HAZ-MAT TECHNOLOGIES

Presented by Lt. Scott Fleck

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

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 positionsApprox. 35 volunteers

Provides coverage 24/7/365 Fire suppression/prevention, EMS,

rescue, hazmat capabilities

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

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 unitApproximately $1,000,000 in equipment

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.

Key Concepts Detection

Usually a binary determination○ Present/not present

MonitoringAlready know what the material isDetermine levels over time

○ PPM/PPB, mg/cc, %Can be intermittent or continuous

Strategic Concepts Protect life

Emergency respondersUnaffected publicAffected public

Protect property Protect environment

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

Current State of Technology “Dumb” technology continued

CMS○ Chem tests on a chip

BADD○ PCR bio reaction

M256 kitsRadiation detectors

Current State of Technology “Semi-smart” technology

Single and 4 gas detectors○ CO, HCN, CL2, NH3

○ O2, explosive gas (LEL), CO, H2SPhoto 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

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

Current State of Technology Unavailable locally

Flame Ionization DetectorGas Chromatograph/Mass Spec

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

Field Use/Response Also use general indicators

Lowered/raised oxygen levelsVisual indicators

○ Green stripped from grass or tree tops○ Puddles, pools, gas clouds○ Fish floating on the surface of water○ Birds falling from the sky

Important Hazmat Points EVERYTHING EXCEPT PEOPLE IS

ULTIMATELY CONSIDERED DISPOSABLE!

If it can’t be decontaminated, it must be disposed of

Technological Shortcomings Many devices with many interfaces

Difficult to learn and use in field Many devices do not talk to each other

No unified formatNo automated data collection

Technology is expensive Technology is not hardened

“Firefighter” proof

Technological Shortcomings High maintenance

Labor intensiveFrequent out of service period

Lack of stand off detectionMost must be in close proximity to the

material to detectMust be carried into the situation and

operated by a human

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

Important Features Must be disposable or hardened and

decontaminatable Intrinsically safe Economical “Firefighter” proof

DurableOversized buttons, screens, etcIntuitive, easy to use

Other Areas of Technology GPS tracking systems Training systems Robotic sensing ???

Questions? ???