FIRST RESPONDER TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Emergency Preparedness and Response Emergency Responders OSHA and its State Plan partners helps set and implement national safety and health standards for emergency responders. Foremost among these standards is the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard of 29 CFR 1910.120(q). Among other provisions, the standard requires entities engaged in emergency response to provide appropriate training to their workers; to use an incident command system; to develop a written response plan that includes personnel roles, lines of authority and communication, site security and control, medical and emergency alert procedures; and to provide workers with appropriate protective equipment. The 26 OSHA-approved State Plan programs have standards, including the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Responder standard, which are "at least as effective as" Federal OSHA standards. State plans provide assistance and extend their authority to most private sector and all public sector (state and local government) employers and employees in those States, including first and second responders. First Responders First Receivers Skilled Support Personnel Safety Officers Equipment Training and Education Additional Links First Responders (Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and Emergency Medical Technicians) See also Equipment and Training and Education. Safety and Health Guides. OSHA, (2004). Provides an overview of worker hazards related to various emergencies. They were designed for use as a general handout during an emergency event, or as a training supplement for emergency preparation. NIOSH-RAND Report: Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 3: Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response, US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-144 RAND Publication No. MG-170. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Rand Corporation, (2004, May). Also available as a 874 KB PDF formats, 154 pages. Addresses the protection of emergency responders against injury, illness, and death on just such rare occasions, when emergencies become disasters. Builds on a broad base of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health programs and RAND Corporation research on protecting emergency responders. Focuses on preparedness (especially planning and training) and management as means of controlling and reducing the hazards emergency responders face. Provides a set of recommendations on how disaster site safety and health management might be improved. Much of the information contained herein is based upon the firsthand experience and suggestions of emergency responders who were there at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon on and after September 11, as well as those who responded to the Northridge earthquake (in California) and Hurricane Andrew (in Florida). Report Offers Guidance and Recommendations on Safety of Emergency Responders in Terrorist Events. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Update, (2002, March 21) Anthrax. OSHA eTool. Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. It is generally acquired following contact with anthrax-infected animals or anthrax-contaminated animal products. Anthrax has received heightened attention recently because of its use as a biological warfare agent. This eTool provides information about Anthrax, including risk, preparation and clean-up. Model Health and Safety Plan (HASP) for Clean-up of Facilities Contaminated with Anthrax Spores. OSHA, (2003, April 9). National Incident Management System. US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), (2004, March 1). Available as a 505 MB PDF, 152 pages. Provides a synopsis of each major component of the NIMS, as well as how these components work together as a system to provide the national framework for preparing for, preventing , responding to, and recovering from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. First Receivers (Healthcare Workers, Hospital Employees) OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances. OSHA, (2004, December 20). Provide hospitals with practical information to assist them in developing and implementing emergency management plans that address the protection of hospital-based emergency department personnel during the receipt of contaminated victims from mass casualty incidents occurring at locations other than the hospital. Among other topics, it covers victim decontamination, personal protective equipment, and employee training, and also includes several informational appendices. Skilled Support Personnel (HAZMAT, Sampling, Crime Scene Personnel, Remediation, Construction, and Clean-up Personnel) OSHA Disaster Site Worker Outreach Training Program. GAO-04-239 Report: U.S. Postal Service - Better Guidance Is Needed to Ensure an Appropriate Response to Anthrax Contamination. United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), (2004, September), 1.0 MB PDF, 83 pages. Report to Congressional Requesters. Report Highlights. 75 KB PDF, 1 page. Fact Sheet for Workers in Secondary Response and Other Supporting Roles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2001, September). Protecting Workers at the World Trade Center Site. (2002, May). Response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Improving the Training of Skilled Support Personnel for Responding to Terrorist Actions: A Review of the Problems and Feasible Solutions. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), (2002, December 14), 491 KB PDF, 41 pages. Safety Officers (SO) The SO monitors incident operations and advises the IC on all matters relating to operational safety, including the health and safety of emergency responder personnel. The ultimate responsibility of the safe conduct of incident management operations rests with the IC or UC and supervisors at all levels of incident management. The SO is, in turn, responsible to the IC for the set of systems and procedures necessary to ensure ongoing assessment of hazardous environments, coordination of multiagency safety efforts, and implementation of measures to promote emergency responder safety, as well as the general safety of incident operations. [More from NIMS Document (PDF Page 29)] for Emergency Responders" href="http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/cbrnmatrix/index.html"> CBRN Personal Protective Equipment Selection Matrix for Emergency Responders. OSHA, (2004, April 30). Electronic Health and Safety Program (eHASP)2. Created in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the updated eHASP Guide uses modern (Windows-based) software, site-specific text, and expanded decision logic to assist the user in determining the appropriate controls of health and safety hazards for their sites. Protecting Emergency Responders: Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-144, (2004 May). Equipment Personal Protective Equipment. OSHA Safety and Health Topic Page. NIOSH Issues first approval for certifying emergency responder respirators. (2002, May 31). