Hazmat for 1St Responders (2Nd Edition)-All Chapter Terms

Hazardous Materials for First Responders
Complete List of Terms

Absolute Pressure
Gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure.

Absorbents
Inert materials; that is, they have no active properties. They can be used to pick up a liquid contaminant. Some examples of absorbents are soil, diatomaceous earth, vermiculite, sand, and other commercially available products.

Absorption
(1) To take in and make part of an existent whole. (2) Passage of toxic materials through some body surface into body fluids and tissue. (3) Process of picking up a liquid contaminant with an absorbent.

Acid
Compound containing hydrogen that reacts with water to produce hydrogen ions; a proton donor; a liquid compound with a pH less than 2. Acidic chemicals are corrosive.

Acute
(1) Characterized by sharpness or severity; having rapid onset and a relatively short duration. (2) Single exposure (dose) or several repeated exposures to a substance within a short time period.

Acute Health Effects
Health effects that occur or develop rapidly after exposure to a substance.

Aerator
Device for introducing air into dry bulk solids to improve flow ability.

Air Bill
Shipping document prepared from a bill of lading that accompanies each piece or each lot of air cargo.

Air Inversion
Meteorological condition in which the temperature of the air some distance above the earth's surface is higher than the temperature of the air at the surface. Normally, air temperatures decrease as altitude increases. An air inversion traps air, releases gases and vapors near the surface, and impedes their dispersion.

Air Lift Axle
Single air-operated axle that when lowered converts a vehicle into a multi-axle unit, providing the vehicle with a greater load carrying capacity.

Air Reactive Materials
Substances that ignite when exposed to air at normal temperatures. Also called Pyrophoric.

Air Spring
Flexible, air-inflated chamber on a truck or trailer in which the air pressure is controlled and varied to support the load and absorb road shocks.

Allergen
Material that can cause an allergic reaction of the skin or respiratory system. Also called Sensitizer.

Alpha Radiation
Consists of particles having a large mass and a positive electrical charge; least penetrating of the three common forms of radioactive substances. It is normally not considered dangerous to plants, animals, or people unless it gets into the body.

Ambient Temperature
Temperature of the surrounding environment.

Asphyxiant
Any substance that prevents oxygen from combining in sufficient quantities with the blood or from being used by body tissues.

Asphyxiation
Condition that causes death because of a deficient amount of oxygen and an excessive amount of carbon monoxide and/or other gases in the blood.

Assessment Stop
Distant location that is safe for the first responders to stop and evaluate the situation, to complete donning their protective clothing and SCBA, and to report conditions to the communications center.

Atmospheric Pressure
Pressure exerted by the atmosphere at the surface of the earth because of the weight of air. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 14.7 psi. Atmospheric pressure increases as elevation decreases below sea level and decreases as elevation increases above sea level.

Atmospheric Storage Tank
Class of fixed facility storage tanks. Pressures range from 0 to 0.5 psig.

Autoignition
Ignition that occurs when a substance in air, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, is heated sufficiently to initiate or cause self-sustained combustion independently of the heat source.

Autoignition Temperature
Same as ignition temperature except that no external ignition source is required for ignition because the material itself has been heated to ignition temperature; the spontaneous ignition of the gases or vapor given off by a heated material.

Avulsion
Forcible separation or detachment; the tearing away of a body part.

Baffle
Intermediate partial bulkhead that reduces the surge effect in a partially loaded liquid tank.

Base
Substance-containing group forming hydroxide ions in water solution; an alkaline (caustic) substance.

Beta Particle
Particle that is about 1/7000 the size of an alpha particle but has more penetrating power. The beta particle has a negative electrical charge.

Beta Radiation
Type of radiation that can cause skin burns.

Bill Of Lading
Shipping paper used by the trucking industry indicating origin, destination, route, and product. There is a bill of lading in the cab of every truck tractor.

Biochemical
Involving chemical reactions in living organisms.

Blow Down Valve
Manually operated valve that has the function of quickly reducing tank pressure to atmospheric pressure.

Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
Major failure of a closed liquid container into two or more pieces when the temperature of the liquid is well above its boiling point at normal atmospheric pressure.

