chemical spill clean up Archives

Apr 01

Civil Support Team (CST) Response

By amanda wooley | chemical attack preparation, chemical attacks properness, chemical spill clean up, terrorist attack preparation, Uncategorized

The growing threat that looms in response to terrorist activities or incidents has exponentially grown over the years. More and more terroristic acts have occurred throughout the world, in what seems to be an alarming rate, has forced the United States to take action in preparation for a potentially heinous act on our Country. Weapons of Mass Destruction are at the forefront of concern for the government and government officials, these weapons pose a tremendous risk to a large population of people and potentially even an entire country, depending on the WMD deployed.

In order to combat these extremely dangerous Weapons of Mass Destruction, the U.S. Government has implemented a number of different measures to enhance the Country’s ability to deter, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist activities within the United States. Therefore, the U.S. developed a team called the Civil Support Team (CST) as a high priority response unit supporting civil authorities in responding to a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) situation.

What is a Civil Support Teams Responsibilities & When Are They Called Upon

The mission of a Civil Support Team is to support civil authorities at a domestic CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives) incident site with responsibilities such as identification and assessment of hazards, advice to civil authorities, and facilitating the arrival of follow-on military forces during emergencies and incidents.

Each member of the CST provides unique capabilities, expertise, and technologies to assist the governors in preparing for and responding to a CBRN situation. These teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for rapid deployment for any response operation. There main mission is consequence management support for an incident or attack involving weapons of mass destruction – this occurs after an incident has happened in the environment or post-incident.

How Many Civil Support Teams are There?

The United States Civil Support Team is designed to support an immediate and quick response to any and all major population centers within the U.S. In total, there are 27 Civil Support Teams that place 90 percent of the country’s population within 250 miles of a team. When stationing these teams there were several factors considered including transportation access, facilities, proximity to airlift, and the closeness to other state and regional planning organizations. These teams are each composed of 22 highly skilled, full-time National Guard members who are federally resourced, trained, and exercised. The Civil Support Team consists of six sections: command, operations, communications, administration/logistics, medical, and survey.

The 27 teams that are composed of Civil Support Teams are located in several states including Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, & Virginia.

Capabilities & Functions of a CST

The Civil Support Team for Weapons of Mass Destruction was/is designed to provide a specialized capability to respond to a CBRNE incident. The teams respond under the authority of the governor and provide both the state and local agencies with any intentional or unintentional release of CBRNE agents or natural disasters. Although CST does provide assistance to large-scale situations and disasters, they also have the capability to respond to and support smaller-scale incidents where specific technical capabilities are required.

The functions associated with Civil Support Teams includes identifying CBRNE agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with appropriate requests for additional support.

Identifying CBRNE Agents and Substances

Identifying CBRNE agents and substances is among the functions conducted by the Civil Support Teams. They use assets to detect, characterize, identifying, and monitor any unknown CBRNE agents & substances. By utilizing multiple detection technologies, the Civil Support Team is able to generate the best possible analysis to identify the agent in the field.

The members of CST utilize sophisticated detection, analytical, and protective equipment that allows them to operate in many different situations involving both TIMs and CBRNE materials. CST also uses some of the highest standard PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), such as Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Levels A & B. These levels of PPE provide members with more extensive protection than the PPE utilized by most military units.

Assessing Current & Projected Consequences

Assessments from the Civil Support Team need to occur prior to, during, and after an incident. These assessments take place with both local, state, and federal response organizations to properly ensure that the CST is successfully integrated with local and state emergency plans. When they undergo assessments, they are able to support both deliberate and crisis action planning for any type of incident.

The Operation Center (OPCEN) for Civil Support teams collect a variety of information that will include valid & appropriate sources, identification of critical & necessary information, and then evaluating the collected information to aid in determining threats – this includes hazards, risks, possible course of actions (COAs), possible targets, potential probability of an attack, etc. Based on the assessments conducted by the Civil Support Team, they will create Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Response Plans for situations.

Advising on Response Measures

The Civil Support Team after utilizing the identification & assessment results, will than advise the incident commander (IC) and those emergency responders on the potential hazards and countermeasures associated with both the intentional and unintentional release of CBRNE or natural disasters that could result in catastrophic lost. When advising on response measures the CST will cover the key methods for protecting and mitigating potential loss of life, damage to critical infrastructures, and/or extensive property damage to private property. Emergency response implements this advice to assist emergency responders and authorities to tailor their actions to minimize the impact of an event.

Assisting with Appropriate Requests for Additional State/Federal Support

The last function of CST is to provide assistance to the IC by giving input on the capabilities and utilization of assets that are currently gathered at the incident. The Civil Support Team offers an extensive background, specialized training, and scope of liaison between local, state, and federal agencies – and because of this they provide a much larger view of the specific assets and capabilities available to emergency responders.

Civil Support Team Training / Equipment

The training required for a Civil Support Team member consists of both military and civilian emergency response training. These trainings and instructions are provided from several DOD schools, and agencies like FEMA, DOJ, EPA, and DOE. Altogether the members of CST will receive more than 600 hours of high-tech training with topics covering planning, management, individual and collective training, goals, doctrinal aspects of training programs and how they relate to Civil Support Teams.

A Civil Support Team is equipped with high-end detection, analytical, and protective equipment, as well as satellite, secure and cellular communications to provide communication with both civil and military forces. They are required to maintain PPE that are far more intricate than those PPE provided to military members.

Chemical Decontamination Equipment

Chemical weapons contain chemical agents or materials intended to kill or severely hurt a group of people. Terrorists have already showcased their capability to use chemical weapons in a terroristic act against their enemies, and therefore preparation for these types of attacks is vital for Civil Support Teams.

In part of preparing for this type of situation, it is necessary to have on hand a chemical decontamination solution equipment to aid in the neutralization of a chemical agent deployment. FAST-ACT is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance materials that are effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. The FAST-ACT technology works quickly to reduce hazards associated with common industrial chemicals including acids, acidic/caustic gases, organic compounds, phosphorous and sulfur compounds, and many industrial solvents.

FAST-ACT is provided in a variety of applications including pressurized cylinders for liquid and vapor hazards, manually dispersed containers, kits for liquid hazard treatment, and mitts for equipment and small-scale decontamination. Best of all, FAST-ACT can be applied to any liquid spill or vapor release enabling Emergency Responders to utilize one technology when faced with a wide variety of known or unknown chemical hazards.

Mar 28

How to: Hazmat Tactical Technician

By amanda wooley | chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

Hazardous materials teams are constructed in each state, sometimes in several different cities to provide citizens with an experienced team to handle any sort of hazardous material incident that has taken place within the area. The primary goal of a HazMat team is to provide the local area assistance in an emergency situation involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. The assistance provided by a HazMat team can take several different forms depending on the incident on hand and how severe it is to the environment and public health.

A HazMat team is composed of an organized group of individuals who are trained specifically to handle hazardous materials incidents, with each member contributing different skill-sets to the operation. Included within this organized group are individuals called Hazardous Materials Technicians.

What is a HazMat Tactical Technician

Hazardous Materials Technicians are trained individuals who are taught to respond to a hazardous materials emergency in an offensive fashion. Their primary role is to stop or control a spill or release by approaching the point of the release using specialized PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). When a HazMat team responds to a chemical spill, the Hazmat Technicians are typically members of the responding HazMat team, often times they are referred to as Spill Response Teams or Emergency Response Teams.

These emergency responders are there to respond to both emergency and non-emergency calls. HazMat technicians are technically trained and skilled to respond to, mitigate, prevent, and at times clean-up hazardous materials and/or chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction incidents.

