Emergency Response

EPA’s Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its Final Rule: Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans (Final Rule), requiring certain facilities to develop Facility Response Plans (FRP) for a worst-case discharge of Clean Water Act (CWA) hazardous substances, or threat of such a discharge. A worst-case discharge is the […]

A DECON practice challenge

I have been involved with emergency response for over 30 years. During those years, I trained thousands of municipal and private responders, specializing in traditional Hazardous Materials Responses. During all those years, when I received continuing training from the likes of Texas A&M, LSU, NFA, and SERTC, these advanced courses only validated my first HAZWOPER

2024 DOT ERG is coming!

DOT/PHMSA have compiled the most important changes from ERG2020 to ERG2024, organized by the color of the corresponding section in the guidebook White Yellow/Blue Orange, and Green In addition to the changes listed below, all sections have undergone minor editorial changes for accuracy and consistency. In this edition, DOT/PHMSA has added QR codes to the back

Why Level B is the MINIMUM for 1st Entry

It comes from this requirement in OSHA’s HAZWOPER standard and has sound logic behind it… (emphasis by me) 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard shall wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus while engaged in emergency response, until such time that the individual

Emergency Use Only SCBA and 90% Full

This week, I conducted a 24-hr HAZMAT Tech course for a client.  The facility had purchased some new SCBA cylinders, and we noticed an odd difference between two of the cylinders.  One cylinder was manufactured in 2021, and one was manufactured in early 2022, just six months apart.  As I was covering the requirements for

Understanding why we have 1910.165(b)(3) (all pun intended)

1910.165(b)(3) The employee alarm shall be distinctive and recognizable as a signal to evacuate the work area or to perform actions designated under the emergency action plan.   After an employee becomes aware of an emergency situation, the next step involves actions to be performed by that employee. Generally, the actions include evacuation or emergency

OSHA answers the question: Frequency of refresher training for first aid and CPR?

OSHA cancelled CPL 2-2.53 in 2007. Your letter cites OSHA’s current guidelines for CPR training contained in OSHA 3317-06N 2006, Best Practices Guide: Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program. Although OSHA does not mandate retraining intervals, this guidance, at p. 13, recommends that “Instructor-led retraining for life-threatening emergencies[,]” specifically CPR and AED, “should occur at

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