Hazardous Materials

Training in Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) is very important in the Public Safety profession because there are so many tractor-trailor trucks, trains, box trucks, and boats hauling hazardous materials everyday. Any type of transportation vehicle hauling Haz Mat should have a placard viewable from all four sides showing the type and class of the material being hauled.
There are 9 classes of Hazardous Materials:

1. Class 1 Explosives Divisions 1.1-1.6
2. Class 2 Gases Divison2.1-2.3
3. Class 3 Flammable Liquids
4. Class 4 Flammable Solids Divisions 4.1-4.3
5. Class 5 Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides Divisions 5.1-5.2
6. Class 6 Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances Divisions 6.1-6.2
7. Class 7 Radioactive Materials
8. Class 8 Corrosive Substances
9. Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials Products, Substances or Organisms
   
   click here to view placards

   Hazardous Materials is any substance that can cause harm to the living body through ingestion, injection, absorbtion, and inhalation.
   Hazardous Materials are in 3 different forms

   • gases
   • liquids
   • solids.
   Given the 3 different forms gas is the most difficult to control.

   There are several things that can cause hazardous materials to be released from its container.
   One of the several ways is STRESS
   
   Stress is a stimulus causing strain (excessive tension or compression), pressure (force applied at right angles to a surface), or deformity (distortion by torque or twisting.)
   
   3 types of stress that will allow containers to loss its contents
   

   • Thermal-excessive heat or cold causes intolerable expansion
   • Chemical-Uncontrolled reaction/interactions of contents in container
   • Mechanical-Physical application of energy resulting in container/attachment danger
   
   Breech-container that is stressed beyond its limits of recovery
   
   5 ways container can breech
   • Disintegration
   • Runaway Cracking
   • Attachments
   • Puncture
   • Split or tear
   
   
   4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levels of protective ensemble
   • Level A Protective Equipment-highest level or protection against vapors, gases, mists, and particles.
   • Level B Protective Equipment-requires a garment, including SCBA, that provides protection against splashes from a hazardous chemical
   • Level C Protective Equipment-differs from level B in the area of equipment needed for respiratory protection
   • Level D Protective Equipment-requires no respiratory protection and provides minimal skin protection
   
   
   There are vehicles routinely transporting hazardous materials:
   • Cargo tank trucks
   • Compressed-gas trailer
   • Dry bulk carrier
   • Elevated-temperature materials carrier
   • Railroad tank cars
   • Dedicated railcars
   • Non-tank railcars
   • Intermodal tank containers/cylinders
   
   
   Cargo tank trucks are recognizable because they have construction features, fittings, attachments, or shapes characteristics of their use.
   
   
   
   MC-306/DOT-406 Nonpressure (Atmospheric Pressure) Carrier - is a tanker that carries flammable liquids such as gasoline and alcohol, combustible liquids such as fuel oil, Division 6.1 poisons, and liquid foof products.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   MC-307/DOT-407 Low-Pressure Carrier - is designed to carry various chemicals with pressures not to exceed 40 psi at 70 degrees Farinheiht. It may carry flammables, corrosives, or poisons.
   
   
   
   
   MC-312/DOT-412 Corrosive Liquid Carrier - is a tanker that carries corrosive liquids, usually acids. Pressures may range up to 75 psi.
   
   
   
   MC-331 High-Pressure Carrier - is designed to carry gases that have been liquefied by increasing the pressure and compressing them into the liquid state. Materials that may be carried include propane, butane, and anhydrous ammonia.
   
   
   
   
   
   MC-338 Cryogenic Liqiud Carrier - Carries gases that have been liquefied by temperature reduction. Typical materials carried include liquid oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
   
   
   
   Dry Bulk Carrier - carries various types of hazardous materials in dry bulk and slurry forms that can burn and release toxic products of combustion.
   
   
   
   
   

   Danville Fire Department Web Site

   
   
   

   Pittsylvania County Fire Rescue Web Site

   
   
   

   Firehouse Web Site

   
   
   
   Last Revised 04/20/07