What Does a HazMat Technician Do?

Ultimately, these individuals are there to respond to emergencies that involve dangerous substances that can potentially be life-threatening within an environment. When a technician responds to an incident, they are responsible for identifying the hazardous materials and deciding how best to dispose of them. Some of the commonly handled materials that these technicians handle includes asbestos, lead, mercury, mold, radioactive waste, and nuclear waste.

HazMat Technicians also need to have a basic understanding of chemistry, since they are responsible for identifying substances, they have to know the chemical, physical, and toxic properties of the materials. Without this knowledge they will be unable to determine the safest method to removing, transporting, and disposing of this hazardous materials and waste.

The risks posed to those who work as a HazMat Technician can be significant, thus it is necessary for them to take precautions while working. Wearing appropriate protective clothing is essential, as these dangerous substances can be extremely harmful to human exposure.

What are the Three Levels of Hazardous Response

Hazardous materials response is identified by three different levels; Level 1, Level 2, & Level 3. Response organizations have established a “tiered response plan” to help organize the severity of an incident. Each level is represented by individuals and/or groups of people and their level of training, expertise, capability, and equipment/resources.

Level 1

A level 1 incident is one that involves hazardous materials that can be contained, extinguished, and/or stopped using resources immediately available to public first responders. These incidents are low risk and present little hazard to the environment and/or public health, especially during containment or cleanup.

This level is usually classified as minor situations with the capabilities of first responders that are trained at the operational level to be able to handle the situation. Typically, a level 1 incident involves either the release of a small amount of gas, liquid, or solid of an identified hazardous material. This operational level first responders contain both the expertise and proper equipment to safely mitigate these incidents.

A level 1 is progressed to the next level, level 2, when a release or potential release of an unknown hazardous material or suspected hazardous material occurs.

Level 2

A classified level 2 incident is one that involves hazardous materials that are beyond the capabilities of first responders on the scene of the incident. These types of incidents range from a small incident involving any amount of an unknown substance to a large incident involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions.

Level 2 incidents are declared by the Incident Commander and the Initial Response Team – for instance, if the incident scene contains a sufficient quantity of gas, liquid, or a solid that is a known hazardous substance and/or any quantity of an unknown material that has been released. Control zones should be established and maintained early into the response of the incident, and these zones should be evaluated and monitored throughout the entire incident.

Examples of a level 2 HazMat incident includes a major gas leak due to a puncture of a large tank, a vehicle or train fire involving hazardous waste, chemical releases that pose a moderate threat to the environment, and suspicious packages that contain an unknown material.

Level 3

Lastly, a level 3 incident involves hazardous materials that are beyond the capabilities of a single state or regional response team. This type of classified incident may be quite lengthy in duration and may require large-scale evacuations. When multiple agencies and jurisdictions are involved it is likely to be labeled a level 3 hazardous material response. Many times, during a level 3 incident, resources from private sectors including chemical manufacturers and voluntary organizations are utilized to control the scene.

Examples of a level 3 incident includes a large release from tank cars, incidents involving large-scale evacuations, any incident beyond local capabilities and resources, major leaks, and large-scale or catastrophic releases of hazardous materials.

Hazardous Materials vs Chemicals

In hazardous situations, it is important to recognize that any incident can involve chemicals. Although the regular use of “hazardous materials” throughout the HazMat community, the term “chemical” is a more appropriate term. As a result, the misconception among first responders is that many chemicals that are found in the incident scene are not a problem because they are not a “hazardous material”. However, that is far from the truth, as the potential hazards present to the environment and public health from the results of chemicals can be significant and sometimes even deadly.

All chemical products have some dangerous characteristics that first responders must be prepared to investigate further. In some cases, chemicals can be the original source of the incident, either through an accidental release, mishandling, or a planned chemical attack.

HazMat Response to Chemical Incidents

When HazMat personnel come across an incident involving chemicals, there will be a few tell-tale signs such as a detectable odor, visually observable characteristics, and reactions from those individuals exposed to the chemical in the air. In the process of containing and decontaminating a chemical release or incident, Technical decon is established by the HazMat team exiting the hot zone. Technical decontamination involves the use of a “corridor” with a gross contaminant reduction section followed by a series of wash-and-rinse stations. Once the HazMat tactical technicians have secured the area, they will need to perform an effective decontamination of the chemical(s) present.

FAST-ACT (First Applied Sorbent Treatment – Against Chemical Threats) is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic nano-materials effective for neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. Chemical spills can be in the form of a gas, liquid, solid, fumes, dust, fibers, or vapors. Depending on the type of chemical spill present, HazMat and first responders must choose the correct method to apply to decontaminate the spill. FAST-ACT, however, is able to decontaminate a broad spectrum of chemical spills, from liquid to vapor releases through a wide range of product offerings.

The FAST-ACT technology is effective against a wide range of toxic chemicals including:

Acids
Halogenated Compounds
Phosphorous Compounds
Acidic and Caustic Gases
Organic Compounds
Chemical Warfare Agents

Therefore, FAST-ACT will be the desired decontamination solution for chemical spill clean-ups, as it can be safely applied to any liquid spill or vapor release enabling Emergency Responders to utilize one technology when faced with a variety of known or unknown chemical hazards.

Chemical Decontamination for Hazmat Tactical Technicians

Mar 12

What is Your Response Strategy for Unidentified Materials?

By amanda wooley | chemical attack preparation, chemical attacks properness, chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

The field of emergency response is full of gray areas and unknowns, with very little time to prepare for the incident at hand. Emergency responders and HAZMAT teams must make rapid decision making upon an incident scene, thus training and preparations for a wide array of incidents and hazardous issues is required for these individuals. Each and every day these workers will experience a new round of incidents and scenarios that they must respond to including response to hazardous and unidentified materials.

An unidentified materials incident is a hazmat scene in which a material is present but is unable to be identified prior to a response strategy being applied. This type of situation can be extremely dangerous for HAZMAT and emergency responders and will require preparation & planning of a response strategy before this unknown incident occurs in the field.

What are the different levels of HAZMAT response and how can emergency responders appropriately and effectively respond to an unidentified materials incident? Find out by reading more below!

What Does HAZMAT Mean & What Duties Do They Perform

What Does HAZMAT Mean HAZMAT stands for the abbreviations “Hazardous Materials” – which are substances in quantities or forms that can pose a major risk to human health, property, or the environment. The typical substances that are classified as ‘hazardous materials’ include toxic chemicals, fuels, nuclear waste products, and other CBRN agents.

The likelihood of a HAZMAT incident is more likely than you may have thought, as many products containing hazardous chemicals are routinely stored and used in homes. Furthermore, these materials are also commonly transported every day on highways, railroads, waterways, and even pipelines.

Unfortunately, thousands of HAZMAT incidents occur each year and can result in significant damage to the environment and public health. When a hazardous materials incident occurs, it is the duty of HAZMAT teams and emergency responders to contain, neutralize, and decontaminate the materials present. This is with the goal in mind of securing the area and the safety of humans within the area of the affected incident.

HAZMAT Operations & Situations

A Hazardous Materials Response Team has a set of operational tasks that they are designated to perform. This organized group of hazardous materials technicians that respond to hazardous materials incidents deal with the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and other dangerous materials that may become present in the environment due to an accident, leak, or an attack. The mission of the HAZMAT Response Team is to ultimately control the spill and eliminate any imminent hazard to the public, and this response will range per situation.

The three most common HAZMAT situations that are typically responded to by emergency responders includes an incident involving hydrocarbons, narcotics and clandestine drug labs, and common household product incidents. These three different situations each require different response strategies to effectively contain and clear the environment. Below we are going to discuss the different levels of HAZMAT response per situation.

