SEL2001

STANDARDIZED EQUIPMENT LIST FOR 2001

FOR INTERAGENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS IN COMBATTING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TERRORISM

Authority

The Standardized Equipment List (SEL) is a publication of the InterAgency Board (IAB) for Equipment Standardization and InterOperability. The IAB is an advisory board to the Attorney General of the United States and the Director of Military Support, and consists of officials from various local, state, and federal government organizations. The IAB is commissioned by the Attorney General of the United States to ensure and interoperability of equipment, and the research and development of advanced technologies, to assist First Responders at the state and local levels in establishing and maintaining a robust crisis and consequence management capability.

Distribution Restriction

Distribution authorized to local, state, and federal government agencies only to protect technical or operational information from unrestricted dissemination. This determination was made on 30 October 1998. Other requests for this document will be addressed to the Consequence Management Program Integration Office, (Attention: The InterAgency Board), Office of the Director of Military Support, Headquarters, Department of the Army, 400 Army Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20310-0400

Preface

The United States of America is the most prepared nation among nations to combat terrorism. Our country’s ability to prepare for and respond to domestic weapons of mass destruction terrorism is unique and expansive. In reviewing our existing infrastructure to deal with these types of asymmetrical threats, we realize that our robust capability can be stronger. In past years, the front line has been overseas. Today, the front line is our front door. It is to this end that our nation masses its strengths, talents, and resources in a dedicated and unified effort to combat domestic weapons of mass destruction terrorism.

Introduction

Success in deterring, preventing, preparing for, and responding to a conventional or non-conventional weapon(s) of mass destruction (WMD) terrorist attack in the United States is based upon establishing and maintaining a robust crisis and consequence management infrastructure. This capability must be adequately trained, equipped, exercised, funded, and capable of conducting response, relief, and recovery operations as part of the interagency team.

Standardized Equipment List (SEL)

The SEL is provided as a guideline and its use is voluntary. First Responders are to review the SEL when developing and acquiring their WMD response equipment. The SEL promotes interoperability and standardization among the response community at the local, state, and federal levels by presenting this standard reference. Individual government agencies dictate quantities of the items to be selected to meet the needs of their operational areas.

Governing regulations, industry standards, and other ruling bodies apply. Equipment for First Responder use must be in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Equipment for use by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) forces is governed by DoD Instruction 6055.1.

The SEL will consist of several versions as the list matures and continues to be updated with newly fielded equipment. As a consolidated reference, government organizations can present suggested references, at any time, for consideration to be included in the next version or annual update.

Equipment Categories

The Standardized Equipment List is organized into categories of:

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Operational Equipment

• Explosive Device Mitigation and Remediation

• InterOperable Communications and Information Systems

• Detection

• Decontamination

• Medical

The IAB, its members, or their parent organizations do not assume liability for the performance of the equipment mentioned in the SEL.

1. Personal Protective Equipment

Equipment that is worn to protect the individual from hazardous materials and contamination. Levels of Protection vary and are divided into three categories based on the degree of protection afforded. The following constitutes equipment intended for use in CB threat environment.

Level A. Fully encapsulated, liquid and vapor protective ensemble selected when the highest level of skin, respiratory, and eye protection is required. The following constitutes Level A equipment for consideration:

Level B. Liquid splash resistant ensemble used with highest level of respiratory protection. The following constitute Level B equipment and should be considered for use:

Level C. Liquid Splash resistant ensemble, with same level of skin protection of Level B, used when the concentration(s) and type(s) of airborne substances(s) are known and the criteria for using air-purifying respirators are met.  The following constitute Level C equipment and should be considered for use:

Note: During WMD response operations, the Incident Commander determines the appropriate level of personal protective equipment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [Actually these levels are called out in 29 CFR 1910.120, Appendix B] has outlined four (4) levels of protection: A, B, C, and D. The EPA defined these levels of protection primarily for workers at hazardous waste site activities, where emergency conditions typically do not exist. These EPA defined levels of protection are commonly and often inappropriately utilized by the fire service and emergency response organizations. They are inadequate and do not correctly define the chemical protective ensemble with respect to its intended use based on the hazard.

