Article Review: HazMat Emergencies: Decontamination and Victim Chain of Survival
Article Review: HazMat Emergencies: Decontamination and Victim Chain of Survival
Introduction
The article ‘HazMat Emergencies: Decontamination and Victim Chain of Survival’ by Gunderson et al. (2014) considers some hypothetical workplace emergency decontamination scenarios that entail hazardous materials. The HazMat emergencies are representative of a considerable range of response challenges, especially those involving employees’ exposure and the response involving victim(s). This script gives a review of the article pointing out the chief elements therein and the writer’s opinion.
Summary of the main points
The HazMat emergency refers to a collection offering important responses whenever employees suffer exposure to hazardous risks and accidents. They are representative of a considerable range of response challenges, especially those involving employees’ exposure. The article begins by narrating emergency cases that involved employees as victims. In the first scenario, a pressurized pipe circulating potassium contained loosens from a clamp and sprays its corrosive liquid content on a worker. The victim hit an emergency button and decides to go and change her clothes. The supervisor ordered that the employee goes to an enclosed shower room with a stall.
The decontamination undertaking commenced after the establishment of NFPA 472. These standards were a replacement for the procedures outlined in the former NFPA 471 decontamination. NFPA 472 came to overcome the dangers linked to NFPA 471 since these standards demanded a physical control of the exit and entry points. As such, the factory needed to have a corridor connecting the operational areas to the workplace.
The paper describes other scenarios like one in which a worker drops an acid container. The subsequent spillage harmed an employee immediately behind the carrier of the acid. Regulations and standards such as HazPOWER alongside medical emergencies form a critical part of HazMat emergency response in a workplace.
A huge body of standards and literature are responsible for guiding emergency medical services (EMS) alongside medical professionalism when responding to emergencies in HazMat. Nonetheless, an SH&E professional must always distinguish the two standards: HazMat and HazPOWER emergencies alongside standard first aid victim response (Gunderson, et al., 2014). The authors outline that there is a need to maximize on HazMat victim care especially during the transition from the workplace to the EMS.
Although prevention shall always be the most important strategy, an organization handling hazardous substances needs a solid emergency response program. The program must have certain components for it to be effectively operational. The basic components include hardware, information, internal communications, external communications, coordination with EMS upon arrival, and appropriate training (Gunderson, et al., 2014).
The required hardware consists of working and appropriately positioned emergency shower and eyewash systems, PPE for workplace responders and employees, response and first-aid supplies including absorbents. All the hardware must undergo a regular inspection and maintenance.
Information is the second necessary component of a solid emergency response program. It comprises a site-specific emergency plan and safety data sheets other than HazMat-specific undertakings for hazardous substances such as hydrofluoric acid that need rapid response.
Internal communications enable HazMat victims to summon assistance and the responders to assemble team members. The size of the plant determines the type of communication to employ. Internal communications can range from shouting to the use of public address systems.
External communications might entail the use of telephone causes to report an emergency. It enables the employees to call an outside line at a time of need. The call number might deliver the caller’s identification to allow for an appropriate dispatch of the information.
Coordination with EMS at their arrival is critical during an emergency. The emergency responders have to greet EMS immediately they arrive and give them accurate information concerning the situation.
Training is the sixth basic component of a solid emergency response program. A responder must know the procedures, effective communications, and the proper use of resources (Gunderson, et al., 2014). The responders must also comprehend the duties of the EMS and the responders and how these groups can work collaboratively.
According to the article, Decontamination is the removal of hazardous chemical agents that have accidentally reached an employee at a workplace. One can accomplish decontamination via physical means, detoxification, or chemical neutralization. If one performs decontamination on time and in the right manner, they can considerably reduce the suffering experienced by the victim. As such, there is a need to train employees and emergency responders on the best way to carry out decontamination.
The article deals with HazMat emergencies following employee. It describes effective decontamination in manufacturing, laboratory, and warehouse settings. The paper explains the five types of decontaminations and where each of the types is applicable. The article explains the various scenarios where decontamination played critical roles in saving the victims’ life. As such, it becomes apparent that every manufacturing plant or laboratory should observe well-outlined standards and regulation. It also becomes clear that every player in an emergency must undergo adequate training for their respective tasks.
References
Gunderson, S., Helikson, C., & Heffner, M. (2014). HazMat emergencies: Decontamination and victim chain of survival. 1(2), p. 43.