The Levels of HAZMAT Response

Generally, there are four different levels of HAZMAT response for hazardous materials. These four levels include awareness, operations, technicians, and specialists.

The Awareness Level

The awareness level of HAZMAT is the most basic and is designed for a person who in the course of their normal activities or duties, may be the first person on the scene of an emergency involving HAZMAT or CBRNe agents. The responders at this level are expected to understand and be able to detect the presence of these materials. An awareness level certification can be obtained from a university, medical center, and from FEMA through exams.

The Operations Level

An operational level responder is those who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials or CBRNe as an initial response to the incident to help protect nearby individuals and the environment. Operational level responders are expected to respond in a defensive fashion to control the release from a safe distance to keep it from spreading. In comparison to the awareness level, operations level requires a more hands-on approach to an incident of this nature. They will also be responsible for performing evacuations and establishing hazard zones.

To achieve operations level, responders are trained in such HAZMAT/CBRNe defensive techniques such as absorption, damming, diking, diverting, retention vapor dispersion, and suppression. This includes workers such as firefighters, environmental and conservation personnel, and other public safety personnel.

The Technician Level

A highly specialized and technical level, the technician level has responders that take offensive action in responding to HAZMAT releases for the purpose of controlling the release. At this level, the responders are classified as HAZMAT Technicians and are supposed to use specialize chemical PPE. On average, training for HAZMAT Technicians is 40 hours, and they are to have a strong background or understanding of basic chemistry.

The Specialist Level

The highest level of HAZMAT response, the specialist responder has a very extensive and advanced level of knowledge in chemistry, biology, and other science disciplines. The specialist responders work with technician level responders to take a hands-on approach in controlling a hazardous release. In some instances, these responders serve as trouble-shooters at HAZMAT/CBRNe incidents. Training to be certified as a Specialist level is 24 hours and must contain a college degree.

Response to Unknown Hazmat Materials

What can HAZMAT and emergency responders do when they come across an unknown HAZMAT materials incident? Handling a situation of this magnitude can be very dangerous and extremely hard to contain. However, new and emerging technology has aided in situations just like this – with new detectors that are able to identify unknown gases and vapors in nearly minutes. Although this is a quick response time, sometimes it may be a couple minutes too long and risk the safety and containment of the unidentifiable hazardous material. When HAZMAT comes upon an incident, they will need to immediately take action, even if they are not necessarily sure what the material is in question.

FAST-ACT® is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance specialty materials effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. The FAST-ACT formulation is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and significantly reduces both liquid and vapor hazards. Since the dry powder neutralizes threats upon contact, on-site incident management and clean up times are reduced. FAST-ACT is offered in pressurized cylinders capable of addressing both liquid and vapor hazards, manually dispersed containers, kits for liquid hazard treatment, and mitts for equipment and small scale decontamination. FAST-ACT can be safely applied to any liquid spill or vapor release enabling Emergency Responders to utilize one technology when faced with a wide variety of known or unknown chemical hazards.

Mar 08

Are You Prepared for a Refrigerant Leak?

By amanda wooley | chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

The chemical compound Refrigerant is used in several methods in the industrial manufacturing business – and is something commonly found in most environments including your home and businesses. This compound is typically found in either a fluid or gaseous state and it readily absorbs heat from the environment providing functions such as refrigeration or air conditioning when used in correlation with a compressor or evaporator.

The term “Refrigerant” is a brand name that incorporates a range of chemical elements referred to as ‘chlorofluorocarbons’ which includes the chemicals hydrogen, carbon, fluorine, and chlorine in its composition. The use of this chemical amalgam, however, has presented potential health risks and environment hazards for humans and even first-responders who are called upon to respond to accidents or leaks involving refrigerants. Refrigerant leaks or ammonia compressor leaks can be significantly hazardous as the characteristics of this type of leak can be extremely hard to distinguish upon contact.

We are going to discuss the potential dangers of a refrigerant leak to first responders and overall human exposure and how you can prepare in defense to a possible refrigerant leak.

How Do Refrigerators & A/C Units Work

Air conditioners, refrigerators, or heat pumps contain a sealed refrigerant system that contains this chemical in quantities that should never runout. An air conditioning system uses refrigerant inside the copper coils and as this chemical absorbs heat from indoor air it will begin a transition from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid. The air conditioning unit sends the refrigerant outside where the fan is blowing out hot air over the coils and exhausts it to the exterior. This process is used in both a/c units and refrigerators as they take heat energy out and transfer it from one place to another. During this process, however, incidents can occur such as leaks that can leave a potentially dangerous situation for first-responders and hazmat personnel.

How to Address a Catastrophic Refrigerant Leak

The actions that need to take place during a refrigerant leak, particularly a catastrophic leak, need to be executed swiftly and effectively. First-responders and hazmat personnel will conduct response actions when called upon the scene. The building or space affected by the refrigerant leak needs to be evacuated, no matter the severity of the chemical leak. The undistinguishable characteristics of the refrigerant leak such as the amount of refrigerant that has been released from the leak, the location of the leak, and who has been exposed to these hazardous chemicals are typically unknown to emergency responders and thus protocol must be taken to secure the safety of all occupants of the incident area. First-responders that respond to a potential refrigerant leak are required to wear Level A chemical protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to protect themselves during the performed rescue. Once the compressor is turned off and the leaking has subsided, the next course of action is neutralizing the area of the chemical leak.

Dangers of a Slow Refrigerant Leak

Slow refrigerant leaks usually occur most of the time and are just not called upon to emergency responders, as people are unable to identify this present leak. First-responders will, however, receive calls about slow refrigerant leaks when the system is in a small, un-vented room that has been experiencing a leak for quite a long period of time. The result of this is that the leak pushes all the oxygen out of the room and can lead to an individual that is exposed to this small area to feel sick or pass out upon entry of this area. When a slow leak occurs like this overtime it can leave significant health risks to any individual exposed as the chemicals will continue to build-up inside the environment making the environment have a high level of chemicals in its air.

Emergency Response Procedures for a Slow Refrigerant Leak

After identification of a small refrigerant leak occurs, the individual will contact 9-1-1 and have emergency responders dispatched out into the area. When emergency responders enter the incident scene, they will take several factors into consideration before deciding how to respond to the refrigerant leak such as the chemical that is at play in the environment, the concentration of the chemical, and what the current situation is inside the contaminated area. It is important for most first-responders to carry a O2 sensor with them in situations like this where you are trying to identify the current condition of the environment before entering the area.

Once emergency responders are prepped with PPE and ready to enter the refrigerant leak area, they will need to evaluate the machinery that is causing the leak to determine what the best course of action is for the situation. Depending on the case itself, first-responders may ventilate the room to help maintain safe levels while keeping the machinery on – whether that be an a/c unit, refrigerator, etc. They may also decide to shut down the unit but that will vary based on the environment and the intrinsic cost that it could impact. Ultimately, it may be better to leave the system running but the emergency team will evaluate that as they gather information about the refrigerant leak.

Neutralizing the Chemical Threat

The refrigerant chemical that has been exposed in the environment will need to be removed from the area properly before occupants can re-enter the space. The process of removing the chemical properties included in a refrigerant can be difficult as the multiple chemistries may require different solutions for decontamination and neutralization. Instead of having to utilize multiple decontamination methods to completely remove the chemical contaminant in the environment (which can be a timely and inefficient process), first-responders should use an all-in-one decontamination solution that works against multiple chemicals.

