HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe 13 Commandments of Hazardous Materials Response 1984 THE 13 COMMANDMENTS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE
( "Rules for Creating A Disaster Out Of An Emergency ")
Rule 1: Never engage in preplanning. Everyone likes surprises. If your
associates and subordinates ever learn what they might have to
deal with, they will probably look for another line of work.
Rule 2: Avoid use of a command post at a hazardous materials incident.
Everybody knows you; if they really need to locate you, they will.
Don't allow persons with information and expertise to confuse your
decision making. If they can't find you, they won't bother you.
Rule 3: Make no special effort to control access to the incident scene. Any-
body who gets injured has only themselves to blame. The danger of
hazardous materials incidents is always overrated, anyway. People
are smart enough to know when and where to go. Don't make enemies
by keeping people away from the center of activity.
Rule 4: At all costs, refrain from coordinating activities among agencies.
=y -
This is your show, and don't let them forget it. The less others
knowof_what you are doing, the better off you will be You are
' un to need any services or materials another agency can
provide, so why complicate matters. They don't understand the com
m plexities of your job, and why bother to explain.
'u e 5: Remember, evacuation is an admission of defeat, a bad mark on your
record. Consider it ONLY if you personally can see at least ten
people in the prone position. When absolutely necessary, yell
"EVACUATE!" That's all there is to it. People will know where to
go and what to do. Do not plan an evacuation - it makes people nervous.
Rsle 6: Hazardous materials is so complex a subject that the best use of your
time will be to avoid training. Only personal experience can teach
you how to control or stabilize an incident; if you are lucky, you
Page two
13 Commandments
#6 continued
(-
will never gain that experience. Even the basics of chemistry and
toxicology are too difficult for the average person to understand,
so why trouble them?
Rule 7: If you establish a reference library, people will question your
ability to remember things. Besides, all that chemical and toxico-
logical data just confuses people; it has no direct application to
control or stabilization of hazardous materials. Anyway, you need
an advanced degree to meddle with that stuff.
Rule 8: Have absolutely nothing to do with the media. They will never under-
stand your responsibilities and can only hurt you. If you must talk
to a reporter, give him your theory of what is causing the problem;
hard facts will only confuse him. Besides, if you provide a reporter
with just the facts you know to be true, people may not feel they
need to depend on you as much.
Rule 9: Do not acquire specialized tools /equipment /materials; you can always
"make do." Hazardous materials incidents are pretty much like any
t �
other emergency. Your tried and true methods of operation will
alwa s be best
. 0 a lo: =`:V eep no a soever. It will be best if people do not know
what you did. Any attempt to critique an incident will reflect poorly
on your capabilities. Nothing can be learned from your methods of
operation that can help others, so why make yourself vulnerable to
criticism. Besides, a similar incident is never going to reoccur.
Rule 11: Try never to identify yourself or anyone else as the person -in- charge
at an incident. Individuals operate to maximum potential without
guidance and direction from a leader. No one cares who is in- charge,
Page three
13 Commandments
#11 continued
there will be less bother and reporters will not be able to find
you. Remember, if people learn you are in- charge they may blame
everything on you.
Rule 12: Once you have the situation stabilized, leave. Clean -up and dis-
posal are not your job. There will never be a time when you have
to engage in such work because every community has a team of
specialists that handle only clean -up and disposal.
Rule 13: Keep a low profile with industry representatives. To ask them for
help with training, accept their advice, seek information and
equipment from them, or to work with them in any way will raise
questions about your ability. Besides, it is so embarrassing to
ask anybody for anything or to accept help.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS NEWSLETTER, Box 204, Barre, VT. 05641 (2/1/84)
4 ,
i