‘Leave it be:’ What to do if you encounter a hazardous material – WIFR

Report on Hazardous Material Management and Community Safety

Incident Overview

On November 15, a hazardous materials situation prompted a lockdown at Rock Valley College. The incident occurred when a citizen brought an unknown substance to the Jacobs Center for Science and Math Building for identification and disposal. While the Stillman Fire Protection District was not directly involved, the event highlights the critical need for public awareness and proper protocols in handling potentially hazardous materials, a key component in achieving sustainable community development.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The improper handling of hazardous materials poses a direct threat to public health. This incident underscores the importance of preventative measures to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.

• Exposure to hazardous substances, such as mixed cleaning chemicals, can cause severe respiratory problems and other health emergencies.
• Preventative action, including public education on chemical safety, is the most effective strategy to mitigate health risks associated with hazardous materials.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Creating safe, resilient, and sustainable communities requires robust emergency response systems and an informed public capable of identifying and reacting to potential hazards.

• Fire departments and other emergency services are essential for managing hazardous material incidents and ensuring public safety.
• Community resilience is strengthened when citizens understand how to handle unknown substances and when to seek professional assistance, preventing situations from escalating.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

This event serves as a critical reminder of the need for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life cycle, a core target of SDG 12.

1. Follow Manufacturer Recommendations: Adherence to guidelines for the use, storage, and disposal of household chemicals is of the utmost importance to prevent accidental creation of hazardous conditions.
2. Avoid Mixing Chemicals: Combining different products, even during routine cleaning, can produce toxic off-gassing and lead to health hazards.
3. Maintain Original Packaging: Keeping substances in their original containers ensures that critical safety information and product identification are readily available for users and emergency responders.

Operational Protocols for Hazardous Material Incidents

Definition and Identification

Understanding what constitutes a hazardous material is the first step toward safe management. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a hazardous material is:

“A chemical or substance that is classified as a physical hazard material or a health hazard material, whether the chemical or substance is in usable or waste condition.”

• Common sources include household cleaning products, petroleum-based products, and substances produced during a fire.
• The risk is often amplified when materials are mixed, creating new, unforeseen hazards.

Public Guidance and Emergency Response

Chief Chad Hoefle of the Stillman Fire Protection District emphasizes a clear protocol for citizens who encounter a potential hazardous material.

1. Leave It Be: Do not handle, move, or attempt to dispose of an unknown or potentially hazardous substance.
2. Assess the Urgency: Differentiate between an emergency (e.g., a leaking or off-gassing product causing immediate harm) and a non-emergency (e.g., finding an old, unlabeled container).
3. Contact Authorities: For any situation involving uncertainty or immediate risk, contact the local fire department. They possess the tools and expertise to identify the substance and manage the situation safely.
4. Provide Information: Inform responders about any surrounding chemicals or context that could help in identifying the substance and making safe decisions.

Role of Emergency Services

The primary goal of the fire department is to ensure public safety. Their response involves several key actions:

• Secure the area to keep everyone safe and clear from the potential hazard.
• Utilize specialized tools and information provided by the public to identify the material.
• Mitigate the immediate threat, although final cleanup may require a specialized hazardous materials company.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on hazardous material safety and prevention connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting issues of public health, community safety, and the management of chemical substances.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is relevant because the article explicitly discusses the health risks associated with hazardous materials. Fire Chief Chad Hoefle mentions responding to “an individual having respiratory problems” after they mixed cleaning chemicals. This directly links the improper handling of household chemicals to negative health outcomes, which SDG 3 aims to prevent.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article addresses community safety and resilience, which are central to SDG 11. The incident at Rock Valley College, which led to a lockdown, exemplifies a threat to the safety of a community institution. The role of the fire department in responding to and mitigating such hazardous situations to “make sure everybody is safe” underscores the goal of making communities safe and resilient against disasters, including chemical incidents.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This SDG is addressed through the article’s strong emphasis on the safe management of chemical products. Chief Hoefle’s advice to “follow the manufacture’s recommendations for chemicals” and to keep substances in their original packaging relates to the entire life cycle of chemical products, from consumption to disposal. The focus on prevention and proper handling is a core principle of responsible chemical management.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The article directly supports this target by focusing on preventing illnesses caused by hazardous materials. The example of people developing respiratory problems from mixing cleaning products is a clear instance of illness resulting from hazardous chemicals. The chief’s advice on prevention is aimed at reducing such occurrences.

2. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting… people in vulnerable situations.

   A hazardous material situation, like the one at Rock Valley College, can be considered a small-scale disaster. The fire department’s intervention to manage the situation and ensure public safety directly contributes to this target by aiming to reduce the number of people affected by such incidents.

3. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

   The core message of the article aligns perfectly with this target. The emphasis on “prevention,” following manufacturer recommendations, not mixing chemicals, and proper handling of unknown substances are all key components of the “environmentally sound management of chemicals.” The goal is to prevent accidental releases (“off-gassing or that’s leaking”) and minimize adverse impacts on human health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several practical measures that could be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.9: Number of emergency medical responses to incidents of illness caused by exposure to household chemicals.

  Chief Hoefle states that his department “has had several situations where they respond to an individual having respiratory problems” due to mixing chemicals. Tracking the frequency of these specific emergency calls would serve as a direct indicator of illnesses resulting from hazardous chemicals in the home, measuring progress towards reducing them.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.5: Number of hazardous material incidents requiring emergency response and community alerts (e.g., lockdowns, evacuations).

  The incident at Rock Valley College, which “was put into lockdown for a hazardous materials situation,” is a specific event. The number of such incidents that disrupt community life and require a response from emergency services like the fire department can be used to measure a community’s exposure and resilience to chemical-related disasters.

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.4: Frequency of calls to fire departments for assistance with unidentified or improperly stored chemical substances.

  The article advises the public to call the fire department if they “find something that’s unlabeled and they are unsure.” The number of such calls could serve as a proxy indicator for public awareness and the prevalence of improperly managed chemicals within the community, reflecting the need for better chemical management practices.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wifr.com