Hazardous Materials - Managing the Incident (2nd Edition)
Chapter 1 Terms
The Hazardous Materials Management System

Adsorption
Process of adhering to a surface. Common method of spill control.

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
A professional society of individuals responsible for full-time industrial hygiene programs who are employed by official governmental units. lt's primary function is to encourage the interchange of experience among governmental industrial hygienists and to collect and make information available of value to them. ACGIH promotes standards and techniques in industrial hygiene and coordinates governmental activities with community agencies.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Serves as a clearinghouse for nationally coordinated voluntary safety, engineering, and industrial consensus standards developed by trade associations, industrial firms, technical societies, consumer organizations, and government agencies.

American Petroleum Institute (API)
Professional trade association of the United States petroleum industry. Publishes technical standards and information for all areas of the industry, including exploration, production, refining, marketing, transportation, and fire and safety.

Association of American Railroads (AAR)
Professional trade association which coordinates technical information and research within the United States railroad industry. Publisher of emergency response guidebooks.

Canadian Transport Emergency Center (CANUTEC)
Operated by Transport Canada, it is a 24-hour, government sponsored hot line for chemical emergencies. (The Canadian version of CHEMTREC.)

Chemical Manufacturers Association
Professional trade association of the United States chemical industry. The parent organization that operates CHEMTREC^TM.

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC^TM)
The Chemical Transportation Center, operated by the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), can provide information and technical assistance to emergency responders. (Phone number: 1-800-424-9300)

Chlorine Emergency Plan (CHLOREP)
Chlorine industry emergency response system operated by the Chlorine Institute and activated through CHEMTREC.

Class 1 Locations
Location where flammable gases or vapors may be present in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.

Class 2 Locations
Location where concentrations of combustible dusts may be present (e.g., coal or grain dust).

Class 3 Locations
Location concerned with the presence of easily ignitable fibers or flyings (e.g., cotton milling).

Clean Air Act (CAA)
Federal legislation which resulted in EPA regulations and standards governing airborne emissions, ambient air quality, and risk management programs.

Clean Water Act (CWA)
Federal legislation which resulted in EPA and state regulations and standards governing drinking water quality, pollution control, and enforcement. The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) amended the CWA and authorized regulations pertaining to oil spill preparedness, planning, response, and clean-up.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
A collection of regulations established by federal law. Contact with the agency that issues the regulation is recommended for both details and interpretation.

Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER)
A program developed by the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) to provide guidance for chemical plant managers to assist them in developing integrated hazmat emergency response plans between the plant and the community.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Known as CERCLA or SUPERFUND, it addresses hazardous substance releases into the environment and the clean-up of inactive hazardous waste sites. It also requires those who release hazardous substances, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), above certain levels (known as "reportable quantities") to notify the National Response Center.

Confined Space
A space that (1) is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; (2) has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (e.g., tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and (3) is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Dangerous Goods
In Canadian transportation, hazardous materials are referred to as "dangerous goods."

Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)
The national emergency notification system that uses commercial AM and FM radio stations for emergency broadcasts. The EBS is usually initiated and controlled by Emergency Management agencies.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The purpose of the EPA is to protect and enhance our environment today and for future generations to the fullest extent possible under the laws enacted by Congress. The Agency's mission is to control and abate pollution in the areas of water, air, solid waste, pesticides, noise, and radiation. EPNs mandate is to mount an integrated, coordinated attack on environmental pollution in cooperation with state and local governments. 

Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS)
Chemicals determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to be extremely hazardous to a community during an emergency spill or release as a result of their toxicities and physical/chemical properties (U.S. Environmental protection Agency, 40 CFR 355).

First Responder
The first trained person(s) to arrive at the scene of a hazardous materials incident. May be from the public or private sector of emergency services.

First Responder Awareness Level
Individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. They would take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release.

First Responder Operations Level
Individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances as part of the initial response to the site for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, or the environment from the effects of the release. They are trained to respond in a defensive fashion without actually trying to stop the release. Their function is to contain the release from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent exposures.

Hazard
Refers to a danger or peril. In hazmat operations, usually refers to the physical or chemical properties of a material.

Hazardous Chemicals
Any chemical that would be a risk to employees if exposed in the workplace (U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910).

Hazardous Materials
Any substance or material in any form or quantity capable of posing an unreasonable risk to safety and health and property when transported in commerce (U.S. Department of Transportation, 40 CFR 171).

Hazardous Materials General Behavior Model (GHMBMO)
Process for visualizing hazmat behavior. Applies the concept of events analysis which is simply breaking down the overall incident into smaller, more easily understood parts for purposes of analysis.

Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT)
An organized group of employees, designated by the employer, who are expected to perform work to handle and control actual or potential leaks or spills of hazardous substances requiring possible close approach to the substance. A Hazmat Team may be a separate component of a fire brigade or a fire department or other appropriately trained and equipped units from public or private agencies.

Hazardous Materials Specialists
Individuals who respond and provide support to Hazardous Materials Technicians. While their duties parallel those of the Technician, they require a more detailed or specific knowledge of the various substances they may be called upon to contain. Would also act as a liaison with federal, state, local, and other governmental authorities in regards to site activities.

Hazardous Materials Technicians
Individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials for the purposes of stopping the leak. They generally assume a more aggressive role in that they are able to approach the point of a release in order to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance.

Hazardous Substances
Any substance designed under the Clean Water Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as posing a threat to waterways and the environment when released (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR 302). Hazardous substances as used within OSHA 1910.120 refer to every chemical regulated by EPA as a hazardous substance and by DOT as a hazardous material.

Incident
A release or potential release of a hazardous material from its container into the environment.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
A committee appointed by a State Emergency Response Commission, as required by SARA Title III, to formulate a comprehensive emergency plan for its region.

National Contingency Plan (NCP)
Outlines the policies and procedures of the federal agency members of the National Oil and Hazardous Materials Response Team (also known as the National Response Team or the NRT). Provides guidance for emergency responses, remedial actions, enforcement, and funding for federal government response to hazmat incidents.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
An international voluntary membership organization to promote improved fire protection and prevention, establish safeguards against loss of life and property by fire, and writes and publish national voluntary consensus standards (e.g., NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents).

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
A Federal agency which, among other activities, tests and certifies respiratory protective devices and air sampling detector tubes and recommends occupational exposure limits for various substances.

National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)
A standardized systems approach to incident management that consists of five major sub-divisions collectively providing a total systems approach to all-risk incident management.

National Response Center (NRC)
Communications center operated by the U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, DC. It provides information on suggested technical emergency actions and is the federal spill notification point. The NRC must be notified within 24 hours of any spill of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance by the spiller. Can be contacted at (800) 424-8802.

National Response Team (NRT)
The National Oil and Hazardous Materials Response Team consists of fourteen federal government agencies which carry out the provisions of the National Contingency Plan at the federal level. The NRT is chaired by EPA, while the vice-chairperson represents the U.S. Coast Guard.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Independent federal agency charged with responsibility for investigating serious accidents and emergencies involving the various modes of transportation (e.g., highway, pipeline, air) as well as hazardous materials. Issues investigation reports and nonbinding recommendations for action.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Component of the United States Department of Labor; an agency with safety and health regulatory and enforcement authorities for most United States industries, businesses and states.

Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
Amended the Federal Water Pollution Act, OPA's scope covers both facilities and carriers of oil and related liquid products, including deepwater marine terminals, marine vessels, pipelines, and rail cars. Requirements include the development of emergency response plans, training and exercises, and verification of spill resources and contractor capabilities.

Regional Response Team (RRT)
Established within each federal region, the RRT follows the policy and program direction established by the NRT to ensure planning and coordination of both emergency preparedness and response activities. Members include EPA, USCG, state government, local government, and Indian tribal governments.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Law which establishes the regulatory framework for the proper management and disposal of all hazardous wastes, including treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. It also establishes installation, leak prevention, and notification requirements for underground storage tanks.

Specialist Employee
Employees who, in the course of their regular job duties, work with and are trained in the hazards of specific hazardous substances and who will be called upon to provide technical advice or assistance to the Incident Commander at a hazmat incident.

Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC)
A number which will be found on all shipping documents accompanying rail shipments of hazmats. A seven-digit number assigned to a specific material or group of materials and used in determination of rates. For a hazardous material, the STCC number will begin with the digits "49." Hazardous wastes may also be found with the first two digits being "48." This code will also be found when intermodal containers are changed from rail to highway movement.

State Emergency Response Commission
Formed under SARA, Title III, the SERC is responsible for developing and maintaining the statewide hazmat emergency response plan. This includes ensuring that planning and training are taking place throughout the state as well as providing assistance to local governments and LEPC'S, as appropriate.

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
Created for the purpose of establishing federal statutes for right-to-know standards and emergency response to hazardous materials incidents. Re-authorized the federal Superfund program and mandated states to implement equivalent regulations/requirements.

Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ)
The quantity designated for each extremely hazardous substance (EHS) that triggers a required notification from a facility to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) that the facility is subject to reporting under SARA Title III.