Hazmat Specialist flashcards
Hazmat Specialist · Build recall with a focused review session.
33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Hazard vs. risk
- Hazard is the inherent property of a material that can cause harm; risk is the probability of harm under current conditions of exposure and safeguards.
- Vapor density
- The weight of a vapor compared with an equal volume of air (air = 1.0). Values above 1.0 mean the vapor sinks and collects in low areas.
- Flash point
- The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air near its surface.
- Flammable range
- The concentration range between the lower and upper explosive limits (LEL and UEL) within which a vapor-air mixture can ignite.
- IDLH
- Immediately dangerous to life or health: the maximum concentration from which a person could escape within 30 minutes without irreversible health effects.
- Level A protection
- Fully encapsulating chemical-protective suit with SCBA inside, providing the highest level of both respiratory and skin protection.
- Level B protection
- SCBA with chemical-resistant clothing that offers less skin protection than Level A but the same highest level of respiratory protection.
- Level C protection
- Air-purifying respirator with chemical-resistant clothing, used only when the atmosphere is known, below IDLH, and oxygen is adequate.
- Four-gas meter
- A multi-sensor instrument that typically measures oxygen, combustible gas (LEL), carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide simultaneously.
- Photoionization detector
- An instrument using a UV lamp to ionize volatile organic compounds; the lamp energy determines which compounds it can detect.
- Colorimetric tube
- A compound-specific, semi-quantitative detector tube used with a hand pump; the number of strokes and tube lot affect accuracy.
- Decon corridor
- The sequence of stations in the warm zone where contaminated responders or patients move from gross decon through final rinse and doffing.
- Emergency decontamination
- A rapid, improvised wash of a contaminated person using available water and equipment, performed before technical decontamination.
- Technical decontamination
- A planned, systematic decontamination of responders and equipment using established stations, methods, and verification monitoring.
- Hot zone
- The exclusion zone immediately around the release where contamination is present and only fully protected entry teams may operate.
- Warm zone
- The contamination reduction zone between hot and cold zones where decontamination occurs and support personnel wear appropriate PPE.
- Cold zone
- The support zone outside contamination where command, staging, rehab, and medical support operate, upwind and uphill.
- Span of control
- The number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage; ICS uses a range of three to seven, with five as optimal.
- Unified Command
- An ICS application in which agencies with jurisdiction jointly set objectives and strategy for an incident without relinquishing their authority.
- Incident Action Plan
- A written plan containing incident objectives, strategies, tactics, and assignments for a specified operational period.
- Absorption vs. adsorption
- Absorption soaks liquid into a material's internal structure; adsorption causes molecules to adhere to the surface of a material such as activated carbon.
- Diking
- Building a barrier of earth, sandbags, or commercial booms to contain liquid on a surface and prevent it from spreading.
- Overpacking
- Placing a damaged or leaking container inside a larger compatible salvage container with absorbent to contain the release.
- Neutralization
- A reaction between an acid and a base producing salt and water; it generates heat and requires controlled addition and compatible equipment.
- AR-AFFF foam
- Alcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming foam used on polar solvents such as alcohols and ketones, which destroy ordinary AFFF blankets.
- CBRNE
- The acronym for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents used in weapons of mass destruction response.
- Nerve agent antidote
- Atropine controls muscarinic effects such as secretions and bradycardia; pralidoxime (2-PAM) reactivates acetylcholinesterase at nicotinic sites.
- Radiological dispersal device
- A device that spreads radioactive material by explosion or aerosolization; it is primarily a contamination and psychological event, not a nuclear detonation.
- HAZWOPER 1910.120(q)
- The OSHA standard governing emergency response to hazardous substance releases, including training levels and incident command requirements.
- NFPA 470
- The 2022 standard combining NFPA 472 and 473, defining competencies for hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction responders.
- Hydroxocobalamin
- A cyanide antidote that binds cyanide to form cyanocobalamin; it is given along with supportive oxygenation and monitoring.
- Corrosive eye exposure
- Irrigate the affected eye with copious water for at least 15 to 20 minutes and never attempt chemical neutralization on the eye or skin.
- GHS pictograms
- Nine harmonized hazard symbols covering flame, flame over circle, exploding bomb, gas cylinder, corrosion, skull, exclamation mark, health hazard, and environment.