Boiling Point
Temperature of a substance when the vapor pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure. At this temperature, the rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of condensation. At this point, more liquid is turning into gas than gas is turning back into a liquid.

Bulk Container
Cargo tank container attached to a flatbed truck or rail flatcar used to transport materials in bulk. This container may carry liquids or gases.

Bulk Packaging
Packaging, other than a vessel or a barge, including transport vehicle or freight container, in which hazardous materials are loaded with no intermediate form of containment and which:

·  For a liquid, the container has a minimum capacity of 119 gallons (450 L).

·  For a solid, the containers have a minimum mass of 882 pounds (400 kg).

·  For a gas, the container has a minimum water capacity of 1,000 pounds (454 kg). (This information is taken from 49 CFR 171.8.)

Bumper
Structure designed to provide front- and rear-end protection of a vehicle.

Capacity Indicators
Device installed on a tank to indicate capacity at a specific level.

Carboy
A cylindrical container of about 5 to 15 gallons capacity for corrosive or pure liquids; made of glass, plastic, or metal with a neck and sometimes a pouring tip and cushioned in a wooden box, wicker basket, or special drum.

Carcinogens
Cancer-producing substances.

CAS Number
Number assigned by the American Chemical Society's Chemical Abstract Service that uniquely identifies a specific compound.

Chemical Asphyxiant
Substances that react to keep the body from being able to use oxygen. Also called Blood Poisons.

Chemical Properties
Relating to the way a substance is able to change into other substances. These properties reflect the ability to burn, react, explode, or produce toxic substances hazardous to people or the environment.

Chemical Reaction
Any change in the composition of matter that involves a conversion of one substance into another.

Chronic
Of long duration or recurring over a period of time.

Chronic Health Hazards
Long-term effects from either a one-time or repeated exposure to a substance.

Class A Fire
Fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, and so on.

Class B Fire
Fires of flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as gasoline, kerosene, and propane.

Cleanout Fitting
Fitting installed in the top of a tank to facilitate washing the tank's interior.

Code of Federal Regulations
Formal name given to the books or documents containing the specific United States regulations provided for by law.

Colorimetric Tube
Small tubes that change colors when air that is contaminated with a particular substance is drawn through them. Also known as Detector Tube.

Combustible Gas Detector
Indicates the explosive levels of combustible gases.

Combustible Liquids
Liquid having a flash point at or above 100oF and below 200oF.

Combustion
Self-sustaining process of rapid oxidation of a fuel, which produces heat and light.

Compound
Substance consisting of two or more elements that have been united chemically.

Compressed Gas
Gas that, at normal temperature, exists solely as a gas when pressurized in a container.

Compressed Gas Association
Trade association that, among other things, writes standards pertaining to the use, storage, and transportation of compressed gases.

Compressed Gas Trailer
Cargo truck that carries gases under pressure; may be a large single container, an intermodal shipping unit, or several horizontal tubes. Also called Tube Trailer.

Condensation
Process of going from the gaseous to the liquid state.

Cone Roof Storage Tank
Atmospheric storage tank that has a cone-shaped pointed roof with weak roof-to-shell seams that are intended to break when excessive overpressure results inside.

Congenital
Existing at or dating from birth.

Connection Box
Contains fittings for trailer emergency and service brake connections and electrical connector to which the lines from the towing vehicle may be connected. Formerly called Junction Box, Light Box, or Bird Box.

Consignee
Person who is to receive a shipment.

Consist
Rail shipping paper that lists by order the cars in the train. The cars containing hazardous materials are indicated. Also included with the consist may be information on emergency operations for the hazardous materials on board. Also called Train Consist.

Container
Article of transport equipment that is: (a) of a permanent character and strong enough for repeated use; (b) specifically designed to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport without intermediate reloading; and (c) fitted with devices permitting its ready handling, particularly its transfer from one mode to another. The term "container" does not include vehicles. Also referred to as Freight Container, Cargo Container, and Intermodal Tank Container.

Container Chassis
Trailer chassis consisting of a frame with locking devices for securing and transporting a container as a wheeled vehicle.

Container-On-Flatcar
Rail flatcar used to transport highway transport containers.