FAST-ACT® is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance specialty materials effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. The FAST-ACT formulation is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and significantly reduces both liquid and vapor hazards. Since the dry powder neutralizes threats upon contact, on-site incident management and clean up times are reduced. The chemical decontamination solution works quickly to significantly reduce hazards associated with common industrial chemicals. The broad range of utility makes FAST-ACT a valuable tool for a variety of environments that can help aid police, fire and other emergency responders to successfully and quickly decontaminate a hazardous chemical threat.

Signs of Refrigerant Poisoning

Refrigerant poisoning happens when someone is exposed to the chemicals ‘refrigerant’ that are used to cool appliances. Around these chemicals an individual will want to limit exposure, as exposure to these toxic chemicals can be severely hazardous to public health. Inhaling the fumes caused from a refrigerant leak can lead to several symptoms that will be easily to identify. These symptoms include the following:

Breathing problems
Fluid buildup in the lungs
Irritation of the eyes, ears, and throat
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Cough
Chemical burn
Dizziness

Gaining information and awareness of the potential risks that refrigerant leaks pose to an environment is critical, particularly for first responders. When you are responding to an incident involving refrigerant chemicals preparing with protective equipment and decontamination solutions is necessary to properly respond and remediate the situation.

Feb 27

Emergency Response to Chemical Suicides

By amanda wooley | chemical attacks properness, chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

Chemical Suicide Dangers to Emergency Responders Emergency responders and HAZMAT teams are responding to a growing number of calls involving the reported new suicide trend that has been evolving in developed countries. Chemical suicides, also known as “detergent suicides” was first seen in Japan in 2007 and has since spread into other countries like the United States that is responding to a number of these incidents recently – with many emergency responders being called to the scene of chemical suicides.

“Detergent Suicides” was the named labeled to this incident by the media because it contains the use of household chemicals that are mixed together to produce a highly toxic concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas. The individuals involved in these incidents will remain in a closed area like a car, small room, or even a closet in the pursuit to receive instant effects both severe and/or deadly.

This trend developed online through the availability of instructions that were posted via the web. And has since grown into a devastating trend because of its assumed “painless” option for killing oneself. However, the inherent risks produced from this type of suicide can be dangerous not only to the victim but also to first responders and emergency personnel that enter the scene unprepared or unprotected for a chemical vapor/liquid release. What can emergency response personnel do to become more aware and prepared for chemical suicides?

Common Household Chemicals Used in Chemical Suicides

Chemical suicides involve the mixing of common household chemicals that create a deadly hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas that has a distinct, strong odor of rotten eggs or sulfur. When this chemical turns into a vapor in high concentrations it can be highly dangerous, particularly to first responders who show up to the scene without proper respiratory protection. This chemical is an olfactory nerve paralyzer that can rapidly fatigue one’s sense of smell, even in low volumes.

Hydrogen sulfide is constructed by mixing hydrochloric acid with a sulfur-constructed compound. Both of these chemicals are easy to obtain and can be purchased at a local grocery, hardware, or big box store. The chemical, when created, will turn into a gas called asphyxiant that is known to suffocate victims at the cellular level, rendering the cells in the body unable to use oxygen.

The effects and symptoms of hydrogen sulfide exposure will begin almost immediately after exposure. At high concentrations, this chemical can be very deadly as it is nearly impossible to detect with no odor to it at all – because olfactory nerves are completely stripped of function of smell. Some other symptoms that someone will experience from exposure includes the following:

Respiratory irritation
Coughing
Vomiting
Headache
Nausea
Tremors
Suffocation
Coma
and Death

Detergent Suicides Using Hydrogen Cyanide

Another toxic gas that is sometimes found to be used in detergent suicides is hydrogen cyanide. This type of chemical used in these incidents is less likely to be used because of the difficulty in acquiring the consumer products needed to construct this chemical. Hydrogen cyanide gas is created using an acid source and cyanide salts like sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide. This chemical is easily absorbed through contact with the mucus membranes, eyes, and skin. The odor produced from this chemical is correlated with the smell of bitter almonds and can be a very strong and overwhelming odor in the environment. Some of the key symptoms that a person will experience from exposure to hydrogen cyanide include the following:

Restlessness
Headache
Palpitation
Difficulty Breathing
Increased Respiratory Rate
Unconsciousness
and Death

Signs of a Chemical Suicide

From 2008 to 2011 there were a total of 72 chemical suicides that were documented in the United States. About 80% of these incidents resulted in injuries to police officers, firefighters, emergency workers, and even civilians exposed to the gas. After the high level of injuries to emergency responders from chemical suicides, first responders are taking more care at crime scenes to detect signs of this type of incident in an effort to protect themselves. The signs that may be displayed at a chemical suicide crime scene can include these specific signs:

Small confined space (such as a car, small room, closet, etc.)
Tape or plastic covering vents and windows
Signs warning of toxic gas – usually placed by victim
A victim showing no sign of trauma
Empty cleaning supplies, pesticides, etc.
A strong odor similar to rotten eggs or burnt almonds
Suicide note

Chemical Suicide Response Procedures

The dangers presented to emergency responders upon contact with a chemical suicide is extremely high and due to the nature of the chemicals – as it is usually found as a vapor – can spread rapidly throughout the environment. When the confined space is opened this vapor can seep out and rapidly affect a large area and more important effect those exposed to the chemical vapor. The chemicals used in the chemical suicide can even continue to off-gas for an extended period of time way beyond when the incident took place.

If a chemical suicide is suspected, first responders should follow local response guidelines for securing the area and protecting the health of emergency responders. The procedures an emergency responder will take when coming across a chemical suicide crime scene includes the following steps.

Evaluating the Crime Scene

During the first glimpse at the crime scene, look for alerts and signs of a chemical suicide. Determining the specific type of crime scene will help responders thoroughly prepare before stepping foot onto the crime scene.

Safely Secure the Environment

If the affected area contains people, it is important to immediately evacuate these individuals. Evaluate the chemical concentration, population size, the size of the affected area, and the wind speed. All of these factors can play a role in the containment and decontamination process.

Ventilate and Monitor Air in the Confined Space

When the area has been secured and analyzed extensively for potential hazards in the area, you will be able to start the ventilation process. The ventilation process should only be handled and conducted by trained and equipped first responders. Also, use air monitoring systems to detect chemical levels still present in the area to help you be aware of toxic chemicals still present.

Decontaminate Items & Surfaces in the Area

Surfaces and items can be contaminated easily by a chemical liquid/vapor release in an environment. Finding a decontamination solution that is able to quickly and effectively decontaminate both surfaces and air is essential for emergency responders. With FAST-ACT all your decontamination needs will be met, and it will help emergency responders act quickly to chemical suicides.

FAST-ACT is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic high-performance specialty materials effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. FAST-ACT is offered in pressurized cylinders capable of addressing both liquid and vapor hazards, manually dispersed containers, kits for liquid hazard treatment, and mitts for equipment and small-scale decontamination. FAST-ACT can be safely applied to any liquid spill or vapor release enabling emergency responders to utilize one technology when faced with aa wide variety of known and unknown chemical hazards.

Feb 15

Mercury Cleanup & Response for HAZMAT

By amanda wooley | chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

There are many chemicals that are used, tested, and sometimes even spilled in a day. If you do not work in a lab or in an environment where different chemicals are present that you may not consider the potential risks these chemicals can place on a group of people or even an area if they are mishandled or spilled accidentally. Every chemical has different risks and dangers – some more significant than others, and thus being prepared in the event that a dangerous chemical is released into the environment is a necessity for overall protection. Who do we turn to when chemicals are accidentally or purposefully released into the environment, and worse when a hazardous chemical like Mercury is the released chemical?

