James Madison University's Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous Materials

SUMMARY from the U.S. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK for HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS, DOT P 5800.3 I. Initial Responder (usually a campus police officer)

Attempt to identify the hazard and immediately notify the fire department in the event of a chemical spill, chemical fire, or suspected chemical contamination.
When responding to a chemical emergency, avoid contamination.
1. Do not walk into or touch any spilled material.
2. Avoid inhalation of all gases, fumes, and smoke. Stay up wind.
3. Don't assume that gases/vapors are harmless because they lack odor.
Isolate the area. Move and keep people away from the incident scene (Safe distances from the scene will vary. Consult with the orange "Guidebook" for the safe distance chart. Copies of the book are placed in each patrol vehicle and at the communications dispatch desk).
Establish a COMMAND POST outside the perimeter, again up wind.
If it can be done safely, make an immediate attempt to identify the chemical/hazardous materials.
1. Laboratory chemicals should be labeled (USDOT HazMat Warning Labels).
2. Tanks or vehicles should have a black four digit identification number on a placard or orange panel (UNITED NATIONS or NORTH AMERICAN ID).
3. Shipping papers or packages should contain a name or four digit number preceded by the letters "UN" or "NA."
4. Only if no ID number or shipping name can be found, search for a diamond shaped placard (USDOT HazMat Warning Placard System).
5. Many laboratories and other permanent facilities use the system recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 49 and 704M) for identification of the Fire Hazards of Materials (the red, blue, yellow, and white diamond).
6. If none of the above means can be used to identify the substances, call CHEMTREC (800)424-9300 for assistance.
Refer to the orange "Guidebook" when the substance is identified and follow all instructions for that substance. Simultaneously call CHEMTREC for any updated information pertaining to safety action for the chemicals involved.

II. Resources and Assistance

CHEMTREC 1(800)424-9300.
Harrisonburg Fire Department and its HazMat team at 911.
VA Dept. of Emergency Services, HazMat Officer 1(540)491-7044.
VA State Police, Motor Carrier Safety & Hazardous Materials Team by calling the State Police dispatcher at 1(800)572-2260.
VA Dept. of Environmental Quality, Valley Regional Office 828-2595.
Identified chemical shippers and/or manufacturers (local or involved).
Military and other federal agencies (EPA, USDOT, etc.).
Utilities (HEC 434-5361/5363, Hbg. Water/Sewer 434-9959/2545, Commonwealth Gas Co. 434-7620 or 1[800]531-7648/544-5606).
Rockingham Memorial Hospital 433-4100.
Professional clean-up and abatement firms.

III. BACKGROUND ON THE UNIVERSITY'S AND LOCAL COMMUNITY'S PREPAREDNESS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS, RESPONSE, & EVACUATIONS

Demonstrating the multi-disciplinary approach to environmental safety and health issues on campus is the cooperative effort between JMU's Chemistry Department, the university's Safety Engineer, and the Harrisonburg Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Team. A chemistry faculty member acts as an advisor to the HAZMAT team and is "on call" as an unpaid consulting supervisor. The HAZMAT team is stationed at a facility in close proximity to the campus. The HAZMAT team responds to all Hazardous Materials incidents occurring on campus. The Safety Engineer routinely provides familiarization tours of the campus to Harrisonburg Fire Department personnel. Indirectly related, the Public Safety Director facilitates training and familiarization of the campus in liaison with the Harrisonburg Police Department's Tactical Response unit.
Initiated during the early 1980's, the Chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department, the Hazardous Materials officer of the Virginia State Police, and the university's Safety Engineer presented a workshop on management of hazardous materials incidents, followed by periodic update programs. This was prompted by heightened concerns related to hazardous materials emergencies and federal mandates calling for local governmental bodies' involvement in such responses. Clearly stated were responsibilities for making the public aware of the ramifications of such incidents. Police officers, fire fighters, and municipal officials joined with personnel from this department in the formulation of a campus HAZMAT program.
Subsequently, the department developed a general response policy in outline format. Supplied to each officer through placement in each patrol vehicle and at the communications desk are copies of the U. S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook for Hazardous Materials Incidents. This serves as a quick and handy reference for the initially responding officer.
In the event of a spill or disaster, consideration of limited or mass evacuations depends on the nature and extent of the emergency. Measured response would be the approach taken (see reference # 1 at the end of Hazardous Materials Incidents, Response, & Evacuations.
The Harrisonburg Fire Department, with fully paid, trained, and certified personnel, is up to the task with its continuously trained and comprehensively equipped Hazardous Materials Response Team previously cited in this report. The Fire Department provides, in addition the fire fighting, first medical response pending the arrival of a Rescue Squad unit.
The Virginia State Police maintains a similar unit regionally located ready to respond at a moment's notice.
The Harrisonburg Police Department maintains a ready tactical response team which can assist in deliberate acts involving hazardous materials. The team periodically conducts practical exercises in representative campus facilities (see related city/county/campus law enforcement MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT).
Maintained at the Campus Police Headquarters is a constantly updated floor plan directory available to all appropriate response teams.
The Harrisonburg Volunteer Rescue Squad headquartered in close proximity to campus is well staffed, trained, certified, and comprehensively equipped. A significant number of its Emergency Medical Technicians are students of this institution (see reference # 2 at the end of Hazardous Materials Incidents, Response, & Evacuations); all with a vested interest in the welfare of the campus and its community.
One Campus Police officer is a fully certified EMT and is an instructor in CPR and First Responder Basic First Aid at the regional police academy. This officer provides training in those areas "in house" as well.
Rockingham Memorial Hospital is located directly contiguous to the campus.
The University maintains an alternative landing zone to Rockingham Memorial Hospital's primary rotary wing medical evacuation site. These sites principally serve the "Pegasus" medivac helicopters, stationed at the University of Virginia's Medical Center, fifteen minutes air time away from Harrisonburg (see reference # 3 at the end of Hazardous Materials Incidents, Response, & Evacuations).
UVA's Medical Center is one of the nation's most advanced facilities for emergency trauma, critical, and burn care. The campus is also thirty to forty-five minutes flying time from equivalent emergency medical units in Richmond and Roanoke. These units are served by similar medivac ships.
With a major pharmaceutical manufacturer, Merck, and a chemical producer, Dupont located within thirty to forty minutes, other highly trained hazardous materials response teams are available to provide highly technical expert assistance in the event of toxic or hazardous spills. Both are involved with ongoing community interfacing with public safety agencies. Merck provides community based awareness programs for local industries, businesses, and governmental bodies in cooperation with the local Chamber of Commerce, in which this department has participated.

