HazMat Placards to Success

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Comment by Todd McKee on May 8, 2013 at 12:20am

Group Question:

  In level "B" or "C" protection,

Should you tape the mask or not tape the mask?

Comment by Todd McKee on April 19, 2013 at 5:28pm

Comment by Todd McKee on April 19, 2013 at 5:26pm

Pipe Emergencies :  How can we take care of this type of emergency safely?

Comment by Todd McKee on April 6, 2013 at 11:45am

MASK

Tape the mask or don't tape the mask ? What are your thoughts while wearing level "B" or "C" HazMat Suits?

Comment by Todd McKee on February 20, 2013 at 2:33pm

A sample of diesel fuel

Staff/Getty Images

DIESEL FUEL

­­­­Petroleum fuel, or crude oil, is naturally found in the Earth. When crude oil is refined at refineries, it can be separated into several different kinds of fuels, including gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene and, of course, diesel.

If you have ever compared diesel fuel and gasoline, you know that they are different. They certainly smell different. Diesel fuel is heavier and oilier. Diesel fuel evaporates much more slowly than gasoline -- its boiling point is actually higher than the boiling point of water. You will often hear diesel fuel referred to as "diesel oil" because it is so oily.

Diesel fuel evaporates more slowly because it is heavier. It contains more carbon atoms in longer chains than gasoline does (gasoline is typically C9H20, while diesel fuel is typically C14H30). It takes less refining to create diesel fuel, which is why it used to be cheaper than gasoline. Since 2004, however, demand for diesel has risen for several reasons, including increased industrialization and construction in China and the U.S. [source: Energy Information Administration].

Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gasoline. On average, 1 gallon (3.8 L) of diesel fuel contains approximately 155x10⁶ joules (147,000 BTU), while 1 gallon of gasoline contains 132x10⁶ joules (125,000 BTU). This, combined with the improved efficiency of diesel engines, explains why diesel engines get better mileage than equivalent gasoline engines.

Diesel fuel is used to power a wide variety of vehicles and operations. It of course fuels the diesel trucks you see lumbering down the highway, but it also helps move boats, school buses, city buses, trains, cranes, farming equipment and various emergency response vehicles and power generators. Think about how important diesel is to the economy -- without its high efficiency, both the construction industry and farming businesses would suffer immensely from investments in fuels with low power and efficiency. About 94 percent of freight -- whether it's shipped in trucks, trains or boats -- relys on diesel.

In terms of the environment, diesel has some pros and cons. The pros -- diesel emits very small amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, emissions that lead to global warming. The cons -- high amounts of nitrogen compounds and particulate matter (soot) are released from burning diesel fuel, which lead to acid rain, smog and poor health conditions. On the next page we'll look at some recent improvements made in these areas. www.howstuffworks.com

Comment by Todd McKee on June 16, 2012 at 9:59pm

ANTHRAX:

Bacillus anthracis is the disease-causing agent of anthrax. It is a naturally occurring, spore_forming soil bacterium that can be cultured and grown in quantity in a laboratory setting.

Key Indicators

 

• Basic laboratory equipment and glassware
• Microbiological equipment such as agar, growth medium, cell spreader, microspatula, incubator, pertri plates, and pipettes
• Biohazard bags
• Filters
• Glove box
• Improvised safety equipment such as latex gloves and masks
• Antibiotics
• Mortar and pestle
• Bleach
• Chemicals such as acetone, bleach and hydrochloric acid

Generation of anthrax begins with obtaining the bacterium from an existing culture or isolation from the environment, then growing the bacterium in a growth medium. After including sporulation, the spores are harvested and processed and dissemination.

Laboratory_generated anthrax spores appear as a white to gray powder. A crude powder may have differing color texture depending on the methods of growth and processing.

Below is the Anthrax Cycle

Comment by Todd McKee on June 13, 2012 at 9:23am

Cyanides:

The cyanides described here include potassium and sodium cyanide salts (KCN and NaCN) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). In the absence of access to the purchase of commercially available salts, one of several improvised production methods my be followed.

Key Indicators:

 

• Distillation equiptment
• Propane torch, improvised furnace
• Basic starting ingredients such as ashes, rust, leather, charcoal, washing soda, and blackboard chalk, blood
• Basic laboratory equipment (stirring device,beakers,pH paper, hot plate, and etc.)
• Chemicals such as baking soda, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, hydrochloric acid, iron oxide, potassium carbonate, potassium cyanide, sodium carbonate, and sodium cynaide, sodium, thiosulfate (cyanide antidote) and sulfuric acid.

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a colorless gas or bluish-white to purple liquid with a bitter almond odor. When purified , liquid HCN is clear to pale yellow in color. Crude cyanide salts are crystalline solids that vary in color from white to blue-green. Commercial grade salts vary in color from white to pale  white.

Below Cyanide Salt

Below is a magnetic stirring device

Below is Distillation Equipment

Below is a Improvised heating device

Take care and be safe out there!

 

Comment by Bill Schneider on June 12, 2012 at 7:55pm

I'd like to add that if there is a fire in a coolant system that has Freon- Phosgene Gas is a bi-product of combustion. So, your initial call may be for a fire but it ends up being a "more" toxic atmosphere that isn't your typical hazmat call. I know I'm not responding in a Level A suit to a fire, but realize that as long as I have my full PPE and SCBA on (like it's designed to be used) that I can reduce the exposure to the inhalation and toxic hazards.

Good stuff! Keep it coming.

http://www.ehow.com/list_7517558_fire-hazards-freon-gas.html

Comment by Todd McKee on June 12, 2012 at 4:34pm

Phosgene

Phosgene (CG) is a toxic gas that was used extensively during the World War I as a chocking agent.  Phosgene is a major industrial chemical used to make plastics and pesticides.

Key Indicators:

• Binary components (e.g., device containing two liquid filed glass jars)
• Container of liquid devices

• Chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, sulfuric acid (battery acid, DEA List II Regulated Chemical), and hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid, DEA II Regulated Chemical)

Production:

It is unlikely that phosgene would be produced by the typical improvised production recipe.

Product:

At room temperature, phosgene is a poisonous gas that may appear colorless or as a white to pal yellow cloud At low concentrations, it has a pleasant odor of newly mowed hay or green corn; but, its odor may strong and unpleasant. 

Picture is a Sulfuric acid Reagent Bottle

Below is a link for PPE

http://safespec.dupont.com/safespec/productHome;jsessionid=3BE145AB...

Comment by Todd McKee on June 11, 2012 at 8:11am

Hey Ron I am Right with you! Thanks a ton!

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