Crucial patrol-level safety reminders for approaching unknown substances

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Topics & Tactics for Law Enforcement with Scott Buhrmaster

Today, reports of biological and chemical threats are common. Suspicious substances are being found in a variety of seemingly safe locations, even the United States Capitol Building where Ricin was recently identified.

In light of increasing awareness of the potentially deadly dangers posed by a variety of substances, some of which may appear innocuous, we thought it wise to remind PoliceOne readers of some of the basic, but extremely important, rules about approaching unidentified substances.

Remember, these rules apply to any unknown substance from ANY source and in ANY location. Odds are good that the substances you may encounter on patrol have no ties to terrorist activity or other high-level conspiratorial activity, but they can prove just as deadly.

Here are some rules to live by:

1. Keyword: CAUTION. It’s better to be suspicious and safe than to slack off and be sorry.
If you come upon an unknown substance in any form—solid, liquid, powder, crystal or any combination—or a suspicious container, be cautious and suspicious, regardless of the setting or course of duty in which you’re involved. If you’re in an obviously threatening, high-risk setting, increase your level of caution accordingly…but remember that even seemingly low-risk settings can harbor serious threats.

In an interview with PoliceOne, Deputy Chief Paul Mauger, President of the Virginia Association of Hazardous Materials Response Specialists and a member of Chesterfield County, Virginia FD/EMS, shared some things to watch for that can flag danger in the presence of an unknown substance or suspicious container:

• Packaging alerts. Before touching or moving any suspicious container, check for warning labels or Haz Mat cautions. If necessary, reposition yourself to check all visible sides of the container before making direct contact and look closely (but don’t get too close) for labels that may have worn off or been partially removed.
  
• Dead or unhealthy vegetation in the immediate area of the substance.
  
• Dead or suffering animals in the area that may have come in contact with the substance.
  
• Unusual residue or odors on or around a suspicious container or substance.
  
• Changes in form (like partial crystallization of a liquid), strange discoloration, or visible vapor.

2. Don’t Touch ...
This holds true for both contained and uncontained substances. Many chemicals can prove extremely dangerous if put in contact with bare skin, resulting in everything from caustic burns to osmotic seepage through the skin into the bloodstream. If you find that you must touch a suspicious container, do so only with protective gloves. If you don’t have any, wait for someone who does or call for a pair to be delivered to the scene.

3. ... And Don’t Be Touched
If you are responding to a scene where hazardous materials may be involved, remember that individuals at the scene may have come in contact with dangerous substances and may be contaminated. If they touch you or you touch them, you’re contaminated, too. Deputy Chief Mauger advises keeping your distance until the scene, including subjects in the area who may be contaminated, can be properly contained and treated by Haz Mat and emergency medical personnel. Some suggestions for strategically maintaining distance while still being involved in response:

• Stay in your unit and use your PA to communicate with individuals at the scene until Haz Mat arrives. This will allow you to gain some control over the situation without compromising your safety.
  
• Exit your unit but immediately ask anyone approaching you to stay their distance until additional support arrives.
  
• If the scene appears serious enough (i.e., obvious signs of chemical spillage, numerous incapacitated victims, etc.), use binoculars to establish visual contact, analyze the situation and relay information to dispatch without entering a danger zone unequipped and unprotected.
  
• Resist the natural tendency to reflexively touch, or even approach, victims who may be down or appealing for help. Wait for proper equipment and support.

If you find yourself called to be one of the first to respond to a potential Haz Mat scene, consider your direction of approach, cautions Deputy Chief Mauger. Be aware that in a situation that may involve hazardous fumes, wind direction can be an extremely important, potentially life-saving, consideration. Regardless of the route you may normally take to get to the scene, monitor wind direction and alter your route of approach accordingly to prevent exposure to airborne hazards.

4. Don’t Smell
Although this may seem obvious, many people have a reflexive tendency to sniff unknown substances in an effort to identify them. The results can be quick and have a life-long, even deadly, impact. In his interview with PoliceOne, Chief Mauger recalled the details of an incident involving two Virginia law officers that perfectly illustrates the point.

After stopping a tractor trailer that bore no cautionary placards and, according to the driver, required no hazardous materials paperwork, the officers decided to look in the back of the trailer to check on the load after spotting some suspicious liquid leakage. The rear door of the unit was of half-door construction like those used by lumber haulers, allowing the officers to step on the rear bumper and pull themselves up for an open view into the interior.

