Hazmat Team Communications

[corkscrewFD]

Hazmat Tech Team looking for what is out there for ways to communicate from suit to suit and then from team to ops chief.
We are looking at Scott's accessories to add onto our SCBA masks, but want
to hear what people out in the field are using, likes, dislikes, etc. Currently,
we are using just basic Vertex radios to talk to ops chief, and screaming really loud?? to talk to the other suit. Please help us out, as I am sure there is plenty of options besides Scott out there. Thanks and be safe!!!

[mdcook]

On my haz mat team we use two types of radios for on scene communication.
The first type are regular UHF portables rigged with the large push to talk button. This is for the entry team, back up team, decon officer, safety officer, research tech and team leader. Our entry people are using Scott SCBA with the voice amp on the mask and are the only ones with the PTT buttons on their radios. Yes, every entry person gets a radio so we on the outside can monitor what they are saying to each other, too.
Our second radio system are the off the shelf walk about radios that the general public can get. These are used by our support people and by some of the others previously mentioned. As the Technical Officer on our team, I will have both radios with me.
The use of two radio systems keeps the entry team's radio traffic down to a minimum so we can keep good comm with them. The entry team doesn't need to hear all the other chatter when they are trying to concentrate inside a suit.

[jbrescue]

We use the Scott HazCom system and love it. Used to have thear buds and they always fell out.

[corkscrewFD]

We use the Scott HazCom system and love it. Used to have thear buds and they always fell out.

That is what we are probably leaning towards, but the salesman said that they have had a lot of problems and are coming out with a blue tooth version. What I like about the HazCom by scott is you and the other member in the entry team can talk, then hit the button and talk to the ops chief.
Have you experienced any problems besides ear buds falling out?
Thank you for your input!!!

[jbrescue]

The ear buds were a pain in the rear end. The Hazcom has worked flawlessly for us. We attached radio holsters to all of our entry SCBA to hold the radio. I would stay away from blue tooth, hard wired, intrinsically safe is a safe and good choice.

[GTRider245]

Not sure what the system is called, but we use the Scott radiocomm with the large push button on the harness. Big enough tp push from the outside of the suit.

[jbrescue]

Thats the same system. When we started using it, the other teams were jealous.