Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 5 th Edition

Chapter 4 — Safety and Aircraft Hazards

ARFF4–2

Chapter 4 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the student shall be able to recognize safety and aircraft hazards and explain appropriate actions to take to avoid those hazards.

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Objectives

1. Discuss personal protective equipment. 2. Recognize the importance of firefighter safety. 3. Explain hazards associated with aircraft rescue and fire fighting.

(Continued)

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Objectives

4. Describe hazards associated with aircraft cargo. 5. Discuss military aircraft hazards.6. Discuss the occurrence of terrorist incidents at airports.

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Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

• Protective clothing – Provides various types of protection– Must fit properly

• Protective equipment – Serves various functions– Must be used properly

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Personal Protective Clothing

• Wear full protective clothing ensemble and SCBA during operations

• Proximity suits — may be worn depending upon fire conditions

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Station/Work Uniform

• Should be made of flame-resistant materials

• Identify ARFF• Requirements stated in

NFPA® 1975

(Continued)

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Station/Work Uniform

• Intended for use under full protective clothing

• Not intended to be used by themselves as protective clothing

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Structural Fire Fighting Protective Clothing

• May respond in structural clothing

• Consists of various components

• Protects from all but extreme conditions

(Continued)

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Structural Fire Fighting Protective Clothing

• Limited in some applications• Proximity suits — recommended for

aircraft fire fighting by NFPA® 1500• Has both positive characteristics and

limited abilities• Requirements stated in NFPA® 1971

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Chemical Protective Clothing

• Aircraft accidents may contain hazardous materials

• Not all ARFF firefighters specialize in haz-mat operations

• Requirements stated in NFPA® 472

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Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing

• Referred to as proximity gear and proximity suits

• Aluminized outer shell

• One piece or multiple pieces

(Continued)

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Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing

• Has unique characteristics • Don’t confuse with fire entry suits• Must wear SCBA with both proximity

clothing and fire entry suits• Requirements stated in NFPA® 1971

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Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

• Respiratory protection standards require protection

• Respiratory protection program and fire departments– Adopt– Maintain

(Continued)

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Self-contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

• Wear SCBA at ALL aircraft fires

• Follow manufacturer’s requirements

• Users must meet requirements for respiratory protection

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Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

• Must wear a PASS device in hazardous atmospheres

• Standards are found in NFPA® 1982• Alarm sounds when wearer is

incapacitated

(Continued)

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Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

• May have other characteristics

• Increases chances of being found

• Can have problems– Dead batteries– Not being activated

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

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Hearing Protection

• Required because of noise levels

• Standards — NFPA® 1500

• Should be available to firefighters

• Establish hearing awareness program

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Eye Protection

• Many sources of eye injury for ARFF personnel

• Wear safety glasses combined with other means of eye protection

(Continued)

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Eye Protection

• Base on specific hazard

• Should meet eye protection requirements

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Firefighter Safety

• Accidents — number ONE cause of injuries

• Practice safety at all times

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Fire Station Safety

• Practice good housekeeping• Keep floors and walking surfaces clean,

dry, and clear of clutter• Ensure exit areas are lighted and free

of obstructions• Store all hazardous materials properly

(Continued)

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Fire Station Safety

• Keep MSDSs for hazardous materials• Use proper lifting and carrying

techniques

(Continued)

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Fire Station Safety

• Follow and post tool and equipment safety rules

• Place portable heaters out of travel routes/away from combustibles

• Use only portable heaters that deactivate if knocked over

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Emergency Response

• Be properly dressed and buckled prior to departing

• Do NOT attempt to don protective clothing enroute

• Secure loose items in cab

(Continued)

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Emergency Response

• Driver/operators – Select and use safest routes– Balance vehicle speed and caution

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Scene Management

• Secure scene perimeter and limit entry• Establish operating zones

– Hot zone– Warm zone– Cold zone

• Smaller incidents — cordoned area

(Continued)

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Scene Management

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Personnel Accountabil i ty

• System of accountability must track all personnel

• Two-in/two-out policy– All interior fire fighting operations– Required by both OSHA and NFPA®

• Become familiar with aircraft

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Personnel Decontamination

• Accident sites contain hazards– Hazardous materials– Biohazards

• Always need decontamination Courtesy of Brian Canady, DFWIA

Department of Public Safety.

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Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

• Aircraft incidents can be more stressful– Hazardous conditions– Large number of injuries/fatalities

• AHJ teams assist in debriefing• Know when to ask for help

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Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

• Peer-group or professional interaction immediately after incident

• Should begin as soon as fires extinguished at major fatality incidents

• Participation should NOT be optional

(Continued)

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Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

• Process should sometimes start before firefighters enter scene

• Defusing — done at end of shifts of major operations

• Participate in a full debriefing within 72 hours

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Aircraft Fire Fighting Hazards

• Accidents should be treated as potential hazardous materials incidents

• Military incidents involve hazardous materials

• Enormous quantities of fuel

(Continued)

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Aircraft Fire Fighting Hazards

• Use proper PPE and decontaminate• Other hazards in accidents

– Agricultural spraying– Maintenance facilities– Hazardous cargo

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Hazardous Conditions at the Emergency Scene

• Wreckage of the aircraft• Confined space hazards• Heat stress• Fuel hazards

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Hazardous Aircraft Components and Materials

• Jet fuel• Landing gear• Energized electrical lines• Hydraulic and pneumatic lines• Oxygen systems

(Continued)

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Hazardous Aircraft Components and Materials

• Composite fibers• Biohazards• Pitot tubes• Air bags

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Engine Hazards

• Reciprocating engine hazards — can restart if propeller is moved

(Continued)

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Engine Hazards

• WARNING! Even if a propeller has stopped, do not move it under any conditions. Piston engines that have recently stopped can sometimes cycle, violently rotate, or restart if the propeller is moved.

