As a safety professional, former FF/EMT, HAZMAT Coordinator, and LEPC Chairperson I can personally attest to the value of what “preplanning” can do for a business, the community and its responders. Unfortunately in the current economic climate, most businesses, communities, and FD’s have had to set preplanning efforts to the side due to budget constraints…....
This is really sad! What is really sad is that “elected officials” had no idea of their responsibilities as it relates to the safety of their community. The one thing that is missing from the report is the lack involvement by the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). It is this commission, appointed by the governor…...
West, TX Explosion and Community Emergency Response Plan? Read More »
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Foundation%20proceedings/High_Challenge_Warehousing-Ammonium_Nitrate_as_a_Typical_Cas.pdf… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
HIGH CHALLENGE Warehousing: Ammonium Nitrate as a typical case study (NFPA) Read More »
One type of valve commonly used to control water flow to fire sprinkler systems is known as an OS&Y gate valve. OS&Y means “outside stem and yoke” or “outside screw and yoke”. OS&Y gate valves operate by opening and closing via a gate, which lowers into or rises out of the valve. Raising the gate…...
Sprinkler System’s OS&Y Valves Read More »
A new version of MARPLOT is available at http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/cameo/marplot.htm What’s changed in MARPLOT 4.2.3? Fixed the Go to Address feature which was using a discontinued web service. It now uses a MapQuest API. Updated the Topo basemap layers, which are web mapping services (WMS) provided by other organizations. Minor changes and bug fixes…. Membership Required You...
A new version of MARPLOT is available (4.2.3) Read More »
A new revision (dated March 13, 2013) to the CHLOREP Bulletin related to modified C-Kit application instructions now titled “Modified Emergency Kit “C” Application for Certain Dual Valve Systems” is now available. This revision accounts for the completion of the NextGen service trial, a new dual valve design model that will soon be available for…...
Modified Emergency Kit “C” Application for Certain Dual Valve Systems Read More »
Area plans are often brought into action when facilities are unable to handle spills on their own. Under the authority of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, EPA initially established 13 Areas covering the U.S. and convened Area Committees comprised of federal, state, and local government agencies to prepare contingency plans for the designated areas…....
EPA publishes “Area Contingency Planning Handbook” Read More »
An Incident Commander’s responsibility is to assess or “size-up” the emergency situation to get a good understanding of the problems, issues and concerns and to achieve the needed situational awareness. If the incident is going to grow to where a Unified Command structure is required, it is often helpful to write down the problems that each…...
The Role of Scene Assessment or Size-up (USFA) Read More »
This is one of the top emergency response questions we receive each year. It seems there are some facilities that feel the Incident Command training their personnel receive in their 16-hr Operations Level and 24-hr Technician Level training qualifies those personnel to be an Incident Commander. The question is… is the training offered in these…...
What training is REQUIRED for “Incident Commanders”? Read More »
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to require the filing of a premarket approval application (PMA) or a notice of completion of a product development protocol (PDP) for the following class III preamendments devices: Automated external defibrillators systems (AEDs), which includes the AED device and its accessories (i.e., pad electrodes, batteries, and adapters)…....
FDA looking to REQUIRE AED approvals Read More »
On a daily basis we respond to a variety of emergencies, most of which have become fairly routine. Of course, reaching that level of competence takes a lot of training, exercises and actual events. We have to constantly guard against complacency to ensure safe and effective operations. However, the extraordinary events — such as tornados, earthquakes,…...
“Getting Ready for the Unimagined:” Looking at the Emergency Operations Plan (USFA) Read More »
Does your facility have “egress stairwells” located either within the building or external to the building? If your facility has multi-level structures, you should have an egress arrangement similar to the one shown to the left (whether inside or outside). These emergency egress stairs have some often over looked fire code and OSHA requirements that I…...
Emergency Egress and Fire Doors Read More »
