Technical Discussion > HAZMAT

Training

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Steveg:
I have heard a lot of late about new Hazmat skills which Hazmat operators will be required to learn.
Things like Mass Decontamination and Atmospheric Monitoring, which are fairly specialised fields.
Does anybody else believe that when a Hazmat job escalates to a level at which atmospheric monitoring or Mass Decon (terror attack maybe?) is required, the roles should fall to Professionals, ie the army in the case of Decon?
I am happy to be trained in all fields, but there is a lot of volunteers out there who just dont have the time to be doing courses of this calibre, and keeping their training up, along with their personal lives as well.
I would be interested to hear from other Hazmat Brigades if they are having problems with this training, or how they are handling it, or if indeed it is just the rumor-mill running again. :?

Firefrog:
CFS is fast moving forward with these roles, the new PUA national hazmat unit of training is being developed and people are being trained in atmospheric monitoring and Mass decon.

As for Army - they do have an Incident response regiment which has very specific skills and has soldiers & military firefighters attached to it. I don't know specifics but would assume that they would be mobilised any where in the country if the need was great enough.

I think it is important (in the days will live in) for every response agency to be equipped and trained to deal with all sorts of unprecedented incidents. If we do see mass casulty incidents it will take all of us to know what to do and and do it well.

SACFS was founded on communities getting together to protect themselves from the threat of fire. Now the threat is still fire and a whole lot more. Communities still prepare to protect themselves.

corocfs:

--- Quote from: Steveg on August 02, 2005, 12:25:21 PM ---
Does anybody else believe that when a Hazmat job escalates to a level at which atmospheric monitoring or Mass Decon (terror attack maybe?) is required, the roles should fall to Professionals, ie the army in the case of Decon?


--- End quote ---

i'd like to think that we are proffesionals... just un-paid.

Steveg:
Just clear that one up a bit. By Professional, I mean people who are trained Specifically for the role, like the TAC guys we call on now.
This is purely a thought of mine,
sorry fot the slip-Of Course, I agree With you, firetruck, about us all being professional.

CFS_Firey:
As far as atmospheric monitoring goes, considering the toxic gases released in house fires, even though it's SOP to always wear BA even in overhaul, It's almost duty of care for the OIC to be able to tell the resident if it safe or not to go back into their house...

and as for the Mass decontamination, members from our brigade have done it - Its only a couple of hours, and is essentially teaching them how to use the new equipment that's available. (In other words they will essentially be doing the same HAZMAT roll anyway)

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