For hazardous materials emergency response, the only acceptable types of chemical protective clothing include totally encapsulating and non-encapsulating ensembles offering specific levels of vapor and/or liquid hazard threat protection. The EPA descriptions apply to how an ensemble is designed, not its performance. On the other hand, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has classified hazardous materials protective ensembles by their performance in three (3) standards:

• NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies

• NFPA 1992 Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies

• NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Chemical/Biological Terrorism Incidents (New Standard with proposed effective date of August 2001)

EPA levels of protection should be used only as the starting point for ensemble creation. However, each ensemble must be tailored to meet the specific situation in order to provide the most appropriate level of protection. Emergency response and public safety organizations should conduct a hazard assessment and threat analysis for their jurisdictions. Protective ensembles and respiratory protective equipment (those certified as meeting NFPA and NIOSH minimum performance standards) should then be procured. Personnel entering Protective Postures must also undergo medical monitoring prior to and after entry.

2. Operational Equipment

Equipment and references needed to sustain operations and provide general support during WMD response operations.

References. A suggested library, not necessarily all-inclusive, consists of the most current editions of the following publications:

Note: This list does not imply a product endorsement, rather a library reference. Latest available edition of listed reference sources shall take precedence over listed editions and may be in either book or electronic form.

Equipment

3. Explosive Device Mitigation and Remediation

Developed by the National Bomb Squad Commanders’ Advisory Board (NBSCAB) to supplement the SEL with equipment specific to the remediation of explosive devices possibly associated with a WMD incident. This list is not all-inclusive, but is intended to be a reference for Public Safety Bomb Squads to select the appropriate equipment for response to a WMD incident. Quantities and specific type items must be determined by the local agency.

Personal Protective Equipment

Note: Protective ensembles explosive device remediation during a WMD incident must provide the bomb squad technician with blast, fragment, overpressure and thermal hazard protection, as well as chemical and biological vapor and liquid threat protection. Assembling a protective ensemble that offers the appropriate combination of WMD explosive device threat protection for bomb squad technicians is a complex challenge. The vapor and/or liquid threat protective ensembles should be configured using EPA protection level (A, B & C) and minimum performance standards required by NFPA and NIOSH Standards

Operational Equipment

InterOperable Communications and Information Systems.

Detection

Collective Protection

4. InterOperable Communications and Information Systems

Equipment and systems providing connectivity and electrical interoperability between local/interagency organizations to coordinate WMD response operations.

5. Detection

Equipment to sample, detect, identify, quantify, and monitor for WMD agents (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosive) and/or Toxic Industrial Chemical contamination throughout designated areas or at specific points, and those items to support detection activities.

Note: The letters [D], [I], [Q] after each instrument or detection equipment type indicates the general capability in reference to the definitions above. The sub-bullets under detection equipment types are some but not all of the technologies that fall into that category.

The manufacturer’s product specification sheets should be consulted for specific performance regarding detection of WMD agents and/or Toxic Industrial Chemicals.

Chemical

Radiological

Biological

Support

6. Decontamination

Equipment and material used to clean, remediate, remove or mitigate chemical, biological, or radiological contamination.

7. Medical

Materials, treatments, equipment, and items to treat contaminated emergency personnel and endangered casualties. This listing is only a recommendation and specific pharmaceutical selections should be coordinated and approved by the medical authority in the jurisdiction adopting their usage.

Pharmaceuticals

Medical Supplies

Equipment

Summary

This Standardized Equipment List provides the First Responder a reference as to the type of equipment required to prepare for and respond to a WMD terrorist attack. As mentioned earlier, the First Responder must determine exact quantities and items to be selected. The use of the identified equipment can only be done safely after jurisdictions develop standardized operating procedures coupled with appropriate education and training.

Just as important as the items on the SEL is the process by which the SEL continues to be developed. The IAB process is an institutional mechanism designed to self-improve the SEL through a set repeating process that is connected from the local, through the state, to the federal-level.