Necessary Indicators for Developing a Hazmat Response Team of the Iranian Health System

Although some countries have set up predetermined programs and specialized teams to deal with hazardous materials (Hazmat) induced events, in other countries including Iran there are many weaknesses in this regard. 

We aimed to develop the necessary indicators for the formation of teams to deal with Hazmat accidents in the health system based on existing standards and resources as well as the indigenous conditions of Iran. 

This cross-sectional study was carried out in two stages from 2018 to 2020.  In the first stage, the literature review was performed and the current guidelines, standards, and models presented in other countries were reviewed and related items were extracted. In the second stage, semi-structured and purposeful interviews by managers and physicians specialized in Hazmat incidents working in Iran, were conducted. The interviews were recorded and later the recordings were transcribed and simultaneously the categorizing and coding of the interviews were performed. 

In the first stage, searching through the available resources for the present study identified 12 published references through which 10 indicators to develop a Hazmat team were ultimately extracted. In the second stage, a total of 10 interviews were conducted and data saturation occurred. Based on the results of the content analysis for the main indicators of designing and developing teams, 8 categories and 19 sub-categories were developed. 

By interviewing and localizing the 10 main indicators that were achieved in the first stage, we finally reached the 8 indicators including: Training hazmat team’s members, required equipment for team, response plan, medical surveillance program, hazmat team structure, incident command system, hazmat team qualification of different levels, certification and maintenance of the certificate.