Mercury is a shiny, silvery liquid chemical that can cause some serious health problems. When liquid mercury vaporizes at room temperature it will cause an elevation of mercury levels in your indoor air. This chemical is quite hazardous when it becomes a vapor, as it is not irritating, and it has no odor, so people are not even aware that they are breathing it in their body. Even the smallest trace amount of mercury present in the environment can cause harm.

What is Mercury Used for

The chemical mercury is present in more things than you may have known. It can be used to make thermometers, barometers, and other scientific instruments like blood pressure units and gas pressure regulators. One of the main industrial uses for mercury is in fluorescent lights, where a mercury vapor discharge produces ultraviolet light that then makes the tube coating fluorescent in visible lighting. Mercury is used in very small amounts with a pound of mercury being smaller than a golf ball.

Another popular use for mercury today is in dental fillings. All silver-colored fillings are dental amalgam fillings, and each of these fillings is approximately 50% mercury. Although there are many countries that have banned or limited the use of these fillings, there are many countries still using mercury fillings including the USA.

Is Mercury Dangerous

Mercury can potentially be a very dangerous chemical, especially when human exposure occurs. The liquid form of mercury is highly hazardous because as it vaporizes at room temperature the air will become filled with tiny, invisible mercury atoms that are both scentless and soluble in fats and oils.

When mercury vapor is inhaled into the body, it will easily become absorbed by the body, where it will first get into the lungs and then travel into the blood and brain. The poison released from this nerve chemical can cause sleep disorders, agitation, and paralysis. And scary enough, high dosage of exposure to this chemical can result in a neurological disorder called erethism mercurialis. According to Thomas Gebel, a toxicologist at Germany’s Federal Institute for Occupational Health and Safety in Dortmun, “There are historically documented cases that describe how people’s handwriting changed after being exposed to high levels of mercury”.

How to Clean Up Mercury Spill

When or if mercury spills inside an area you will want to be sure that the cleanup process is left to a professional or HAZMAT team to properly clean and decontaminate the chemical from the environment. There are several different steps you should take to clean up after a mercury spill. These steps include the following:

Step 1: Isolate and Ventilate

The first thing you will want to do is to close doors and block off the contaminated area from human exposure. Avoid walking through this area – the less time you spend within the area the less exposure you will have to this hazardous chemical. It’s also important to turn off your HVAC system after a spill occurs. Once the spill takes place it will vaporize into the air and if your air handling system is running it can spread this vapor throughout the whole environment, which is very dangerous. If you find that the mercury vapors are traveling quickly throughout the area you may decide to open windows to help ventilate the affected area.

Step 2: Be Ready to Respond

You never know when exactly mercury will become present in your environment but preparing for this potential situation can be extremely beneficial. To prepare you may consider using an air monitoring equipment to help to detect the presence of mercury fumes. Having safety supplies on hand like gloves, goggles, and other appropriate clothing during a mercury response is also crucial to protecting yourself from mercury exposure.

Step 3: Cleanup Process

There are several important cleaning tips to be aware of before performing a mercury cleanup. Firstly, do not use a regular vacuum to remove the mercury – this will result in the spreading of the chemical throughout the environment. Use a vacuum rated for mercury only, during a response and cleanup process. Also, be on high alert for small droplets of mercury that could have ended up on the surface of the spill.

The process of containing and neutralizing the chemical spill is important, especially ensuring that all traces of the chemical are completely removed from the area. Applying a decontamination solution like FAST-ACT will help to contain the presence of mercury in the area. FAST-ACT is a chemical decontamination solution that is both rapidly effective and easy to use to contain a chemical spill or release. The technology is composed of a patented earth mineral formula that is highly reactive against a broad spectrum of chemical agents including CWAs (Chemical Warfare Agents). FAST-ACT can be applied to both liquid and vapor releases – and will help to absorb the mercury chemical from the environment.

Step 4: Contain the Chemical Release

After the mercury release occurs, it is important to remove any contaminated clothing from your body. Place clothing, shoes, and any other items that were tainted by the mercury in a marked and sealed bag.

Step 5: Decontaminate Skin

If your skin came into contact with the mercury you will want to use warm water and anti-dandruff shampoo to remove the chemical from your skin. Anti-dandruff shampoo contains at least 1 percent selenium sulfide which helps to decontaminate mercury.

Jan 17

Detecting CBRN Threats

By amanda wooley | chemical attack preparation, chemical spill clean up, terrorist attack preparation, Uncategorized

All around the world there is a need for emergency responders, whether in a small or large community or city, to have access to reliable and interoperable CBRNe detectors to protect not only property but also human life. “CBRNe” is the abbreviation that is commonly used to describe the malevolent use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, & Explosive materials/weapons with the intention to cause mass casualties and destruction. Access to full CBRN protection can be extremely expensive to implement, but with the right CBRN mitigation tools and detection devices, prevention and protection of CBRN threats is achievable.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear materials can possess hazardous effects, these effects can include the following in each category:

Chemical: Poisoning or injury caused by chemical substances. This can include military Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs), harmful industrial chemicals, and household chemicals.
Biological: Illnesses that are caused by a deliberate release of a hazardous bacteria, virus, or even a biological toxin.
Radiological: Illness caused by exposure to harmful radioactive materials.
Nuclear: Extreme life-threatening health effects that are caused by exposure to harmful radiation, thermal, or blast arising from a nuclear deployment.

Detecting these materials and weapons has been optimized over the last couple of years, with new and improving devices being brought forward for the utilization of emergency responders. These CBRNe detection devices have capabilities that allow for identification and communication of CBRN threats, as well as the capacity to recognize potential CBRNe threats through equipment, education, and effective protocols.

CBRN Attack

CBRN is what can be described as a low probability, high risk threat. Although the chances of an attack utilizing these materials is low, if it were to occur the results could be significant and even deadly. A CBRN attack can occur in several different manners which include:

Criminal acts, a deliberate dumping or release of hazardous materials to avoid regulatory requirements.
A maliciously motivated poisoning of one or more individuals.
Or a terrorist act that involves serious violence or brutality to people or property.

A CBRN attack differs from a normal terrorist attack significantly in many aspects. CBRN agents cause contamination and specific health hazards depending on the type of agent utilized and the amount of the agent deployed into the environment. Conclusively, CBRN attacks can present complete destruction and mass casualties with the sole intent of harming a whole group of people.

CBRN Threat Brief

Terroristic threats are a dangerous potential crisis for large populations of people. The development and utilization of CBRN weapons has proven a lethal threat and one that must be prepared for heavily. The full extent of the potential CBRN threats cannot be predicted as they can evolve in unanticipated ways depending on a number of outside factors. The unpredictability and uncertainty of these threats can pose a challenge in preparing for a possible CBRN threat.

Also, before a CBRN threat occurs, there are no warnings that are initiated prior to the threat, so being alert of potential indicators that may appear is critical. Indicators can occur suddenly and seem out of place such as powders, liquids, or strange smells.

CBRN Threats in Relation to Terrorism

Terrorism and terrorist threats has been a main focus for the U.S. government. As of the past decades we have seen a growing recognition that vigilance in preventing terrorist groups from obtaining dangerous weapons, such as CBRN threats, is vital to protecting the health and safety of a large group of individuals. The strategy for countering terrorism is strengthened by counter programs that aim to reduce or abolish CBRN materials produced and stored by states.

