TB 180 - Drug Labs: Recognition and Hazards Flashcards
Clandestine drug labs (“clan labs”) generally cause three main types of harm:
(1) physical injury from explosion, fire, chemical burns, and toxic fumes
(2) environmental hazards
(3) CHILD endangerment.
According to LAPD sources, the following are some common indicators of an illicit drug laboratory:
• Uninhabited structures and presence of toxic fumes or excessive amounts of trash, particularly chemical containers
• Robust security systems including video surveillance.
• Doors and windows are concealed, blackened out, or covered with aluminum foil.
• Large ventilation fans for fume dispersal, odor removal, and cooling processes.
• Presence of 55-gallon steel drums.
• Delivery of large amounts of ice or cooling agents.
• Strong distinct odor of ether or other volatile fuels/solvents.
• Illegal electrical wiring or the presence of large generators for power needs.
• Destruction of plant life may be noticeable due to dumping of chemicals.
Fentanyl substances are reported to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
One of the most potent fentanyl analogues known as CARFENTANIL has a potency of ______ times that of morphine.
10,000
Firefighters could inadvertently make entry into pill production sites and can potentially become exposed to the hazardous nature of narcotics (fentanyl).
The following SOG’s and Procedures must be considered:
• Hazard recognition.
• PPE requirements (per Department Bulletin No. 18-14).
• Rapid removal of personnel from hazardous area.
• Potential rescue or rapid extraction of viable victim(s).
• Rapid recognition of exposure: early signs of watering eyes or nose, to late signs of difficult respirations.
• Rapid treatment of naloxone (Narcan) and emergency decontamination for responders’ (including law enforcement officers) who feel symptomatic.
• Notification to JHAT.
It has been estimated by the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area that _____% of illegal PCP laboratories are found because these volatile chemicals tend to EXPLODE or CATCH FIRE
30%
Some of the lethal chemicals in production of PCP are potassium cyanide and hydrochloric (which when mixed creates HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS).
Also, phenyl magnesium bromide is so volatile that it will explode when it comes in contact with ______.
Water
(This substance is usually recognized by the presence of magnesium turnings in a flask or container which is packed in ice (or dry ice). It is important to maintain this ice pack and not let any water enter the flask.)
In the Los Angeles area, PCP is most commonly found in one of 3 forms:
(1) crystalline, which is inhaled or sprinkled on another substance
(2) liquid, which produces “angel dust” when mixed with leafy substances and dried tablets
(3) cigarettes dipped into the liquid often called “Kool” sticks or “Sherm” sticks.
Every pound of methamphetamine produced generates _____ or more pounds of hazardous waste.
Illegal dumping of meth waste has contaminated sewers, septic tanks, fields, soils, and surface water. Treat these locations as a hazmat incident.
5
Of all the emerging threats in the drug manufacturing industry, and perhaps most dangerous is the process of _________.
These incidents pose a great danger to first responders due to the possibility of FIRE and EXPLOSION.
-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) extraction.
(This process results in a drug commonly referred to as hash or honey oil, shatter, wax, or butane honey oil.)
Butane Honey Oil Extraction:
-Extraction devices look like PIPE BOMBS with holes drilled into the end caps
-often 1-3/4” pipe approximately 1-1/2ft long
-Presence of butane canisters. (Propane, hexane also possible)
-Butane is:
-2x heavier than air
-explosive range of 1.8%-8.4%
-colorless, oderless
-high potential for ignition in enclosed spaces
Regardless of the legality of the operation, responses to MARIJUANA cultivation operations are inherently dangerous.
The three main hazards to responders include:
-Electrical Hazards
-Atmospheric Conditions: fertilizers and CO2
-Physical harm: “booby traps”, hostile persons (request LAPD when realizing grow op)
Due to the explosive potential of the materials used to manufacture a Pipe Bomb or BHO any device of suspicious nature SHALL NOT be touched, moved, or handled in any manner by _______. All devices shall be considered extremely dangerous and treated as such.
untrained Fire Department personnel
Best practices for drug lab safety include:
-Evacuating the immediate area
-Eliminating all potential ignition sources
Drug Lab Safety:
Members on scene should consider using the department GAS METERS to monitor ________ in areas that must be occupied for hazard control or rescue operations.
lower explosive limit (LEL) levels
Drug Lab Safety
Notify MFC of the hazards and consider requesting the following internal and external resources:
-Hazmat Squad/TF: atmospheric monitoring, aid in notification process, decon
-Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT): offer expertise, make notifications, coordinate external agencies
-LAFD Arson/Counterterrorism: investigate post fire or explosion
-LAPD Bomb Squad
-LAPD/LASD(Sheriffs) HazMat Unit
-LA Impact/LAPD lab squad: invest clandestine drug labs
-LAFD “Cannabis Unit” of FPB: determine legal/illegal grow ops
-LAFD “Legal Unit” of FPB: deal with illegal ramifications of unlicensed ops
-LAFD “Fire Department Services” of FPB: control permitting of cannabis processing/extraction facilities.
(DOES NOT mention any kind of CHIEF)