Container Ship
Ship specially equipped to transport large freight containers in horizontal or, more commonly, vertical container cells. Containers are usually loaded and unloaded by special cranes.

Container Specification Number
Shipping container number preceded by "DOT" that indicates the container has been built to federal specifications.

Contaminants
Any foreign substance that compromises the purity of a given substance.

Control Agents
Materials used to contain, confine, neutralize, or extinguish a hazardous material or its vapor.

Convulsant
Poison that causes an exposed individual to have convulsions.

Cooperating Agency
Agency supplying assistance other than direct suppression, rescue, support, or service functions to the incident control effort (Red Cross, law enforcement agency, telephone company, etc.).

Corner Fittings
Strong metal devices located at the corners of a container having several apertures that normally provide the means for handling, stacking, and securing the freight container.

Corner Structures
Vertical frame components located at the corners of a container; integral with the corner fittings.

Corrosive Materials
Liquids or solids that can destroy human skin, or liquids that can severely corrode steel.

Crossover Line
Installed in tank piping systems to allow unloading from either side of the tank.

Cryogens
Gases that are cooled to a very low temperature, usually below -150oF, to change to a liquid. Also called Refrigerated Liquid.

Curbside
Side of a trailer nearest the curb when trailer is traveling in a normal forward direction (right-hand side); opposite to roadside.

Dangerous Cargo Manifest
Invoice of cargo used on ships containing a list of all hazardous materials on board and their location on the ship.

Dangerous Goods
(1) Any product, substance, or organism included by its nature or by the regulation in any of the nine United Nations classifications of hazardous materials. (2) Term used to describe hazardous materials in Canada. (3) Term used in the U.S. and Canada for hazardous materials aboard aircraft.

Dedicated Railcars
Car set aside by the product manufacturer to transport a specific product. The name of the product is painted on the car.

Deflagration
Chemical reaction producing vigorous heat and sparks or flame and moving through the material (as black or smokeless powder) at less than the speed of sound. A major difference among explosives is the speed of the reaction. It can also refer to intense burning; a characteristic of Class B explosives.

Dehydration
Process of removing water or other fluids.

Department Of Transportation
Administrative body of the executive branch of the U.S. Federal Government responsible for transportation policy, regulation, and enforcement.

Detonator
A device or small quantity of explosive used to trigger an explosion in explosives. Also called Blasting Cap.

Diatomaceous Earth
A light siliceous material consisting chiefly of the skeletons (minute unicellular algae) and used especially as an absorbent or filter. Also called Diatomite.

Dip Tube
Installed for pressure unloading of product out of the top of the tank.

Dissipate
To cause to spread out or spread thin to the point of vanishing.

Diuretic
Product that tends to increase the flow of urine.

Doubles
Truck combination consisting of a truck tractor and two semi trailers coupled together. Formerly called Double-Trailer or Double-Bottom.

Drop Frame
Two-level frame section of a trailer that provides proper coupler height at the forward end and a lower height for the remainder of the length.

Dry Bulk Carrier
Cargo tanks that carry small, granulated solid materials. They generally do not carry hazardous materials; however, in some cases they may carry fertilizers or plastic products that can burn and release toxic products of combustion.

Dummy Coupler
Fitting used to seal the opening in an air brake hose connection (gladhands) when the connection is not in use; a dust cap.

Dyspnea
Painful or difficult breathing; rapid, shallow respirations.

Element
Most simple substance that cannot be separated into more simple parts by ordinary means.

Elevated Temperature Material
Materials that when offered for transportation or transported in bulk packaging are:

·  In a liquid phase and at temperatures at or above 212oF

·  Intentionally heated at or above their liquid phase flash points of 100oF

·  In a solid phase and at a temperature at or above 464oF

Elevated Temperature Materials Carrier
Cargo tank truck or cargo truck carrying large metal pots that transport elevated-temperature materials.

Emergency Response Guidebook
Manual provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation that aids emergency response personnel in identifying hazardous materials placards. It also offers guidelines for initial actions to be taken at haz mat incidents.

Emergency Valve
Self-closing tank outlet valve.

Emergency Valve Operator
Device used to open and close emergency valves.

Emergency Valve Remote Control
Secondary means, remote from tank discharge openings, for operation in event of fire or other accident.