IV. Commonly utilized reference materials and resources:

U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook for Hazardous Materials Incidents DOT P 5800.3*
Hazardous Waste Management at Educational Institutions published by the National Assn. of College & University Business Officers
Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (Chemtrec) of the Chemical Manufacturer's Assn. (800)424-9300
Superfund Hotline (800)424-9346
Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity (US-EPA) Form 8700-12
Hazardous Waste Regulations, Virginia Bureau of Hazardous Waste Management, Virginia Dept. of Health
National Fire Codes, promulgated by the National Fire Protection Assn. (NFPA) including Life Safety Code 101
Emergency Handling of Hazardous Materials in Surface Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway
Virginia OSHA Standards for General Industry, Dept of Labor and Industry
Work Area Protection Manual, VA Dept. of Transportation
Fire Resistance Directory, Underwriters Laboratories
Building Materials Directory, Underwriters Laboratories
The BOCA National Building Code, Building Officials & Code Administrators
The BOCA National Fire Prevention Code
The BOCA National Plumbing Code
The BOCA National Mechanical Code
The BOCA National Existing Structures Code
The BOCA National Energy Conservation Code
The Virginia Hazard Communication Standard, VOSH/OSHA
The Federal Hazard Communication Standard: An Introduction to the New Legislation and How It Will Effect James Madison University
Dept. of Waste Management, Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, 672-10-1, Commonwealth of Virginia
Guide to Preventative Maintenance of State Facilities, Virginia Division of Engineering & Buildings
Virginia Confined Space Standard for General Industry and the Construction Industry
Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Virginia Dept. of Community Development and the State Water Control Board
JMU's Dept. of Biology Laboratory Information, Safety and Policy Manual
JMU's Dept. of Chemistry Laboratory Information, Safety and Policy Manual
JMU's Theater Safety Handbook
JMU's Master Fire Safety Plan and Emergency Procedure Manual
JMU Campus Police's Standard Operating Procedure and Field Training Manual
American National Standards (ANSI) Code 117.1 pertaining the Handicapped Accessibility
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, FED - STD - 795 Federal Register, Friday July 26, 1991, Part III, Department of Justice, 28 CFR Part 36
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities; Final Rule
Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (Commonly known as "ADAAG")Uniform Standards for Accessible Design
Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Final Rule, Federal Register, Friday December 6, 1991, Part II, Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

NOTE: All cited publications and documents are available for review at the Department of Public Safety, Shenandoah Hall, 921 South Main Street.

V. Reference Item # I:

With the affected zone limited to a relatively confined area, residents in close proximity are to be relocated to residential units outside the zone of danger.
In evacuations of a larger scope, the University, as a contractual participant in the Harrisonburg Transit System, would utilize city buses in addition to coaches from the institution's motor pool. All city bus routes originate and terminate at the "hub" bus stand, centrally located on campus contiguous to the Campus Police headquarters. All city buses are radio equipped and dispatched from the municipal transit office.
Harrisonburg and Rockingham county provide numerous sites for emergency assembly such as two other colleges, all with auditoriums and gymnasiums. All could, and have, serve as remote evacuation sites, witness the tragic flood of November 1985 that left so many homeless in outlying areas of the county. Harrisonburg/Rockingham mobilized to meet the emergency needs of the affected populations and is prepared to do so again in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.
With a hazardous materials disaster wide in scope and long in duration (protracted and complicated cleanup) with direct impact on campus, normal operations and classes could be suspended. Students then would be sent home; or alternative arrangements made for their welfare. They would be summoned back to classes upon safe resolution of the incident. Such an incident would involve not only the campus, but contiguous residential communities, and would call for involvement by state, federal, and local emergency preparedness and coordination officials. The university's Safety Engineer maintains ongoing liaison and excellent working relationships with all counterpart agencies and peer personnel.

VI. Reference Item # III.I.:

Some of these student volunteers with the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad are also employed as Campus Police Patrol Cadets.

VII. Reference Item # III.L & III.M.:

"Pegasus" is equipped with dedicated, purpose built Bell and MBB/Kawasaki medivac helicopters, both twin engined craft featuring sufficient redundancy in the event of failure of one of the turbines. This provides sufficient power in marginal conditions for enhanced safety.

VIII. Reference the companion policy "Crisis Communications Plan for JMU" prepared by the Director of Media Relations for primary use by the Media Relations Staff. Important telephone numbers are included in this Media Relations policy that would be a useful resource in this Public Safety/Facilities Management Emergency Response Plan.



Publisher: JMU Office of Public Safety Contact: Public Safety Last Revised: October 21, 2004 Privacy Statement