In photos – A busy day for HRFE HAZMAT crews as they took to a realistic training situation with members of Brenntag in Burnside
With limited information for the crew, a call for a serious HAZMAT spill came in, sending a full specialty call from HRFE.
Arrival – Crews began setting up and preparing required stations (such as decon) and preparing gear. Fire gets a heads up of what the scene looks like via conversation with Brenntag staff and a fast recon by firefighters in bunker gear and masks as crews suit up.
They find out that there in a forklift with a leaking container inside a warehouse and the chemical involved is currently unknown. A forklift driver in the cab unresponsive.
The response involves two teams in full HAZMAT protective gear. The first team secures the forklift and sets up fans to blow the toxic air away from the victim in the forklift.
They secure the operator and rescue him from the scene.
A second team enters to find and stop the chemical spill from continuing.
The forklift operator was removed wearing a SBA to prevent further injury.
Taken to a secure decontamination area, he is scrubbed down before being taken by EHS for life saving treatment. Preventing Paramedics from being exposed to harmful chemicals is vital.
The chemical was unknown for this scenario, so HRFE members perform a thoroughly detailed series of tests which is aimed at specifically identifying the chemical involved.
This may prove vital for treatment of anybody exposed as well as provide vital containment information for the hazardous materials.
In the end, this exercise, hosted by Brenntag, benefitted both HRFE and the company as being familiar with each others operations allows for better communication and teamwork in the event of a real emergency, and the physical hands on training allows body memory and action to come naturally.
All teams are thoriyghly decontanimated at special stations as soon as possible. Waste water and contaminated suits and gear are taken care of safely away as determined by the first arrived team accordingly.
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