SPILL RESPONSE UNIT LEADER

Mission: Coordinate on-site activities related to implementation of the hospital’s internal Hazardous
Materials (HazMat) Spill Response Plan.

Position Reports to: HazMat Branch Director Command Location:

Position Contact Information: Phone: ( ) - Radio Channel:

Hospital Command Center (HCC): Phone: ( ) - Fax: ( ) -

Position Assigned to: Date: / / Start: ____:____ hrs.

Signature: Initials: End: ____:____ hrs.

Position Assigned to: Date: / / Start: ____:____ hrs.

Signature: Initials: End: ____:____ hrs.

Position Assigned to: Date: / / Start: ____:____ hrs.

Signature: Initials: End: ____:____ hrs.

Immediate Response (0 – 2 hours) Time Initial

Receive appointment
 Obtain briefing from the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Branch Director on:
o Size and complexity of incident
o Expectations of the Incident Commander
o Incident objectives
o Involvement of outside agencies, stakeholders, and organizations
o The situation, incident activities, and any special concerns
 Assume the role of Spill Response Unit Leader
 Review this Job Action Sheet
 Put on position identification (e.g., position vest)
 Notify your usual supervisor of your assignment
Assess the operational situation
 Determine the hazardous agent involved in the spill and required response
 Provide information to the HazMat Branch Director on the status
Determine the incident objectives, tactics, and assignments
 Document unit objectives, tactics, and assignments on the HICS 204: Assignment
List
 Based on the incident objectives for the response period consider the issues and
priorities:
o Appoint Spill Response Unit personnel in collaboration with the HazMat Branch
Director
o Determine strategies and how the tactics will be accomplished
o Determine needed resources
 Brief unit personnel on the situation, strategies, and tactics, and designate time for
next briefing
Activities
 Ensure hospital Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Spill Response Plan is activated,
including:
o Establishing a safe perimeter

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o Containing the spill, if safe to do so

o Contacting a spill contractor or appropriate government response agency, if
needed
 Ensure decontamination team, if activated, is briefed on the situation
 Provide status updates to the HazMat Branch Director regularly, advising of
accomplishments and problems encountered
 Provide regular updates to unit personnel and inform of strategy changes as needed
 Consider development of a unit action plan; submit to the HazMat Branch Director if
requested
Documentation
 HICS 204: Document assignments and operational period objectives on
Assignment List
 HICS 213: Document all communications on a General Message Form
 HICS 214: Document all key activities, actions, and decisions in an Activity Log on a
continual basis
 HICS 252: Distribute Section Personnel Time Sheet to section personnel; ensure
time is recorded appropriately, and submit it to the Finance/Administration Section
Time Unit Leader at the completion of a shift or end of each operational period
Resources
 Determine equipment and supply needs; request from the Logistics Section Supply
Unit Leader and report to the HazMat Branch Director
 Assess issues and needs in unit areas; coordinate resource management
Communication
Hospital to complete: Insert communications technology, instructions for use and
protocols for interface with external partners
Safety and Security
 Ensure that all unit personnel comply with safety procedures and instructions
 Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and utilized appropriately

Intermediate Response (2 – 12 hours) Time Initial

Activities
 Transfer the Spill Response Unit Leader role, if appropriate
o Conduct a transition meeting to brief your replacement on the current situation,
response actions, available resources, and the role of external agencies in support
of the hospital
o Address any health, medical, and safety concerns
o Address political sensitivities, when appropriate
o Instruct your replacement to complete the appropriate documentation and ensure
that appropriate personnel are properly briefed on response issues and objectives
(see HICS Forms 203, 204, 214, and 215A)
 Ensure hazard monitoring continues and issues are addressed; coordinate with the
Safety Officer
 Prepare for the possibility of evacuation or relocation of personnel
 Rotate staff and replace, activate staffing plan utilizing Labor Pool personnel as
needed
 Meet regularly with the HazMat Branch Director for status reports
 Advise the HazMat Branch Director immediately of any operational issue you are not
able to correct
 Relay important information and updates to unit personnel

