Tactical Chemistry – Dr Hazmat Inc

Wednesday, June 7, 2023  8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location: Calloway A/B

Presented by: Chris Weber, PhD/Hazmat Tech – Dr Hazmat Inc

Tactical decisions at hazardous materials emergencies are heavily influenced by the released chemicals and their properties. Using NFPA 470 (2022) Chapters 34 and 38 as the framework, we will make tactical decisions at hazardous materials incidents fall into place using chemical demonstrations, scenario-based exercises, and hands-on chemical identification exercises using a variety of air-monitoring and sample identification equipment. We will examine the effect of chemical class, concentration, and complexity of mixtures on detection, identification, and product control. The class is highly interactive with students leading the direction of the class as we discuss multiple scenarios culled from the news and experience to illustrate the chemistry of hazardous materials.

Learning Objectives:

  • Incorporate chemical knowledge into response tactical decision making using actual incidents as table top exercises.
  • Understand how chemical and physical properties affect response decisions at hazardous materials releases.
  • Understand how product chemistry affects the ability of air monitoring, detection, and identification devices to accurately detect and identify materials at various concentrations and purities at hazardous materials incidents.

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Real-Time FTIR Gas Identification

A Capability Every Response Team Should Possess

Thursday, June 8, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Calloway A/B

Presented by: Brandon Gayle – Gayle Training Solutions

Is your recon team fully equipped to assess all hazards? According to best practices and NFPA Standards, the initial entry into potential hazardous materials, illicit drugs, or terrorism events requires the use of air monitoring instrumentation to protect those entering the hot zone and to gather vital information about the contaminates present to begin the risk assessment process and determine if the correct PPE has been selected. The problem is the traditional instrumentation that we send our responders down range with only indicates when there is “something” present other than normal air. While that may indicate a possible hazard is present, there is no way to know for sure until a positive identification is made by locating a source or collecting a sample for later analysis.

All chemicals pose a hazard at different concentrations, some at lower concentrations than others, and just because a sensor is indicating the presence of a gas or vapor, there is no way for the responder to know what the actual concentration of that gas or vapor is until it is identified, and the proper correlation factor is calculated. This reveals a known gap in our technology that has gone largely unfilled until this past year. Realtime gas/vapor identification has never been available before, and until now, we have adapted our response to these “unknown readings” based on working around the lack of technology by using AHJ-determined action levels for each sensor deployed. This session will address the current gap in our technology, the safety issues that can arise due to this gap, and introduce a gap-stop technology that was brought to our market this past year. FTIR gas identification is going to revolutionize the way we approach incidents and provide a more rapid risk assessment for incident commanders, therefore increasing responder safety, especially during initial entry into an unknown environment.

Learning Objectives:

  • The participant will identify the weaknesses of current air monitoring technologies including sensor cross-sensitivities, T90 response times, relative response factors, corrosive vapors, and undetectable gases.
  • The participant will identify situations when action levels for each sensor may be insufficient to protect a responder based on technologies currently used for initial entry into a hot zone.
  • The participant will demonstrate how to use an FTIR Gas/Vapor instrument to identify an unknown atmosphere and make risk assessment decisions based on quantitative calculations with provided relative response factors.

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Detection Principles for TICs, Pharmaceutical-Based Agents, and CWAs

Saturday, June 10, 2023  12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Location: Paca

Presented by: Christina M. Baxter, PhD – Emergency Response TIPS & Hazard3

This class is designed to provide real-world detection examples with actual detection examples of various chemicals to provide demonstrations regarding best practices and how to improve detection capabilities/performance. Detection examples include how to handle low vapor pressure materials, materials in solid, liquid, aerosol, and gas phases, mixtures of chemicals, and drug mixtures. Trace and bulk detection methods will be discussed with a specific focus on flame spectroscopy and Raman detection methodologies.

Learning Objectives:

  • Provide detection principles and demonstrate them using actual examples and real-world scenarios.
  • Provide education on how to detect low vapor pressure materials and sampling methods to improve detection efficiency
  • Discuss emerging threats such as pharmaceutical-based agents, 4th generation CWAs, and drug mixtures

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Emergency Response Decision Support System (ERDSS): Applications for Hazmat/CBRNE Response

Saturday, June 10, 2023  2:15 PM – 3:45 PM

Location: Holiday Ballroom 1

Presented by: Christina M. Baxter, PhD – Emergency Response TIPS & Hazard3

This course will prepare personnel to efficiently utilize the Emergency Response Decision Support System (ERDSS) in hazardous materials, explosives, and fire incidents. The Emergency Response Decision Support System (ERDSS), designed in partnership with the Hazard3 team, is a free computer program designed for emergency response and military personnel. This course includes modules on setting-up ERDSS; theory behind
ERDSS look-up tables, calculators, and decision support tools; using ERDSS in planning, training, and operations; and scenario-based exercises.

