HAZMAT & WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) – Hazardous Materials Awareness and
CBRNE Emergency Response Study Guide
Define hazardous materials - correct answer ✔✔HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - any item or agent
(biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical), which has the potential to cause harm to
humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors
Define Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) - correct answer ✔✔Weapon of Mass Destruction
(WMD) - any weapon or device that is intended to, or has the capability to cause death or
serous bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or
impact of
•Toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors
•A disease organism
•Radiation or radioactivity
Recognize risks associated with hazardous materials - correct answer ✔✔Exposure to hazardous
materials
•Acute - a dose or doses received in a short period of time
•Chronic - a long term or reoccurring dose
•Both types can have either immediate (e.g., vomiting or diarrhea) or long term effects (e.g.,
cancer) depending on the material and level of exposure
Explain PPE selection considerations for first responders to a hazardous materials incident -
correct answer ✔✔•Proper selection of PPE for individual responders must be based upon a
careful assessment of two factors
-The hazards anticipated to be present or are present at the scene
-The probable impact of those hazards, based upon the mission role of the individual
•The amount of protection required is material and hazard specific
, -The EPA has established a set of four chemical protective PPE ensembles (A through D) that
provide certain protection levels and are commonly used by fire and emergency service
organizations
-Level D is the lowest level of protection and represents what an average law enforcement
officer may have available while on duty
-Law enforcement officers may have PPE available that would provide blood and body fluid
pathogen barrier protection
•Outer protective garments - may be configured to cover only parts of the body or torso
•Gloves
•Footwear
•Face Protection
-No single type of PPE protects against all hazards and may well be inadequate for the incident
to which and officer could respond
-First responder agencies must individually research the available data on the various
ensembles and decide, based on duties performed, what combination of PPE is acceptable for
the organizations
Recognize mechanisms by which hazardous materials can cause harm to the body - correct
answer ✔✔•Thermal (fire and/or explosion)
•Radiological
•Asphyxiation
•Chemical exposure
•Etiological (biological hazards)
•Mechanical (physical hazards)
Thermal (fire and/or explosion)
•Heat from a fire or released by a
chemical reaction
•Extreme cold, such as liquefied
CBRNE Emergency Response Study Guide
Define hazardous materials - correct answer ✔✔HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - any item or agent
(biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical), which has the potential to cause harm to
humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors
Define Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) - correct answer ✔✔Weapon of Mass Destruction
(WMD) - any weapon or device that is intended to, or has the capability to cause death or
serous bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release, dissemination, or
impact of
•Toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors
•A disease organism
•Radiation or radioactivity
Recognize risks associated with hazardous materials - correct answer ✔✔Exposure to hazardous
materials
•Acute - a dose or doses received in a short period of time
•Chronic - a long term or reoccurring dose
•Both types can have either immediate (e.g., vomiting or diarrhea) or long term effects (e.g.,
cancer) depending on the material and level of exposure
Explain PPE selection considerations for first responders to a hazardous materials incident -
correct answer ✔✔•Proper selection of PPE for individual responders must be based upon a
careful assessment of two factors
-The hazards anticipated to be present or are present at the scene
-The probable impact of those hazards, based upon the mission role of the individual
•The amount of protection required is material and hazard specific
, -The EPA has established a set of four chemical protective PPE ensembles (A through D) that
provide certain protection levels and are commonly used by fire and emergency service
organizations
-Level D is the lowest level of protection and represents what an average law enforcement
officer may have available while on duty
-Law enforcement officers may have PPE available that would provide blood and body fluid
pathogen barrier protection
•Outer protective garments - may be configured to cover only parts of the body or torso
•Gloves
•Footwear
•Face Protection
-No single type of PPE protects against all hazards and may well be inadequate for the incident
to which and officer could respond
-First responder agencies must individually research the available data on the various
ensembles and decide, based on duties performed, what combination of PPE is acceptable for
the organizations
Recognize mechanisms by which hazardous materials can cause harm to the body - correct
answer ✔✔•Thermal (fire and/or explosion)
•Radiological
•Asphyxiation
•Chemical exposure
•Etiological (biological hazards)
•Mechanical (physical hazards)
Thermal (fire and/or explosion)
•Heat from a fire or released by a
chemical reaction
•Extreme cold, such as liquefied