(Continued)

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Engine Hazards

• Jet engine hazards — pose serious threat to personnel

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Helicopter Hazards

• Approach with caution• Rotors present greatest hazard• Pilot must signal safe for approach• Never approach from rear

(Continued)

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Helicopter Hazards

• Approach and leave helicopter– In a crouched position– In view of pilot

• Carry all equipment and tools– Horizontally– Below the waist

(Continued)

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Helicopter Hazards

• Secure loose articles• Locate suitable

landing area

(Continued)

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Helicopter Hazards

• WARNING! Firefighters should wear eye protection, hearing protection, coat or jacket, bright colored or reflective clothes, and helmets ANY TIME they are around helicopters with running engines, regardless of circumstances.

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Ball istic Recovery Systems (BRS)

• Used in general aviation aircraft, ultra-lights, and experimental aircraft

• Designed to rapidly deploy a parachute that stabilizes aircraft

• Save lives but also present hazard to ARFF personnel

(Continued)

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Ball istic Recovery Systems (BRS)

• Composed of several components

• Deflated parachutes can re-inflate in winds

(Continued)

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Ball istic Recovery Systems (BRS)

• WARNING! Ballistic recovery parachutes can be fired vertically or horizontally and are not always readily visible on the aircraft or location from where they are fired. Do not use ordinary bolt cutters or side cutters to cut the activation housing.

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Air Cargo Transport

• Transport of cargo– Large companies– Commercial flights

• Cargo– Often harmless– Also frequently classified as hazardous or

dangerous(Continued)

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Air Cargo Transport

• Any aircraft crash could be considered to involve dangerous goods

• Use proper procedures to protect from effects of dangerous goods

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Air Cargo Transport — Laws and Regulations

• Highly regulated• Air carriers inspect

packages and documents

• “Undeclared” shipments of hazardous materials occur (Continued)

Courtesy of John Demyan, LVI Airport.

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Air Cargo Transport — Laws and Regulations

• Hazardous materials may be involved in any crash

• CFR Title 14 Part 139 requires training

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Classification of Dangerous Goods

• Class 1 — Explosives• Class 2 — Gases• Class 3 — Flammable liquids• Class 4 — Flammable solids• Class 5 — Oxidizing substances

(Continued)

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Classification of Dangerous Goods

• Class 6 — Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances

• Class 7 — Radioactive materials

• Class 8 — Corrosives• Class 9 —

Miscellaneous dangerous goods

Courtesy of Doddy Photography.

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Shipment of Dangerous Goods

• Usually placed in containers called unit load devices

• Devices are then loaded onto aircraft

• Certain dangerous goods must be accessible to crew

(Continued)

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Shipment of Dangerous Goods

• Undeclared dangerous cargo may be encountered in various forms

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Product Identif ication

• May be difficult in air transport situations

• Several means of identifying dangerous goods

• Documentation varies with carrier

(Continued)

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Product Identif ication

• Shipper responsible for identification• Federal law requires “pilot in command”

be provided with shipping papers

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Verification

• Multiple sources• Errors can be critical• Use at least three sources

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Information Gathering

• Product must be researched to determine hazards

• Helps develop mitigation plan• Consult at least three sources

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Be familiar with PPE used• AHJ ensures NFPA® 1500 compliance • Select PPE based on several factors

– SOPs– Nature of incident– Resources available

(Continued)

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Personnel should NOT be assigned tasks for which they– Do not have adequate training– Do not have adequate PPE

• ARFF role may be limited in situations involving unknown materials

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Dangerous Goods Operations

• First responsibility of units responding to dangerous goods incidents– Isolate the scene– Deny entry

(Continued)

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Dangerous Goods Operations

• Personnel should – Secure the area– Establish control zones– Exclude nonessential personnel

(Continued)

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Dangerous Goods Operations

• ARFF personnel trained as technicians or specialists on hazmat operations should NOT be engaged in– Rescues– Body recoveries

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Lavatory Waste Spil ls

• Waste tanks have a wide range of capacity

• Spills may occur in various areas– Aircraft ramp– Enroute to disposal

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Agricultural Application

• Chemicals range from relatively innocuous fertilizers to highly toxic pesticides

• Applied with fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft

(Continued)

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Agricultural Application

• Usually have support vehicles• Must be applied at low altitudes• Often fly close to obstructions• Crash sites difficult to reach• No indication of what is being carried

(Continued)

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Agricultural Application

• Perform work upwind• Wear proper protection• Decontaminate victims, personnel, and

equipment• Contain runoff

(Continued)

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Agricultural Application

• Most likely a problem away from airports

• First responders likely volunteer structural firefighters Courtesy of Paul Pestel.

