WPPages - Glossary

Glossary

Term

Definition

Letter : A ‎(6)

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. Its primary function is to encourage the interchange of experience among governmental industrial hygienist 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.

API-ASME Container (or tank)

A container constructed in accordance with the pressure vessel code jointly developed by the American Petroleum Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Appurtenances

Items connected to a container opening needed to make a container gas tight. These include pressure relief devices, shut-off, backflow, excess flow, internal valves, liquid level gauging devices, pressure relief devices, pressure gauges, and plugs.

ASME Code

The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Section VIII, "Rules for the Construction of Unfired Pressure Vessels") of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

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.

Letter : B ‎(6)

Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)

A container failure with a release of energy, often rapidly and violently, which is accompanied by a release of gas to the atmosphere and propulsion of the container or container pieces due to an overpressure rupture.

Boiling Point

The temperature at which a liquid changes its phase to a vapor or gas. The temperature where the vapor pressure of the liquid equals atmospheric pressure. Significant property for evaluating the flammability of a liquid, as flash point and boiling point are directly related. A liquid with a low flash point will also have a low boiling point, which translates into a large amount of vapors being given off.

Branch

That organizational level within the Incident Management System having functional /geographic responsibility for major segments of incident operations (e.g., Hazmat Branch). The Branch level is organizationally between Section and Division/Sector/Group.

Buddy System

A system of organizing employees into work groups in such a manner that each employee of the work group is designated to be observed by at least one other employee in the work group [per OSHA 1910.120 (a)(3)].

Bulk Packaging

Bulk packaging has an internal volume greater than 119 gallons (450 liters) for liquids, a capacity greater than 882 pounds (400 kg) for solids, or a water capacity greater than 1,000 pounds (453.6 kg) for gases. It can be an integral part of a transport vehicle (e.g., cargo tank truck, railroad tank car, and barges), packaging placed on or in a transport vehicle (e.g., portable tanks, intermodal portable tanks, ton containers), or fixed or processing containers.

Bulk Plant or Terminal

A facility with the primary purpose of distribution of gas that receives propane by tank car, tank truck, or piping, and distributes this gas to the end user by portable container delivery, by tank truck, or through gas piping. Such plants have bulk storage of at least 2,000 gallons (7.6 m3) water capacity or more and have container filling and truck loading facilities on the premises.

Letter : C ‎(25)

Cargo Tanks

Tanks permanently mounted on a tank truck or tank trailer which is used for the transportation of liquefied and compressed gases, liquids and molten materials. Examples include MC-306, DOT-406, MC-307/DOT-407, MC-312/DOT-412, MC-330/331, and MC-338. May also be any bulk liquid or compressed gas packaging, not permanently attached to a motor vehicle, which because of its size, construction, or attachment to the vehicle can be loaded or unloaded without being removed from the vehicle.

Chemical Manufacturers Association

Professional trade association of the United States chemical industry. The parent organization that operates CHEMTREC.

Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC)

Single or multipiece garment constructed of chemical protective clothing materials designed and configured to protect the wearer's torso, head, arms, legs, hands, and feet. Can be constructed as a single or multipiece garment. The garment may completely enclose the wearer either by itself or in combination with the wearer's respiratory protection, attached or detachable hood, gloves, and boots.

Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Federal board under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency charged with responsibility for investigating serious accidents and emergencies involving chemical emergencies.

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC)

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).

Classes

As used in NFPA 70&emdash;The National Electric Code, used to describe the type of flammable materials that produce the hazardous atmosphere. There are three classes:

Class I Locations - Flammable gases or vapors may be present in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible mixtures.

Class II Locations - Concentrations of combustible dusts may be present (e.g., coal or grain dust).

Class III Locations - Areas concerned with the presence of easily ignitible 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.

Closed Container

A container as herein defined, so sealed by means of a lid or other device that neither liquid nor vapor will escape from it at ordinary temperatures. The container is not allowed to have any vents, either automatic, fixed, or pressure operated.

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.

Cold Zone

The control zone of a hazmat incident that contains the command post and other support functions as are deemed necessary to control the incident. This zone may also be referred to as the clean zone or the support zone.

Command

The act of directing, ordering, and/or controlling resources by virtue of explicit legal, agency, or delegated authority.

Command Staff

The command staff consists of the Information Officer, the Safety Officer, and the Liaison Officer, who report directly to the Incident Commander.

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.

Compressed Gas

Any material or mixture having an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi (276 kPa) in the container at 70 F (21.1 C), having an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi (717 lPa) at 130 F (54.4 C).

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, hoopers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and (3) is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Confined Space (Permit Required)

Has one or more of the following characteristics:

1) Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere. A hazardous atmosphere would be created by any of the following, including:
a) Vapors exceed 10% of the lower flammable limit (LEL)
b) Airborne combustible dust exceeds its LEL
c) Atmospheric oxygen concentrations below 19.5% or above 23.5%
d) Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose or PEL is published and which could result in employee exposure in excess of these values
e) Any other atmospheric condition which is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)

2) Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant.
3) Has an internal configuration such that a person could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section.
4) Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Container

Any vessel, including cylinders, tanks, and portable tanks, used for transporting, or storing of LP-Gases.