The use of CBRN materials and the developing expertise of these weapons remains a haunting terrorist threat. Many terrorist groups have stated their intent to acquire, develop, and implement these materials. Within the last couple of years these threats have rung true, as ISIS was found responsible for a hazardous sulfur mustard attack in Syria on August 21, 2015. This attack gave the United States a proactive mission to disrupt and deny ISIS’s CBRN capabilities.

What Does a CBRN Specialist Do?

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialists also known as CBRN or chemical operations specialists, are U.S. Army personnel who are responsible for protecting the country from weapons that fall into any of those categories. Specialists that are called to respond to a disaster will distribute protective gear or enter into impacted areas to begin the decontamination process. The CBRN specialist are trained to manage, train, and maintain protective gear that military members will wear when exposed to CBRN threats.

A CBRN specialist protects the country from the threat of these weapons of mass destruction and any weapon of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear type. They plan and use highly advanced equipment in coordination with defense systems that are used against CBRN threats.

Types of Chemical Agent Detection Devices

Chemical agent detection methods will be an essential part of both medical crisis and consequence management. Detection and identification of the chemical agent or agents at the scene of a terrorist incident has to be accomplished but not at the expense of rapid and appropriate medical treatment of chemical casualties. Normally, an incident that involves the release of any chemicals or toxic materials will be categorized as a hazardous materials incident. Therefore, the first emergency responders who arrive on the scene must be capable of determining the Hazmat incident and be able to implement chemical agent detection devices at the scene.

Chemical detection equipment that is currently used by Hazmat teams varies considerably by the location. Large metropolitan areas and their current detectors can range from adequate to no capability for CWA detection. However, Hazmat teams are routinely equipped with a variety of chemical detectors and monitoring kits that can provide useful when chemical threats occur in the environment.

Chemical Decontamination Solution

When a chemical threat is detected in the environment the use of a chemical decontamination solution is needed. Depending on the chemical threat many chemical decon products require a different solution that is needed to apply to the chemical to achieve decontamination – this can be a lengthy process of identifying and decontaminating. However, with the FAST-ACT decontamination products, hazmat and first responders are able to quickly decontaminate a broad spectrum of chemical agents, including CWAs, without having to identify the chemical before deploying the decontamination process. The proprietary technology undergoes a patented process that makes the earth mineral ingredients highly reactive against a broad spectrum of chemicals, adsorbing and neutralizing chemical threats from the surface and air.

Chemical Decontamination Solution

CBRNe threats and detection devices are a very helpful and effective measure to have when a threat of this magnitude and danger is present to an environment and a population of people. Being prepared and protected with CBRN detection devices will aid in the overall safety of civilians and emergency responders upon the deployment of these potentially deadly CBRN materials.

Jan 11

Decontamination of Chemical Threats: from Person to Electronics

By amanda wooley | chemical attacks properness, chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

Decontamination is a process of making any person, object, or area safe by absorbing, neutralizing, or destroying chemical agents released in the environment. Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) are very complex and destructive agents that can be deployed or released into an area causing significant issues to both public health & overall safety. Chemical agents can be classified as nerve agents, blood agents, choking agents, and TICs (Toxic Industrial Chemical) – each category of chemical agents contain different characteristics that create a lethal concoction.

Chemical threats may be dispersed in many different forms ranging from liquid form to vapor form, which can both have their own hazardous effects on the environment, human health, and on decontamination equipment. CWAs in vapor form can penetrate into the interior of decon equipment and damage the equipment if the chemical agent is highly corrosive. Whereas CWAs in liquid form can adhere to a surface, spread over the surface, and penetrate into tiny spaces such as cracks and crevices – this type of adsorption can cause changes to the properties of the material, which can affect the decontamination equipment. Decontamination of chemical threats can be a very challenging process and having the proper equipment and trained personnel can help to accomplish a complete decontamination of a chemical threat.

What is the Purpose of Decontamination?

What is the Purpose of Decontamination Decontamination is a multi-faceted topic that involves several components including health issues, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) issues, emergency response issues, and crime scene issues. This practice is set in place to facilitate the neutralization or destruction of hazardous chemicals that may get released into an environment.

Decontamination practices offer a rapid solution to limiting the spread of contaminants from the “hot zone”, where chemicals affect a specific area. There are many components included in the decontamination process, such as cleaning contaminated victims from a wide spectrum of chemical threats and neutralizing a contaminated area from hazardous materials.

Unfortunately, the reality is that often times decon is only conducted as an afterthought after an incident occurs, and because of this, decon can sometimes be dismissed as not an integral or important part of the response procedure. And when decontamination procedures are not implemented it can lead to a very volatile environment that can be significantly hazardous to humans.

What are the Basic Principles of Decontamination?

Decontamination overall is essential to have for emergency responders, HAZMAT, and military members who are typically the individuals who are exposed to and on the scene at a contaminated area. The resources required to perform a proper and effective decontamination is fairly costly in terms of manpower, time, space and even material, but the benefits that decontamination provide to the safety of the environment and humans is invaluable.

The process of decontamination is composed of basic principles to help facilitate a successful decon application – these four basic principles include speed, need, limit, and priority. Of these four principles, speed is amongst the most crucial when it comes to decontamination. Contamination of a chemical threat on personnel or in a specific area can pose an immediate hazard and become lethal within minutes after contamination takes place. Therefore, implementing immediate action and decontamination practices will play a key role in the effect of a chemical release or outbreak.

What are the Three Main Levels of Decontamination?

Depending on the level of hazard, the amount of the chemical present, and the actual chemical that is at play can all lead to a specific form of decontamination that needs to be activated. There are two categories of decontamination that can be used during a chemical release – Passive or Active Decontamination. Passive decontamination is accomplished by exposing an object to high temperatures, sunlight, and wind, which is a very time-consuming process for decontamination. Whereas active decontamination is a process of removing and neutralizing liquid or solid contamination of CWAs, this is a rapid decontamination solution that most emergency responders will utilize during a chemical release.

The active decontamination process is subdivided into three main levels of decontamination – immediate, operational, and thorough.

Immediate decontamination: Decon that is performed by the individuals and can include the decontamination of personal clothing and/or equipment. This can save lives, minimize casualties and limit the spread of contamination. It can also be performed on individual protective equipment to sustain personal protection.
Operational decontamination: Decon that is performed by an individual and/or unit on a specific part of operational significant equipment. This helps to minimize contact, transfer hazard, and to sustain operations.
Thorough decontamination: Decon that is performed by a unit to reduce contamination on personnel, equipment, material, and working areas to the lowest potential level.

All three levels of decontamination focus on both personnel decontamination and environment/surface decontamination. The process of decontaminating surfaces can be complex, as there are many factors you must take into consideration before containing and neutralizing the chemical threat. Many decontamination solutions require the identification of the chemical to properly neutralize the chemical threat, and this can be extremely time consuming. However, with the aid of a universal chemical decontamination solution, emergency-responders can quickly contain and neutralize the environment in which a chemical threat was present. FAST-ACT is a chemical decontamination provider that utilizes a proprietary formulation of non-toxic, high-performance specialty materials effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability of destroying CWAs.

How Do You Decontaminate Someone

FAST-ACT is revolutionary for liquid/vapor chemical decon with its ability to decontaminate a broad range of chemicals without the need of identifying the chemical at play. Thus, eliminating precious time wasted and minimizing health effects for those exposed.

How Do You Decontaminate Someone?