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Documentation
 HICS 204: Document assignments and operational period objectives on
Assignment List
 HICS 213: Document all communications on a General Message Form
 HICS 214: Document all key activities, actions, and decisions in an Activity Log on a
continual basis
Resources
 Assess issues and needs in unit areas; coordinate resource management
 Ensure equipment, supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are replaced
as needed
Communication
Hospital to complete: Insert communications technology, instructions for use and
protocols for interface with external partners
Safety and Security
 Ensure that all unit personnel comply with safety procedures and instructions
 Ensure physical readiness through proper nutrition, water intake, rest, and stress
management techniques
 Ensure unit personnel health and safety issues are being addressed; report issues to
the Safety Officer and the Logistics Section Employee Health and Well-Being Unit
 Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and utilized appropriately

Extended Response (greater than 12 hours) Time Initial

Activities
 Transfer the Spill Response Unit Leader role, if appropriate
o Conduct a transition meeting to brief your replacement on the current situation,
response actions, available resources, and the role of external agencies in support
of the hospital
o Address any health, medical, and safety concerns
o Address political sensitivities, when appropriate
o Instruct your replacement to complete the appropriate documentation and ensure
that appropriate personnel are properly briefed on response issues and objectives
(see HICS Forms 203, 204, 214, and 215A)
 Continue Spill Response Unit supervision including monitoring, documentation, and
safety practices
 Provide updates to the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Branch Director and unit
personnel
Documentation
 HICS 204: Document assignments and operational period objectives on
Assignment List
 HICS 213: Document all communications on a General Message Form
 HICS 214: Document all key activities, actions, and decisions in an Activity Log on a
continual basis
Resources
 Assess issues and needs in unit areas; coordinate resource management
 Ensure equipment, supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are replaced
as needed

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Communication
Hospital to complete: Insert communications technology, instructions for use and
protocols for interface with external partners
Safety and security
 Ensure that all unit personnel continue to comply with safety procedures and
instructions
 Observe all staff and volunteers for signs of stress and inappropriate behavior and
report concerns to the Safety Officer and the Logistics Section Employee Health and
Well-Being Unit Leader
 Provide for staff rest periods and relief
 Ensure physical readiness through proper nutrition, water intake, rest, and stress
management techniques
 Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is available and utilized appropriately

Demobilization/System Recovery Time Initial

Activities
 Transfer the Spill Response Unit Leader role, if appropriate
o Conduct a transition meeting to brief your replacement on the current situation,
response actions, available resources, and the role of external agencies in support
of the hospital
o Address any health, medical, and safety concerns
o Address political sensitivities, when appropriate
o Instruct your replacement to complete the appropriate documentation and ensure
that appropriate personnel are properly briefed on response issues and objectives
(see HICS Forms 203, 204, 214, and 215A)
 Ensure the return, retrieval, and restocking of equipment and supplies
 As objectives are met and needs decrease, return unit personnel to their usual jobs
and combine or deactivate positions in a phased manner in coordination with the
Planning Section Demobilization Unit Leader
 Notify the Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Branch Director when demobilization and
restoration is complete
 Coordinate reimbursement issues with the Finance/Administration Section
 Upon deactivation of your position, brief the HazMat Branch Director on current
problems, outstanding issues, and follow up requirements
 Debrief unit personnel on issues, strengths, areas of improvement, lessons learned,
and procedural or equipment changes as needed
 Submit comments to the Planning Section Chief for discussion and possible inclusion
in an After Action Report and Corrective Action and Improvement Plan. Topics
include:
o Review of pertinent position descriptions and operational checklists
o Recommendations for procedure changes
o Accomplishments and issues
 Participate in stress management and after action debriefings
Documentation
 HICS 221: Demobilization Check-Out
 Ensure all documentation is submitted to the Planning Section Documentation Unit

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Documents and Tools

 HICS 203 - Organization Assignment List
 HICS 204 - Assignment List
 HICS 213 - General Message Form
 HICS 214 - Activity Log
 HICS 215A - Incident Action Plan (IAP) Safety Analysis
 HICS 221 - Demobilization Check-Out
 HICS 252 - Section Personnel Time Sheet
 Hospital Emergency Operations Plan
 Hospital Incident Specific Plans or Annexes
 Hospital Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Incident Response Plan
 Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Spill Response Plan
 Hospital Security Plan
 Hospital Decontamination Plan
 HazMat agent reference materials
 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Hospital blueprints and maps
 Hospital organization chart
 External resource directory (Poison Control Center, the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry [ATSDR], the CHEMTREC hotline, etc.)
 Hospital telephone directory
 Telephone/cell phone/satellite phone/internet/amateur radio/2-way radio for communication

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