Controlled Burn

Defensive or nonintervention tactical objective by which a fire is allowed to burn with no effort to extinguish the fire.

Crack

Narrow split or break in the container metal which may penetrate through the container metal (may also be caused by fatigue). It is a major mechanism which could cause catastrophic failure.

Critical Pressure

Critical pressure is the pressure that must be applied to bring a gas to its liquid state. (See critical temperature.) Both critical temperature and critical pressure terms relate to the process of liquefying gases. A gas cannot be liquefied above its critical temperature. The lower the critical temperature, the less pressure required to bring a gas to its liquid state.

Critical Temperature

Critical temperature is the minimum temperature at which a gas can be liquefied no matter how much pressure is applied. (See critical pressure.) Both critical temperature and critical pressure relate to the process of liquefying gases. A gas cannot be liquefied above its critical temperature. The lower the critical temperature, the less pressure required to bring a gas to its liquid state.

Critique

An element of incident termination which examines the overall effectiveness of the emergency response effort and develops recommendations for improving the organization's emergency response system.

Cylinder

A container constructed in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation specifications under Title 49 CFR.

Letter : D ‎(10)

Damage Assessment

The process of gathering and evaluating container damage.

Debriefing

An element of incident termination which focuses on the following factors:

1) Informing responders exactly what hazmats they were (possibly) exposed to, and the signs and symptoms of exposure
2) Identifying damaged equipment requiring replacement or repair
3) Identifying equipment or supplies requiring specialized decontamination or disposal
4) Identifying unsafe work conditions
5) Assigning information-gathering responsibilities for a post-incident analysis

Decon

Popular abbreviation referring to the process of decontamination.

Decontamination

The physical and/or chemical process of reducing and preventing the spread of contamination from persons and equipment used at a hazardous materials incident. (Also referred to as "contamination reduction").

Defensive Tactics

These are less aggressive spill and fire control tactics where certain areas may be "conceded" to the emergency, with response efforts directed toward limiting the overall size or spread of the problem.

Degree of Solubility

An indication of the solubility and/or miscibility of the material.

Negligible&emdash;less than 0.1%
Slight&emdash;0.1 to 1.0%
Moderate&emdash;1 to 10%
Appreciable&emdash;greater than 10%
Complete&emdash;soluble at all proportions

Dent

Deformation of the tank head or shell. It is caused from impact with a relatively blunt object (e.g., railroad coupler, vehicle). If the dent has a sharp radius, there is the possibility of cracking.

Dilution

Application of water to water-miscible flammable liquids to reduce to safe levels the hazard they represent. It can increase the total volume of liquid which will have to be disposed of. In decon applications, it is the use of water to flush a hazmat from protective clothing and equipment and the most common method of decon.

Divisions

As used in NFPA 70&emdash;The National Electric Code, describe the types of location that may generate or release a flammable material. There are two divisions:

Division I - Location where the vapors, dusts, or fibers are continuously generated and released. The only element necessary for a hazardous situation is a source of ignition.

Division II - ;Location where the vapors, dusts, or fibers are generated and released as a result of an emergency or a failure in the containment system.

Dome

Circular fixture on the top of a pressurized railroad tank car containing valves, pressure relief valve, and gauging devices.

Letter : E ‎(14)

Element

Pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Functions as required to provide emergency medical care for ill or injured persons by trained providers.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

The site where government agency officials or senior managers from organizations provide central direction and control of a major emergency. The EOC usually deals with the political, governmental, legal, insurance, community, and public affairs issues related to the emergency. The operational aspects of the emergency are managed by the on-scene Incident Command Post (ICP). See Incident Command Post.

Emergency Response Organization

An organization that utilizes personnel trained in emergency response. This would include fire, law enforcement, EMS, and industrial emergency response teams.

Emergency Response Personnel

Personnel assigned to organizations that have the responsibility for responding to different types of emergency situations.

Emergency Response Plan

A plan that establishes guidelines for handling flammable liquids incidents as required by regulations such as SARA, Title III, and HAZWOPER (29 CFR 1910.120).

Emergency Response Team (ERT)

Crews of specially trained personnel used within industrial facilities for the control and mitigation of emergency situations. May consist of both shift personnel with ERT responsibilities as part of their job assignment (e.g., plant operators) or volunteer members. ERTs may be responsible for both fire, hazmat, medical, and technical rescue emergencies, depending upon the size and operation of the facility.

Emergency Shut-Off Valve

A shut-off valve incorporating thermal and manual means of closing that also provides for remote means of closing.

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. EPA's mandate is to mount an integrated, coordinated attack on environmental pollution in cooperation with state and local governments.