Hazardous Materials

• The Home Front Command directs Hazmat installations on an everyday, routine basis to handle emergencies, and requires them to take precautions so as to prevent risk to the public in an actual emergency.
• The Home Front Command, on an everyday basis, closely monitors all bodies that keep hazardous materials, gives directions and instruction about their storage, security, and handling in terms of civil defense, and does so in conjunction with the relevant authorities.
• At the beginning of any military engagement, all industries reduce their Hazmat stockpiles. The overwhelming majority of hazardous materials that might endanger the public are removed from the installations.
• The amount of hazardous materials left in most factories is the minimum necessary to continue operations. Most installations are secure.
•  Factories holding hazardous materials have integrated emergency teams who are trained to handle every sort of Hazmat event. The teams have the means and the procedures to deal with a Hazmat event; they drill these procedures on an ongoing basis, together with all emergency organizations in the State of Israel.

 There are no special instructions or directions for people who live near Hazmat installations. These installations have directions on how to prepare for an emergency situation. The Home Front Command has directed all factories keeping hazardous materials to reduce their stockpiles in an impending emergency. Should there be an event, directions will be issued in real time by the professional organizations, and the media will broadcast appropriate instructions, including information about possible organized evacuations.

These are materials that endanger human life and health, or that cause harm to the environment or to property. Common hazardous materials are chlorine gas, ammonia, home cooking gas, and fuels.

• By inhaling Hazmat fumes.
• By swallowing, either by direct swallowing of the hazardous material itself, or by swallowing its fumes.
• By skin contact, with the Hazmat settling on the human body, either through physical contact with the hazardous material itself, or through fallout of particles or fumes laced with the material.
• By contact through the eyes, with the Hazmat penetrating the eyes as the result of fallout of particles or fumes laced with the material.

• If exposed by inhalation: nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulties, stomach pains, sore throat, headache, weakness, and more.
• If exposed by swallowing: weakness, stomach pains, sore throat, poisoning, and more.
• If exposed by contact with skin: redness, stinging sensation, burns, pain, etc.
• If exposed by contact through eyes: redness, stinging sensations, blindness, pain, etc.

During a Hazmat event, many rumors greatly exaggerating the situation, and needlessly stressing the public, are liable to spread. Therefore:

• It is recommended to listen to directions from the Home Front Command, the Israel Police, and other emergency personnel, and act accordingly.
• It is recommended to ignore all information coming from unauthorized sources.

• Those driving vehicles in an area where a Hazmat event has occurred, or where there is the suspicion of such an occurrence, should close all openings in the vehicle, including air vents, turn off the air conditioning, and drive away from the area.
•  Listen to the media for instructions regarding correct behavior, and also to find out in which direction the Hazmat cloud is drifting, That area represents the danger zone, and should be avoided.

• The amount of time is takes to handle a Hazmat event is a few hours. Listen to the media for directions and for updates. Make sure that the event is in fact over, and that it is safe to leave the secure space and your home before doing so.
• The Home Front Command or the Israel Police will announce the end of the emergency and give the sign that it is safe to exit and return to normal.