Coordination
Operations against a clandestine drug lab must be coordinated through an incident command system (ICS).
- Team supervisor and site safety officer roles must be established for planning, entry, hazard identification, and evidence recovery.
- Participating agencies must also plan and coordinate their actions to ensure employee safety.
The incident commander is responsible for determining whether a lab is contaminated. Chemical contamination may be determined as follows:
- by sampling with direct-reading instruments;
- by observing spilled chemicals, open or leaking containers;
- by complaints of chemical odors; and
- by symptoms such as watery eyes, irritated skin, or difficulty breathing.
Employees or members of HAZMAT teams who complain of signs and symptoms of exposure are entitled to medical consultation under HAZWOPER 1910.120(f).
Properties that have been declared unfit for use by a law enforcement agency are considered uninhabitable until they are cleaned up by a certified decontamination contractor and a certificate of fitness has been issued by the Public Health Agencies.
Post-emergency cleanup operations of contaminated sites are covered under HAZWOPER 1910.120(b)-(o). Contractors and their employees must meet HAZWOPER requirements for 40-hour training and 8-hour annual refresher training. Supervisory personnel must have additional training. A two-day certification class and biennial refresher are also required.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-6. Members of HAZMAT teams complaining of signs and symptoms of exposure are entitled to _____.
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