Disaster Site Worker Safety

1
Disaster Site Worker Safety

• Module 2
• CBRNE Crime Scenes and Secondary Devices

2
Objectives

• List the primary indicators that identify a crime
  scene.
• Define evidence.
• Define chain-of-custody.
• Identify the elements of CBRNE event and
  indicators of their presence at a scene.
• List secondary IEDs and their dangers to
  personnel responding to a CBRNE event.

3
Objectives (continued)

• Explain the basic function of the Incident
  Command System.
• Identify the psychological stress associated with
  working in a CBRNE event.
• Categorize safety issues and the type of safety
  equipment needed at a CBRNE site.
• Describe area search methods for detecting the
  presence of secondary devices targeted at
  responders.

4
Crime Scene Introduction

• Successful response to a CBRNE crime scene takes
  a cooperative effort by all response agencies
  involved.
• In order for this interagency cooperation to take
  place, all agencies must have a basic
  understanding of the roles and function of each
  another.

5
Crime Scene Management

• The site is a crime scene until proven otherwise.
• Personnel must be careful in what they do to
  preserve evidence and to ensure that evidence is
  collected properly.

6
Ensuring a Safe Response

• Special demands will be placed upon you and your
  activities when responding to crime scenes.
• You will need to coordinate closely with other
  personnel to ensure that you and the other
  responders do not destroy important evidence.
• The incident ends only when there is successful
  prosecution of the guilty person or persons.

7
Crime Scene Security

• Protection of personnel in and around the scene
• Preservation of evidence
• Maintain integrity of the scene
• Prevent unauthorized removal of evidence and
  souvenirs
• Prevent entry of unauthorized personnel

8
Crime Scene Security

• Employing barriers
• Barrier tape
• Concrete barriers
• Temporary walls
• Vehicles
• Personnel

9
Scene Considerations

• Your safety and survival may depend upon entering
  the area
• Carefully.
• Moving cautiously.
• Wearing the appropriate personal protective
  equipment (PPE).

10
Delaying Entry

• When you suspect hazardous substances, hazardous
  conditions, or CBRNE agents, use only qualified
  personnel to secure the scene to determine the
  presence or absence of CBRNE agents.
• Await the proper response personnel do not place
  untrained and unprotected disaster site workers
  at risk.

11
Evidence/Chain of Custody

• Evidence is anything that proves a fact at a
  crime scene.
• Evidence includes soil, air, human remains,
  clothing, and tire and footwear impressions.
• Evidence could be as small as a body fragment or
  a wire from an IED.

12
Evidence/Chain of Custody

• There could be a time when a disaster site worker
  may locate an item that has evidentiary value,
  should this happen
• Stop the activity.
• Do not pick up the item or examine it as it may
  be contaminated, fragile, and may contain other
  evidence such as fingerprints, hairs, fibers,
  etc.
• Stay with the item.
• Notify an investigator.
• Do not resume work until told to do so.

13
Documentation

• Field notes
• Reports
• Video tapings and photos of the scene
• Sketches and drawings of the scene

14
Disaster Site Worker Notes

• Date
• Time in and out of the scene
• Brief description of the days activities
• Identification of the evidence and its location
• Who took the evidence
• Where casualties/fatalities were found

15
Searches

• Outside searches
• Strip or line
• Spiral
• Grid
• Quadrant

16
Strip or Line Search
17
Spiral Search
18
Grid Search
19
Searches

• Building

20
Room Searches

• Four levels of room searches
• Floor to waist
• Waist to chin
• Chin to ceiling
• False ceiling

21
Leave Things As You Find Them

• If you must move something, make sure you
  remember its original location, its orientation
  and condition, and anything else notable about
  its position and natural state.
• If possible, photograph the object before you
  move it.