What are the Three Main Levels of Decontamination Decontamination is most effective if victims first remove their clothing, as this has been shown to eliminate alone as much as 80-90% of all contamination. The effectiveness of removing clothes prior to decontamination rapidly decreases with time following exposure, so quick action should be taken following contamination. Victims are typically decontaminated in the water shower deluge of the decontamination corridor. Depending on the type of chemical exposure, the decontamination process can vary, the variations include the following:

Vapor Chemical Threat: A victim that has been exposed to the vapor should rub with either their hands, a soft cloth, or a sponge to remove the contaminants, from head to toe.
Liquid Chemical Threat: A victim that has been exposed to the liquid should use soap or a solution of detergent and water can be applied immediately to the skin.

Understanding and knowing the processes of implementing decontamination practices can be very vital to an emergency -responder who comes across a contaminated environment. Learning the purpose of decontamination and the best practices will help you to minimize the risks and contain a hazardous situation.

Sep 20

Top Methods of Chemical Decontamination for Chemical Spills: Pro’s vs Cons

By amanda wooley | chemical spill clean up, Uncategorized

Chemical spills and threats have become somewhat of a common occurrence in recent news with more and more incidents arising outside of the normal parameters of the typical chemical environment such as laboratories or chemical plant. Recently, chemical spills have happened with large semi-trucks filled with a “toxic” chemicals that have been releasing these chemicals onto the roadways – leaving a large decontamination job for HAZMAT to clean up and a huge risk factor to many civilians who could be potentially exposed. Each and every chemical decontamination will vary depending on the chemical spill at hand, making it difficult to deploy one specific guide for every chemical decontamination that is performed. However, what if there was a one-stop-shop chemical decontamination procedure you can take with almost every chemical spill? Below we are going to compare the main types of chemical decontamination for chemical spills and the benefits and cons of each to conclude the overall best process to utilize for future chemical spills & decon.

What is Decontamination

Decontamination is the process of removing or neutralizing materials that have come into contact with or on personnel or equipment during a spill. Decontamination is set in place to minimize exposure and protect workers from the potentially hazardous substances. The first priority of the decontamination process is to avoid contact with the material or substance at all costs and establish a decontamination zone to block off to other people. Then, depending on the type of chemical spill present you will need to conclude the best type of decontamination procedure to implement.

The most important and most effective decontamination of any chemical exposure is that decontamination is done within the first minute or two after exposure to the chemical agent. There are many different problems associated with potential decontaminants such as irritation of the skin, toxicity, ineffectiveness, or even high costs. The ideal decontamination will be rapid and completely neutralize all chemical agents.

Who Utilizes Chemical Decontamination Procedures

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) decontamination is the removal of CBRN material from equipment or humans. The military, first responders such as the fire and police departments, and HAZMAT teams are all trained and ready to deploy decontamination procedures quickly and effectively when need be. Chemical incidents can arise from an array of chemical accidents, human error, or a deliberate chemical attack, no matter what the circumstance before you are, being prepared with a set of decontamination procedures is critical.

Hazmat Decontamination Procedures

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a hazmat response team is an “organized group of trained personnel operating under an emergency response plan and appropriate standard operating procedures who handle and control actual or potential leaks and spills of hazardous materials”. Most Hazmat teams believe water is good, soap and water are better, and chlorine bleach solutions are best when dealing with either a chemical or biological agent. Chlorine bleach is a widely used method for decontamination, however, chlorine bleach is quite potent and can cause severe damage to the skin and even blindness if contact occurs in your eyes.

Different Methods of Chemical Decontamination

Chemical spills can be found in various forms from gas, liquid, solid, fumes, dust, fibers, or vapors. When any of these types of spills happen various methods of decontamination can be deployed including acid and base neutralizers, all-purpose absorbents, oil only absorbents, hazardous liquid absorbents, spill kits, decontaminating foams, and spill containment and material handling products. The list of different decontamination methods can vary in effectiveness, procedures, and implementation.

Solid Commercial Neutralization

This method of chemical decontamination is used to treat only one type of chemical hazard. Therefore, a pre-treatment hazard identification is mandatory. Solid commercial neutralizers are used to treat only liquid hazards & can generate a significant level of heat that have the potential to become hazardous – and with excess of the neutralizer, a possibly corrosive situation is created.

Spill Kits

Chemical spill kits are a popular decon solution, particularly for laboratories and factories. However, chemical spill kits have many disadvantages including the time required to complete the decontamination process and the knowledge of the chemical present along with the ideal solution needed to neutralize the agent. Spill kits have separate products for acids, caustics, and solvents, and thus identification is required before treatment. And if the kit is applied improperly a dangerous product could form. Also, this method of decontamination is only applicable for liquid spills and cannot treat vapor hazards. If you are trying to neutralize Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and organic hazards, a spill kit will not be an effective decontamination method to implement.

Universal Neutralizer

Universal Neutralizing Sorbent is an effective decontamination method to clean up battery acids and bases, even hydrofluoric acid. This decon method can be applied to contain a liquid spill but is not effective towards the destruction of CWAs or any organic hazards – as well as vapor release decontamination.

Sorbent Based Decontamination Products

Sorbent based decontamination products were designed to be effective against chemical warfare agents such as Soman, Mustard, VX, etc. However, this decontamination method is not effective at neutralizing and eliminating most toxic industrial chemicals. Also, sorbent based decon products are only effective at liquid spills and not vapor releases.

Liquid Decontamination Products

The majority of liquid decontamination products such as bleach or DS2 are corrosive products – and these liquid decontaminants are primarily used to treat Chemical Warfare Agents. Liquid decon products cannot be used on metals such as potassium or sodium and they are not effective against a wide range of toxic industrial chemicals. Most liquid decontamination products are water based and cannot be used at sub-zero temperatures – and most importantly, this decon method does not treat vapor releases in the environment.

Foams

Decontamination foam is a spray-on cleaning solution that has a longer residence time on contaminated surfaces than regular liquids. This decon method is essentially water and a surfactant that creates an aqueous film forming foam that various reactive chemicals are then added to, resulting in the reduction of contaminants on the surface. Decontaminating foams are designed to treat chemical and/or biological warfare agents. This decon method has a large logistical burden due to water and ancillary equipment requirements as well as a need for premixing. Since decon foam is water based, they cannot be used in below freezing temperatures.

FAST-ACT (First Applied Sorbent Treatment – Against Chemical Threats)

Liquid & Vapor Chemical Decontamination FAST-ACT is a proprietary formulation of non-toxic nano materials that are effective at neutralizing a wide range of toxic chemicals with the added capability to destroy chemical warfare agents. This decon method is effective against a wide range of toxic chemicals including acids, halogenated compounds, phosphorous compounds, acidic and caustic gases, organic compounds, and chemical warfare agents. FAST-ACT is offered in pressurized cylinders capable of addressing both liquid and vapor hazards as well as manually dispersed containers for liquid hazard treatment. This decon method is effective against a broad range of chemical hazards and eliminates the need for multiple products, making FAST-ACT a one-stop-shop for any chemical decontamination.

With FAST-ACT, containment and/or neutralization efficacy greater than 95% is achieved for most toxic chemicals within 2 minutes. Within 90 seconds over 99.6% (detection limit) of warfare agent is removed from surfaces. In 10 minutes 99% of GD and over 99.9% of VX is destroyed. After 60 minutes 70-80% of HD is neutralized.

*No Training is Required to Deploy FAST-ACT

Chemical decontamination is vital for rapid and effective neutralization of hazardous chemical spills and releases. Decontamination is time consuming and requires resources to accomplish complete elimination, therefore being well-versed in the different chemical decon methods and their effectiveness can aid in the ideal decon selection for the most complete chemical spill decontamination.

