OBJECTIVE and PURPOSE

The overall objective of this SEL is intended to establish a California State standard reference document, and to promote better interoperability and standardization between all Hazardous Materials Companies in the State of California. Adoption and implementation of this SEL by emergency response agencies will insure increased efficiency and incident intervention in the course of hazardous materials response company mutual aid.

The purpose of this SEL is to:

1. Provide and establish a uniform hazardous materials equipment list: Establish an all-encompassing list of equipment that has been found to be consistent with and often utilized by hazardous materials response teams. The listing of equipment items included in this list is predicated upon the evolution of hazardous materials response intervention, and the history of popularity, utility, and need as demonstrated by the maintenance of local agency inventories. This master list would serve as the basis for a sourcing document.
2. Establish standardized equipment and tool response categories and criteria: Create a standardized set of “Categories” and “Sub-Categories”. Equipment will be listed within these categories and sub-categories based upon their function. The function shall be described in a criteria paragraph that will accompany each category and sub-category.
3. Adopt standardized equipment and tool performance descriptions: Each individual equipment item shall be briefly described in terms of a short use or performance statement. In many cases the description will also include example sizes or approximate dimensions. 1 Agency Influence Type of Standard Intent Cal/OSHA, Fed/OSHA / NIOSH: Occupational Safety and Health Safety procedures, working conditions Regulatory Mandatory NFPA: National Fire Protection Association Safety equipment, tools, protective clothing Performance Consensus ASTM: American Society for the Testing of Materials Materials testing, tool performance Performance Consensus ANSI: American National Standards Institute Testing procedures Performance Consensus EPA Environmental Protection Agency Cleanliness protocols, nonpolluting protocols Performance Mandatory IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Electronic instruments; and Telecommunications Performance Consensus UL: Underwriter’s Laboratory Tool, appliance, instrument design and function Approval Listing Consensus
4. Support Hazardous Materials Company Typing equipment needs: Consistent with the FIRESCOPE Field Operations Guide (ICS 420-1), Hazardous Materials Company Types and Minimum Standards chart, this list will identify and establish the minimum threshold equipment items needed to meet any one of the three types of hazardous materials companies. This list would also identify other hazardous materials equipment items that could be considered to be included in a local agency’s inventory.
5. Promote use and adherence to industry accepted performance standards: This list, where appropriate, shall identify various performance and regulatory standards to which the user (agency having jurisdiction, i.e. the employer and the employee) must comply, as well as those standards that provide a minimum level of performance of the item, tool, or piece of equipment (i.e. the manufacturer).