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Special Hazards Associated With Mil i tary Aircraft

• Chaff• Flares• Pyrotechnics

Courtesy of LCPL Andrew Williams (USMC), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC). (Continued)

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Special Hazards Associated With Mil i tary Aircraft

• Jet assisted take-off (JATO) systems• Increased fuel capacity• Composite wings and body

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Emergency Ejection Systems

• Accidentally activating ejection seats and canopies may be extremely dangerous

• Personnel must know how to safely secure or avoid

• NEVER jettison indoors

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Ejection Seats

• Rocket- or gas-powered• Fired in different manners• Crew members fire seats• Opening a hatch could cause seat to

fire

(Continued)

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Ejection Seats

• Civilian ARFF personnel should not attempt to disarm system

• Military personnel must be contacted to disarm systems

(Continued)

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Ejection Seats

• WARNING! Safetying an ejection system is a hazardous operation. Rescue personnel should not attempt to safety an ejection system if they do not have the proper training and equipment necessary for the specific model of aircraft.

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Canopies

• Canopy — encloses the cockpit• Designed to protect the pilot and crew• Three main types

– Clamshell– Sliding– Hinged

(Continued)

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Canopies

• Clamshell and sliding — most common• Sliding — easier to operate during

rescues• Actuated in various ways

(Continued)

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Canopies

• Some are disintegrated with explosives built into the shell or along frame

• Most have an external means of jettisoning

• Should be jettisoned only if absolutely necessary

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Propellant Actuating Devices

• Canopy removers• Initiators• Rotary actuators• Thrusters• Explosive squibs• Seat catapults

Courtesy of SSgt Bennie J. Davis III (USAF), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC).

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Other Emergency Systems

• Emergency power unit (EPU)• Fire protection/detection systems• Emergency doors/hatches

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Military Weapons and Weapon Systems

• Carry a broad range of weapons and explosives

• Unless external may not know if weapons are on board

• Primary effort in a fire – Quick knockdown of fire– Cooling of munitions

(Continued)

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Military Weapons and Weapon Systems

• In a fire, weapon or explosive may detonate within 45 seconds to 4 or 5 minutes

(Continued)

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Military Weapons and Weapon Systems

• WARNING! Do not attempt to fight a fire in which a weapon is involved if it is not possible to extinguish the fire quickly. Because of the likelihood of detonation, all firefighters should withdraw at least 2,000 feet (600 m). If a rescue is in progress, continue to apply water in copious amounts until rescue is complete.

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Types of Weapons on Mil i tary Aircraft

• High explosive (HE)

• Ammunition• Rockets and

missiles• Gravity bombs• Nuclear weapons

Courtesy of SrA Sean Sides (USAF), Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC).

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Terrorist Incidents

• Airports are prime targets for terrorist acts involving CBRNE weapons of mass destruction

• Need to be trained and prepared to respond

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Indications of Terrorist Incident

• Explosions that disperse liquids, mists, vapors, or gas

• Explosions that only destroy a package or bomb device

• Unscheduled and unusual dissemination of aerosol sprays

(Continued)

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Indications of Terrorist Incident

• Abandoned spray devices or unexplained odors

• Mass casualties without obvious cause or trauma

(Continued)

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Indications of Terrorist Incident

• Definite pattern of casualties and common symptoms

• Civilian panic in a high-profile target area

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Signs and Symptoms of Agents

• Nuclear and biological agents — appear hours to days after incident

• Chemical agents — rapid onset of symptoms in minutes or hours; easily observed indicators

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Types of Chemical Agents

• Blister agents• Blood agents• Choking agents• Nerve agents

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ARFF Responsibil i t ies

• Provide detailed report on conditions• Follow procedures outlined in local

emergency response plans

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Summary

• To be able to perform their jobs safely, airport firefighters should be trained in the types and uses of personal protective equipment.

(Continued)

ARFF4–94

Summary

• Firefighters should be thoroughly familiar with firefighter safety while at the fire station, responding to, and at the scene of an emergency.

(Continued)

ARFF4–95

Summary

• ARFF personnel should be well versed in the general hazards associated with ARFF and the specific hazards aircraft pose to the airport firefighters.

(Continued)

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Summary

• ARFF personnel should have working knowledge of military aircraft hazards. Finally, airport firefighters should be able to identify and respond to terrorist incidents.

ARFF4–97

Review Questions

1. When does wicking occur?2. Who should be allowed into the hot zone?3. When should critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) begin?4. How might the instability of wreckage affect normally ordinary tasks? (Continued)

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Review Questions

5. When is it acceptable to approach a helicopter from the rear?6. What is the purpose of a ballistic recovery system (BRS)?7. What are unit load devices?

(Continued)

ARFF4–99

Review Questions

8. What is the first responsibility of units responding to dangerous goods incidents? 9. How do flares work on military aircraft as countermeasures to heat seeking missiles?10. What are explosive squibs?