Within seconds of pulling himself up and glancing inside, the first officer’s life was changed forever. Because of the exertion of pulling himself to a standing position on the trailer bumper, the officer was inhaling when he looked inside. Before he fully comprehended the fact that the rear of the truck was full of crushed chemical containers and jumped back, he had inhaled toxic fumes and was rendered incapacitated and permanently injured. His partner, who was in close proximity, was also overcome.

An investigation found that the trailer, unbeknownst to the driver, was filled with chemical drums that had not been properly purged of their dangerous contents. Rain water had mixed with the chemicals, causing the seepage the officers spotted, and the toxic fumes floated freely inside the open-air trailer.

One of the officers, although still on the job, continued to suffer from recurring seizures and liver damage. The other officer was forced to retire because of permanent lung damage stemming from the encounter. Chief Mauger, who was at the scene, ordered the officer who was first on the truck to strip off his chemically permeated clothes on the side of the four-lane highway. Doctors claim this likely saved the officer’s life.

Case-in-point: inhaling can be deadly. And remember: it doesn’t take a trailer bed full of chemicals to destroy nasal tissue, cripple lungs and devastate organs.

5. Don’t taste
Again, a seemingly obvious no-no but a common reflexive response to finding an unidentified substance, particularly clear liquids that can appear harmless. "The senses are the worst clues to go by," says Chief Mauger. "With many of the substances we’re finding in the field today, you don’t get a second chance. Once you touch it, taste it or smell it, it’s too late. You’ve already been affected."

6. Don’t shake or otherwise agitate unknown substances.
"Some chemicals can be extremely volatile even in small amounts," Chief Mauger told PoliceOne. "Sometimes just picking up a container can serve as a catalyst to an explosive reaction." In the instance of powders, shaking or careless handling can cause the substance to become airborne, thus increasing the odds of inhalation. If a suspicious substance, particularly a powder, is found uncontained, gently cover it with a heavy piece of clear plastic if possible to prevent it from blowing.

7. Be prepared to respond appropriately
Be sure you know how to get in touch with your local Haz Mat unit and don’t hesitate to do so. Harkening back to the first point, the keyword when handling suspicious or unidentified substances is caution. Unsure? Call the experts.

8. Go with your gut.
Instinct plays a big role in law enforcement. Encounters with unidentified substances are no exception. If you see a container or a substance that looks out of place or if something just "doesn’t feel right," trust your instincts and call in the experts. If your gut tells you something might be wrong, trust it.

9. Be prepared with basic first-line equipment
Although some departments do equip their field officers with minimal but essential Haz Mat protection equipment, officers who are not supplied don’t have to be unprepared. Chief Mauger recommends carrying some basic, inexpensive equipment, even if you have to buy it yourself. Some things that can make a major safety difference in encounters with hazardous materials are protective rubber or latex gloves, some type of protective smock--preferably one created specifically to protect against chemicals, safety glasses/goggles, a canister respirator, and protective shoe coverings.

"Before you buy anything, however, check with your local Haz Mat unit for advice on specifically what kind of equipment is best and really necessary and what isn’t," advises Deputy Chief Mauger.

10. Think before you act.
Encounters with unknown substances can be extremely serious and extremely dangerous. Treat them as such and be sure to think about each move you make. "As a Haz Mat specialist, I’m constantly aware of how I approach potentially dangerous substances," says Chief Mauger. "In the field, however, I have had officers walk up to me carrying highly suspicious chemical canisters in their bare hands and close to their faces. I’ve even had them walk through puddles of suspicious liquids on the way to report them to me. Thinking before you act can make a world of difference in the world of hazardous materials. Take it slow and think it out."

11. Get some training.
As with anything in law enforcement, education and training can make the difference between effective, safe police work and a personally and professionally dangerous situation. Contact your local Haz Mat unit to see if there are training classes in your area that would be appropriate for your first-responder level of need. If none are scheduled, perhaps you could arrange for training to be held in coordination with your neighboring agencies. There are also several large-scale conferences held across the country, both on state and national levels, that may be feasible for you to attend.

For more information on training in Virginia or for advice on how you might locate training in your area, feel free to contact Deputy Chief Paul Mauger by e-mail at: maugerp@chesterfield.gov

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