A. Policy

The Patrol Division's Special Teams Commander or his designee shall be responsible for coordinating the planning functions for response to hazmat incidents. This responsibility will be coordinated with the Emergency Manager within the Support Services Division. The Emergency Manager or designee will be responsible to ensure basic awareness level training is provided to agents for events involving hazardous materials. Agents need to recognize and understand hazardous situations in order to protect themselves and others from contamination in the course of duty responses.

Pursuant to CRS Title 29, Article 22, West Metro Fire Rescue, serving as the Designated Emergency Response Authority (DERA), is responsible for all activities (emergency response, chemical control, cleanup and cost recovery) related to all hazardous materials incidents occurring within the city of Lakewood. A hazardous materials incident shall be defined as any emergency circumstance involving the sudden discharge of a hazardous substance which threatens immediate and irreparable harm to the environment or the health and safety of the community. This includes incidents of spilling, dumping, or abandonment of a hazardous substance.

The City of Lakewood, the West Metro Fire Protection District, the Pleasant View Fire Protection District, and South Metro Fire Rescue Authority maintain an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that is intended to define the respective duties and responsibilities of these government entities in the event of a hazardous material incident occurring within Lakewood's city limits.

Due to the equipment, personnel, and technical assistance requirements of hazardous materials response, a multijurisdictional/mutual aid approach shall be utilized. As such, the following multiagency guidelines have been set forth as a means of guiding the city's response to a hazardous materials incident.

If a hazardous materials incident occurs on the boundary of the city of Lakewood and another jurisdiction or in an area where the jurisdiction is not readily ascertainable, the first arriving emergency response unit from that jurisdiction should be responsible for incident response coordination following unified command principles.

If subsequent jurisdictional boundary is determined, the hazardous materials response authority of the jurisdiction in which the incident actually occurred should exercise continuing supervisory authority for the cleanup and removal of the involved material.

If a hazardous materials incident occurs on private property, the owner or operator of that property shall be responsible for undertaking the emergency response actions. If, however, the owner or operator does not undertake emergency response actions or if in the judgment of the on - scene supervisor or Emergency Manager there exists a danger to public health and safety beyond such property, the relevant fire department or district under the IGA shall undertake emergency response efforts.

All sworn Police Department personnel are issued and tested on a full-face air purifying respirator with P100 filter. It is expected that all Police personnel keep their assigned respirator and filter available for deployment while at work.

In addition to the respiratory protection issued to sworn personnel, every Police vehicle normally operated by a sworn employee is equipped with an additional personal protective equipment ensemble that includes nitrile gloves, protective coveralls, protective boot covers and an Enforcement cartridge. This equipment will provide protection against particulates and general dirt and grime environments (including dust, mold, fiberglass, tear gas, blood, and other bodily fluids).

Police Department personnel are not expected to enter chemically hazardous environments. Responding personnel shall keep adequate distance from the hazard as to not risk exposure.

B. Procedure

1. Notification of Police and Fire Departments. Upon receiving notice of a possible hazardous materials incident, the Jefferson County Communications Center (Jeffcom) shall take the following actions:

a. Dispatch the closest available unit to the scene.

b. Notify the appropriate fire department or fire district of the situation and request their response.

c. Notify an on-duty patrol supervisor who shall determine if their response is necessary.

2. Upon receiving notice of a possible hazardous materials incident, the appropriate fire district or department shall be requested to take the following actions:

a. Dispatch available personnel and equipment to the scene.

b. Assist the City of Lakewood with the notification of response and support agencies.

3. Initial responsibilities:

a. First response unit initial responsibilities of the Police Department:

(1) Conduct a preliminary situation assessment and determine what emergency action will be needed to begin coping with the incident.

(2) Don personal protective equipment as appropriate. If necessary, consult with direct supervisor If unsure about suitability of available equipment, do not enter the environment.

(3) Perform lifesaving actions when safety and available equipment permits.

(4) Stay as far back as possible and avoid contact with the substance.

(5) Secure the area and restrict access while staying outside of the area of apparent chemical exposure risk.

(6) For all hazardous materials incidents involving death, serious injury, closure of streets, contamination of water, or substantial property damage, notify the following personnel if not already completed:

� On-duty Supervisor

� Police Commander

� Public Information Officer

� Emergency Manager

(7) Establish communications and Incident Command with on - scene fire department personnel.

b. Initial responsibilities of the fire department or district pursuant to the IGA:

(1) Conduct a preliminary situation assessment and determine what emergency action will be needed to begin coping with the incident.

(2) Assume Unified Command duties and establish an incident function including communication and coordination of emergency response activities focused on the protection of life, control and containment of the hazardous materials involved in the incident.

(3) Perform lifesaving actions when safety and available equipment permits.

(4) Stay back as far as possible and avoid contact with the substance.

(5) If necessary, request additional personnel and equipment to respond to the scene.

(6) Establish communications with on - scene Police Department personnel.

4. Control and containment

a. First arriving police department personnel should consider the following actions:

(1) Establish an on - scene command post ensuring adequate distance from the hazard. The Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) in all Patrol cars should be used to determine appropriate protective actions and distances, if not performed by the responding fire department.

(2) Activate the incident command system.

(3) Assist the fire department or district in identifying the substance by utilizing shipping papers, placards, labels, the driver, or other identifying materials, if safe to do so

(4) Provide perimeter, traffic, and crowd control.

(5) Evacuate area or instruct affected persons to shelter in place as appropriate.

(6) Establish and control a staging area.

(7) Coordinate all activities related to the news media by utilizing a Public Information Officer.

(8) If the incident has resulted in multiple fatalities or appears likely to cause the closure of streets or public facilities for more than six hours, activate the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

b. First arriving fire supervisor should consider the following actions:

(1) Identify the substance by utilizing shipping papers, placards, labels, or other identifying materials.

(2) Contain and control the hazardous materials. If the material is on fire and safety permits, make an attempt to extinguish it. If safety permits, the City's Department of Public Works will assist in a support role.

(3) If possible, shut off source of leak.

(4) Contain, divert, or dike the substance and restrict it from entering a waterway or storm sewer.

(5) Provide medical services, including the establishment of a triage area.

(6) Conduct search and rescue operations.

(7) Establish a decontamination area.

(8) Provide a person to record the decisions and actions taken during the hazardous materials incident response.

(9) Issue evacuation orders and participate in evacuation activities as required.

5. Substance cleanup and removal activity responsibilities of the DERA:

a. Supervise the chemical cleanup and removal activities. A certified clean-up contractor shall be contacted to respond to the scene.

b. Provide the primary investigation report as to the cause of the incident and the resultant actions taken by all on - scene agencies in cooperation with the fire districts and departments involved.

c. Coordinate with federal or state investigatory agencies that wish to investigate the incident.

d. Conduct a continuing evaluation of residual risks at the site of the incident until such time as no further clean-up action is necessary.

e. Prepare a report on lessons learned from the incident response operations.

f. Command/Hazmat personnel shall ensure that the National Response Center is notified or will be notified if any substance entered the navigable waters of the state.

	Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Hazmat Incidents		Effective Date:04/12/2024
	Policy Number: PP-4940 - Hazmat Incidents