Jul 18

Clandestine Drug Lab Chemical Hazards & Health Risks to First Responders

By amanda wooley | chemical spill clean up

Chemical hazards can be present in almost every environment, but significant chemical dangers are only present in extremely volatile environments. Laboratories are a notoriously hazardous area for chemical threats as multiple chemicals are available in the area and could potentially mix to create an extremely hazardous chemical spill or vapor release. Lab workers and most importantly first responders require extensive training and knowledge on chemical dangers, how to safely shield yourself and others from these hazards, and the necessary steps to take to decontaminate the chemical hazards in the environment. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), in 2014, there were over 9,338 laboratory incidents including labs and dump areas in the United States. This number has steadily increased as the years have progressed, making the danger of chemical spills heightened for first responders. A big contributing factor to this increased number of chemical spills is from illegal clandestine drug labs. A clandestine laboratory is a place where the collection and preparation of illegal substances are performed. The manufacturing of drugs, explosives, and even chemical warfare weapons was found in these ‘labs’, however, the main production in these labs is the manufacturing of the illegal drug methamphetamine. Toxic chemicals are used in the creation of these illegal substances, therefore the risks associated with entering these labs unprotected is elevated.

Dangers Present in a Clandestine Lab

Every year across the United States, first responders are exposed and injured in clandestine labs. These labs are not a new issue for first responders though. Since the activities performed in the labs are illegal they are often constructed for ease of concealing the lab, rather than focused on the safety. Many times, the operators of clandestine labs are inexperienced and have little education on chemicals – their dangers and hazards of mixing and combining different chemicals. A number of hazards exist in the environment which includes toxic releases from the chemicals and gases produced, fires, explosions, and chemical burns. Therefore, clandestine laboratories create obscured dangers that emergency responders will need to identify to protect themselves and others from, and this is accomplished through proper first responder training.

Chemicals Found in Clan Labs

Clan labs produce highly unstable environments because of the reactions of the amalgam of chemicals that are used in conjunction with each other. Other factors that produce a hazardous environment include water-reactive chemicals, elements used in heating, and poor ventilation that can heighten the volatility of the environment. Illegal drugs produced in these labs include Methamphetamine, Phenyl-2-Propanone (P2P), LSD, PCP, MDA/MDPP (Ecstasy), Methaqualude, Methcathinone, and Fentanyl. Many of these drugs utilize a long list of chemicals in its construction, which can possibly create a toxic environment when combined. Methamphetamines, for example, can be made from an estimated 34 chemicals. Thus, these chemicals can react in a number of different ways depending on the amount and combination mixed with each chemical compound.

Health Effects from Exposure to Clan Labs

Health effects typically obtained from exposures to clan labs can vary. Specifically, for hazmat and first responders that in some instances are unequipped with the necessary protective supplies and decontamination equipment that may be required in the clan lab. The level of health hazard presented varies based on the specific agent that you are exposed to, the route of exposure, the level of concentration of the toxin, and the duration of the exposure. Commonly reported symptoms to include nausea, headache, irritation affecting the skin, eyes, and mucous membrane. However, depending on the actual length of exposure the symptoms can be exacerbated significantly. First responders, therefore, need to be trained on the steps to take in this instance of entering a clan lab, and what equipment is required to prevent potential health effects from exposure.

First Response Training for Clandestine Labs

With the increased number of clandestine labs throughout the country, a correlating increase in problems from confronting state and local agencies that are called to these labs has begun to occur. These officials are often times the first to encounter these labs and therefore must be the ones to investigate, dismantle, and dispose of toxic/hazardous chemicals accordingly. The DEA Basic Clandestine Laboratory Certification School is the most distinguishable law enforcement – clandestine training according to OSHA standards. Due to the unique circumstances involved in raiding clandestine laboratory sites, tactical and safety precautions must be implemented upon entry of the lab. First responders having the proper training and knowledge of clan labs can help to minimize potential health hazards from exposure to these officials.

Clandestine Lab Chemical Decontamination

Clandestine laboratories contain many chemicals which can either produce a chemical vapor or liquid chemical that can produce hazards in the contaminated area. First responders and hazmat are required to have extensive knowledge of chemicals and a decontamination solution for each chemical class. Thus, they were required to handle and treat all cases with the utmost level of caution. The difficulty associated with determining each chemical is extremely high, as chemicals that are mixed with others can create an even more hazardous environment. However, with FAST-ACT a level of protection to Emergency Responders is available that has never before existed. The broad protection against volatile toxic chemicals afforded by FAST-ACT will provide law enforcement and emergency response workers an increased level of protection especially in dealing with clan labs.

FAST-ACT utilizes a patented technology that will immediately reduce the threat level by initially containing the chemicals into a solid non-vapor releasing form. For a broad spectrum of chemicals, FAST-ACT will begin to neutralize the chemical, as it has been tested against many chemicals that are commonly found in this type of environment. This eliminates the added time and difficulty of determining the chemical at play that needs to be contaminated, as FAST-ACT can most likely contaminate whatever chemical is in the environment. FAST-ACT is offered in pressurized cylinders capable of addressing both liquid and vapor hazards, manually dispersed containers, kits for liquid hazard treatment, and mitts for equipment and small-scale decontamination.

chemical spill clean up

What is a Civil Support Teams Responsibilities & When Are They Called Upon

How Many Civil Support Teams are There?

Capabilities & Functions of a CST

Identifying CBRNE Agents and Substances

Assessing Current & Projected Consequences

Advising on Response Measures

Assisting with Appropriate Requests for Additional State/Federal Support

Civil Support Team Training / Equipment

Chemical Decontamination Equipment

What is a HazMat Tactical Technician

What Does a HazMat Technician Do?

What are the Three Levels of Hazardous Response

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Hazardous Materials vs Chemicals

HazMat Response to Chemical Incidents

What Does HAZMAT Mean & What Duties Do They Perform

HAZMAT Operations & Situations

The Levels of HAZMAT Response

The Awareness Level

The Operations Level

The Technician Level

The Specialist Level

Response to Unknown Hazmat Materials

How Do Refrigerators & A/C Units Work

How to Address a Catastrophic Refrigerant Leak

Dangers of a Slow Refrigerant Leak

Emergency Response Procedures for a Slow Refrigerant Leak

Neutralizing the Chemical Threat

Signs of Refrigerant Poisoning

Common Household Chemicals Used in Chemical Suicides

Detergent Suicides Using Hydrogen Cyanide

Signs of a Chemical Suicide

Chemical Suicide Response Procedures

Evaluating the Crime Scene

Safely Secure the Environment

Ventilate and Monitor Air in the Confined Space

Decontaminate Items & Surfaces in the Area

What is Mercury Used for

Is Mercury Dangerous

How to Clean Up Mercury Spill

CBRN Attack

CBRN Threat Brief

CBRN Threats in Relation to Terrorism

What Does a CBRN Specialist Do?

Types of Chemical Agent Detection Devices

Chemical Decontamination Solution

What is the Purpose of Decontamination?

What are the Basic Principles of Decontamination?

What are the Three Main Levels of Decontamination?

How Do You Decontaminate Someone?

What is Decontamination

Who Utilizes Chemical Decontamination Procedures

Hazmat Decontamination Procedures

Different Methods of Chemical Decontamination

Solid Commercial Neutralization

Spill Kits

Universal Neutralizer

Sorbent Based Decontamination Products

Liquid Decontamination Products

Foams

FAST-ACT (First Applied Sorbent Treatment – Against Chemical Threats)

Dangers Present in a Clandestine Lab

Chemicals Found in Clan Labs

Health Effects from Exposure to Clan Labs

First Response Training for Clandestine Labs

Clandestine Lab Chemical Decontamination

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