Responders other than the fire departments should immediately
notify the Niagara County Control Center of the location along with
any other available/pertinent information in order that the appropriate
fire department may be activated to respond. Such responders will
attempt to determine, from a safe distance, what material is involved
by interpreting placard identification (ID) numbers, shipping papers,
witness/driver interviews, etc. The United States Department of Transportation
Guidebook (DOT P5800.5) is an excellent reference and will be carried
in each Niagara County Sheriff patrol vehicle, as well as issued to
the Town Highway Department and to the fire department (Barker Fire
Department, Inc.).
Response to a suspected hazardous materials incident shall be
as follows:
A. Advise the County Control Center of the location and any other available
details.
B. Note any weather conditions and make special note of the wind direction.
Stay upwind.
C. Stop and park far enough away from the incident site so as not to
introduce an ignition source.
D. Move people away from the incident scene and keep them away.
E. Do not walk into or touch any spilled material.
F. Avoid inhaling fumes, smoke and vapors.
G. Do not assume that gases or vapor are harmless because of a lack
of smell.
H. Police will:
(1) Secure the area and set up an outer perimeter and isolate the hazard
area supplying traffic control and support personnel.
(2) Assist in evacuation of the site if requested to do so by the site
commander.
I. The Fire Department will:
(1) Establish an inner perimeter. This area should be observed by all
personnel until a tactical plan has been established.
(2) Identify the material or materials involved.
(3) Establish an incident command structure and relay the location to
the County Control Center.
(4) Determine a response level for this incident (pursuant to guidelines
as set forth in the Niagara County Hazardous Materials Response Plan)
and follow the procedures as they are outlined.
Site security and control will be designated by the incident
commander and enforced by the Niagara County Sheriff's Department.
Decontamination will be at the direction of the incident commander
and will be accomplished utilizing procedures as outlined within the
Niagara County Hazardous Materials Response Plan.
Emergency medical treatment and first aid will be at the direction
of the incident commander and provided, as needed, pursuant to procedures
as outlined within the Niagara County Hazardous Materials Response
Plan.
At a time agreed upon by the incident commander and the lead
persons of each agency responding to an incident, there will be a
critique of the event to discuss how to respond to similar incidents
more safely and efficiently through the experience gained from the
incident being addressed. The critique will also address how to present
the current incident and any details that may need to be followed
up on.
The Town of Somerset recognizes the Niagara County Hazardous
Materials Response Plan as the primary source for implementing a response
to such an emergency. The Town of Somerset Hazardous Materials Response
Plan is designated to operate in conjunction with a part of the overall
County Plan.