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Haz -Mat Technologies

Presented by Lt. Scott Fleck. Haz -Mat Technologies. Background. Lt. Scott Fleck Firefighter/EMT, Hazmat technician Specializations in strategy and tactics, safety, hazmat operations/terrorism response, pre-hospital emergency medical care

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Haz -Mat Technologies

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  1. Presented by Lt. Scott Fleck Haz-Mat Technologies

  2. Background • Lt. Scott Fleck • Firefighter/EMT, Hazmat technician • Specializations in strategy and tactics, safety, hazmat operations/terrorism response, pre-hospital emergency medical care • Undergraduate degree in political science and history, IU 1991. • Currently pursuing 2nd bachelors degree in human biology

  3. Bloomington Township Fire Department • Opened for service in 1971 • Combination fire department • 11 career firefighters (3 per shift, 2 admin during week) • Approx. 8 part-time/fill in positions • Approx. 35 volunteers • Provides coverage 24/7/365 • Fire suppression/prevention, EMS, rescue, hazmat capabilities

  4. Bloomington Township Fire Department • Cover approximately 140 square miles • Mutual aid throughout the county • Regional training facility

  5. Hazmat Response • Goal is mitigation • Stop the hazmat from hurting people, property and the environment • Note: not clean up! • Respond in Monroe County, 5 surrounding counties, 8 counties of District 8, potentially anywhere in the state of Indiana • 4 piece hazmat response unit • Approximately $1,000,000 in equipment

  6. Hazmat Challenges • Known materials • Usually can trust multiple sources of information to assure chemical is properly identified • Usually just a monitoring problem • Unknown materials • Must attempt to identify by risking people and equipment to acquire paperwork, samples, etc.

  7. Key Concepts • Detection • Usually a binary determination • Present/not present • Monitoring • Already know what the material is • Determine levels over time • PPM/PPB, mg/cc, % • Can be intermittent or continuous

  8. Strategic Concepts • Protect life • Emergency responders • Unaffected public • Affected public • Protect property • Protect environment

  9. Current State of Technology • “Dumb” technology • Detection papers • pH, lead acetate, M8/M9 • Binary chemical tests • 20/20 anthrax test • Chemical detection strips/patches • Chem strips • Smart strips • Colorimeter tubes

  10. Current State of Technology • “Dumb” technology continued • CMS • Chem tests on a chip • BADD • PCR bio reaction • M256 kits • Radiation detectors

  11. Current State of Technology • “Semi-smart” technology • Single and 4 gas detectors • CO, HCN, CL2, NH3 • O2, explosive gas (LEL), CO, H2S • Photo Ionization Detector • Uses polarized light to sense the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Does not identify the chemical, only that something is present that shouldn’t be and at a specific level

  12. Current State of Technology • “Smart” technology • APD2000 • Chem warfare agent/gamma rad detector • Ahura First Defender • Ramen IR signature against library • SensIR/TravelIR • FT-IR

  13. Current State of Technology • Unavailable locally • Flame Ionization Detector • Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spec

  14. Field Use/Response • When hunting unknowns, start with dumb and/or semi-smart, then use smart to confirm • Always pH first! • Strong acids/bases eat electronics for lunch! • Add most appropriate for situation, take as many as possible during recon trip

  15. Field Use/Response • Also use general indicators • Lowered/raised oxygen levels • Visual indicators • Green stripped from grass or tree tops • Puddles, pools, gas clouds • Fish floating on the surface of water • Birds falling from the sky

  16. Important Hazmat Points • EVERYTHING EXCEPT PEOPLE IS ULTIMATELY CONSIDERED DISPOSABLE! • If it can’t be decontaminated, it must be disposed of

  17. Technological Shortcomings • Many devices with many interfaces • Difficult to learn and use in field • Many devices do not talk to each other • No unified format • No automated data collection • Technology is expensive • Technology is not hardened • “Firefighter” proof

  18. Technological Shortcomings • High maintenance • Labor intensive • Frequent out of service period • Lack of stand off detection • Most must be in close proximity to the material to detect • Must be carried into the situation and operated by a human

  19. Areas of Improvement • Fewer devices, more capabilities • Stand off range • Detect from a distance or remotely operate • Transmit data • Unified control/report console • Report/document for legal purposes • Linked to database/information • Photo capable • Decreased power needs

  20. Important Features • Must be disposable or hardened and decontaminatable • Intrinsically safe • Economical • “Firefighter” proof • Durable • Oversized buttons, screens, etc • Intuitive, easy to use

  21. Other Areas of Technology • GPS tracking systems • Training systems • Robotic sensing • ???

  22. Questions? • ???

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