International school bus is outfitted as a command post with an extensive research library. This unit also serves as the dressing area for technicians responding to an incident. This vehicle carries Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), communications equipment, reference materials and basic training and metering equipment. Incident research and planning is normally carried out from this location. The enclosed, climate-controlled environment of the bus provides team members with a place, protected from outside elements such as rain, snow, heat and cold, to prepare for entry.

LEPC

Special operations is actively involved in the Local Emergency Planning Committee and its efforts on behalf of the citizens of the county. They work cooperatively with the EMS Division and local fire companies to provide in-station training in entry decontamination, mass decontamination and weapons of mass destruction equipment. Harford is one of the seven regional jurisdictions in the Hazmat Urban Area Work Group under the Baltimore Urban Area Security Initiative, which manages the Maryland Department of Environment Agency, unique to any other county in Maryland.

Harford County Hazardous Materials Law Article 1, Section 146

Any release of a hazardous material into the environment or a release that has the potential to enter the environment must be reported immediately by using 911. The dispatchers at the Emergency Operations Center are trained to determine what level of response is needed. Reporting the incident will not automatically trigger a full response by the Fire Department and Hazmat Team. On small incidents, the only response may be from one of our crew chiefs who assure that proper clean-up and all required notifications are completed. On major leaks and spills, the Hazmat Team is dispatched at the same time as Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

More Information

Full Hazardous Material Law