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued its first approval of respirators for occupational use by emergency responders against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. CBRN Respirator Standards Development -- Full Facepiece Air Purifying Respirators (APR) to Protect Emergency Response Workers Against CBRN Agents. The National Personnel Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Describes continuing efforts to develop appropriate standards and test procedures for all classes of respirators that will provide protection from CBRN agents. Eye Safety for Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Provides guidelines, images of increasingly effective eye protection, first aid advice and information resources. Guide for the Selection of Personal Protection Equipment for Emergency First Responders. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Guide 102-00, (2002, November). Provides four PDF volumes of information on personal protection equipment (PPE) for consideration by emergency first responders when purchasing and using PPE, including duration of protection, dexterity/mobility, launder ability, and use/reuse. Guide for the Selection of Chemical Agent and Toxic Industrial Material Detection Equipment for Emergency First Responders. National Institute of Justice (NIJ), (2000, June). Provides two PDF volumes of information about detecting chemical agents and toxic industrial materials and selecting equipment for different applications. An Introduction to Biological Agent Detection Equipment for Emergency First Responders. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Guide 101–00, (2001, December). Provides emergency first responders with four sections of PDF of information to aid them in their understanding of biological agent detection equipment. Guide for the Selection of Chemical and Biological Decontamination Equipment for Emergency First Responders. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Guide 103-00, (2001, October), Provides information about the selection and use of chemical and/or biological decontamination equipment for various applications. Because of the large number of items identified in this guide, it is printed in two volumes: Volume 1 presents the guide, and Volume 2 contains the decontamination equipment data sheets. Guide for the Selection of Communication Equipment for Emergency First Responders. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Guide 104-00, (2002, February), Provides emergency first responders with information they can assess when selecting communication equipment for use with chemical and biological protective clothing and respiratory equipment. Volume I presents an overview of communications systems and discusses equipment characteristics and performance parameters. Volume II lists manufacturer-supplied details for the 181 items referenced in the first volume. Training and Education Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC). OSHA eTool. Provides basic information about the Incident Command System and the Unified Command, specifically as it relates to the National Contingency Plan 40 CFR.300. eTools are illustrated, interactive web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. eTools do not create new OSHA requirements. Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. OSHA Fact Sheet 93-31, (1993, January), 345 KB PDF, 2 pages. National Fire Protection Association Publications NFPA 30: Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code: Item No. PY-30-96 NFPA 49: Hazardous Chemicals Data: Item No. PY-49-94 NFPA 325: Fire Hazard Properties of Flammable Liquids, Gases, and Volatile Solids: Item No. PY-325-94 NFPA 422: Aircraft Accident Response: Item No. PY-422-94 NFPA 471: Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents: Item No. PY-471-97 NFPA 472: Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents: Item No. PY-472-97 NFPA 473: Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents: Item No. PY-473-97 NFPA 491M: Hazardous Chemical Reactions: Item No. PY-491M-91 Consequences of Terrorism. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Collection of training terrorism preparedness courses divided by intended audience. Also, general information on FEMA training programs. EMI Courses and Schedule. Terrorism Consequence Management EMI Catalog of Activities Training videos for first responders US Department of Justice (USDOJ), Office of Justice Programs. Videos for state and local first responders that cover response to incidents of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. Emergency Response to Terrorism self-study manual. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Fire Administration, 4.58 MB PDF. Provides a general introduction to the basic concepts for first-responder awareness at the scene of a potential terrorist incident. Available for order from the USFA Publications Center. Learning from Disasters: Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness Through Worker Training. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), (2002, April 26), 1.03 MB PDF, 45 pages. Worker Training In A New Era: Responding To New Threats. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, (2002, October 26-27), 556 KB PDF, 61 pages. Additional Links Workplace Preparedness Against Terrorism is Strengthened by New Tools, Methods. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2003, September 04). In the two years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has worked closely with diverse outside partners to create new tools and resources that ensure the safety of the nation’s emergency responders when they respond to terrorist attacks and other events. The 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook. This publication was developed jointly by Transport Canada (TC), the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT) for use by fire fighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving dangerous goods. It is primarily a guide to aid first responders in quickly identifying the specific or generic hazards of the material(s) involved in the incident, and protecting themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. Safety and Health Topics Emergency Preparedness and Response Standards Responders General Worksites National Response System Additional Information Credits Accessibility Assistance Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials. Back to Top www.osha.gov www.dol.gov