Learning Objectives:

  • The participant will learn how to setup an ERDSS account and optimize the system performance based upon their teams assets.
  • The participant will employ the ERDSS software to develop operational response plans.
  • The participant will use ERDSS calculators and decision support tools to solve complex hazmat/CBRN problems.

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Webinar on Gas Phase FTIR

Wed, April 5th, 2023. 11:00 am – 12:30 pm EDT

Gas Phase FTIR had not gained a large following in the emergency response community in the past due to its inability to measure at operationally relevant levels (LODs were at high ppm), time to identification (2 – 15 minutes), and the high system weight (20-25 pounds).  While systems made it to market by solving one of the drawbacks, none were able to achieve them all…until the RedWave XplorIR.  The XplorIR is a handheld (5.5 lb) gas phase FTIR which is able to detect toxic industrial chemicals at operationally relevant (low ppm) levels in a fast timeline (20 seconds)! Gas Phase FTIR is finally able to address the gap in hazmat/CBRN response – namely, the near real-time detection AND identification of gases.

Join Emergency Response TIPS and RedWave for a FREE webinar evaluating the gas phase Hazmat/CBRNE identification space focusing on FTIR, mass spectrometry, and colorimetric solutions in our Toolbox.

Speakers:

Dr. Christina Baxter, CEO, Emergency Response TIPS

Dr. John Seelenbinder, RedWave Technology

Register for the Webinar

IAFC Hazmat Conference

Baltimore, MD – Booth 611

Real-Time FTIR Gas Identification: A Capability Every Response Team Should Possess

Thursday, June 8, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Presented by Brandon Gayle, Trainer for RedWave Technology

Is your recon team fully equipped to assess all hazards? According to best practices and NFPA Standards, the initial entry into potential hazardous materials, illicit drugs, or terrorism events requires the use of air monitoring instrumentation to protect those entering the hot zone and to gather vital information about the contaminates present to begin the risk assessment process and determine if the correct PPE has been selected. The problem is the traditional instrumentation that we send our responders down range with only indicates when there is “something” present other than normal air. While that may indicate a possible hazard is present, there is no way to know for sure until a positive identification is made by locating a source or collecting a sample for later analysis.

All chemicals pose a hazard at different concentrations, some at lower concentrations than others, and just because a sensor is indicating the presence of a gas or vapor, there is no way for the responder to know what the actual concentration of that gas or vapor is until it is identified, and the proper correlation factor is calculated. This reveals a known gap in our technology that has gone largely unfilled until this past year. Realtime gas/vapor identification has never been available before, and until now, we have adapted our response to these “unknown readings” based on working around the lack of technology by using AHJ-determined action levels for each sensor deployed. This session will address the current gap in our technology, the safety issues that can arise due to this gap, and introduce a gap-stop technology that was brought to our market this past year. FTIR gas identification is going to revolutionize the way we approach incidents and provide a more rapid risk assessment for incident commanders, therefore increasing responder safety, especially during initial entry into an unknown environment.

Learning Objectives:

  • The participant will identify the weaknesses of current air monitoring technologies including sensor cross-sensitivities, T90 response times, relative response factors, corrosive vapors, and undetectable gases.
  • The participant will identify situations when action levels for each sensor may be insufficient to protect a responder based on technologies currently used for initial entry into a hot zone.
  • The participant will demonstrate how to use an FTIR Gas/Vapor instrument to identify an unknown atmosphere and make risk assessment decisions based on quantitative calculations with provided relative response factors.

Click Here to Save Course

Pennsylvania Hazmat Conference

Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA

To provide professional representation and a coordinated voice for the communities and residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to promote training and quality service to the HazMat Technicians in order to minimize loss of life, property, and the environment.

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Continuing Challenge

Sacramento, CA

The annual Continuing Challenge Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Workshop began in 1990 for the purpose of providing training, networking, and hands-on learning opportunities for all employees in hazardous materials emergency response-related fields of employment. Each year in September, they bring together prominent and skilled presenters who volunteer to provide their students with the most recent information available to enhance or grow skills critical to ensure a safe and effective response. Featured are exciting classroom courses, hands-on sessions, and contests to test new skills.

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Virginia Hazmat Conference

Newport News, VA

The Virginia Association of Hazardous Materials Response Specialists is the coordinated voice for hazardous materials response team members throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Association members exchange information on a state-wide basis, interface with national organizations, and develop a common inventory list of resources and promote resource sharing in the Commonwealth.

It is the goal of the Association to promote standardization of techniques, equipment training, and teams, and to unite, for mutual benefit, those persons engaged in hazardous materials response and provide support to hazardous materials response teams.

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Massachusetts Hazmat Conference

Plymouth, MA

The 31st annual MAHMT Conference will occur in September 2023. The Massachusetts Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians, along with our partners at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are looking forward to providing a world-class training opportunity

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