Hazardous Materials Training
DAVID F. PETERSON
David is a 21-year veteran firefighter who is currently a lieutenant with the
Madison, Wisconsin, Fire Department where previously he was the Hazmat
Training Coordinator for the Level A Regional Response Team. He is a
certified hazmat IAFF Master Trainer who has trained over 40 private and
public hazmat response teams and several thousand first responders. He is a
National Fire Academy instructor, an Emergency Management Institute
presenter, and a FDIC presenter. He has authored numerous articles for fire
service periodicals, newsletters, and websites and is the founder and past
president of the Wisconsin Association of Hazardous Materials Responders,
Inc. David can be contacted at hazmatpetie@aol.com
|
|
|
• August 2002
Dealing with the Risk of Emergency Response
Recently the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that the rate at which firefighters are
killed inside structure fires has not changed over the last 20 years.
• July 2002
What Exposure Guidelines Are You Using?
For years hazardous materials responders have accessed exposure guidelines designed for industrial
settings as their benchmarks for when to evacuate exposed people or for setting up hazard zones.
• June 2002
Beating The Heat
"Two Firefighters Succumb to Heat" were the headlines of a newspaper article the day after a chemical
spill at a loading dock. The firefighters were entry team partners of mine from our hazardous material
response team when we responded to a spill of formalin.
• May 2002
The Fine Art of Neutralization
Next to flammable liquid releases, hazmat responders will handle corrosive spills most frequently.
Consequently, it behooves responders to know such things about corrosives as the pH scale and safe
and efficient forms of product control.
• April 2002
HazMat Response; Avoiding the Chicken Little Syndrome
The Chicken Little Syndrome can be observed at many hazardous materials incidents across the country.
It is hard to blame those who employ the practice as they are merely products of their training
but there is a better way!
• March 2002
HazMat Math; Calculating Vapor Concentrations
Previously, this column discussed utilizing a math concept to calculate vapor densities of gases
and vapors. Calculating vapor density can enhance first responder safety because of a more precise
idea of where the gases and vapors may be found at an incident.
• February 2002
Leadership Equates to Success
A new century has dawned and at first light it has revealed itself to be a very dynamic
one, especially for hazardous materials response. Many changes are on the horizon for
hazmat programs and the way we respond to these emergencies.
• January 2002
• December 2001
• November 2001
• October 2001
• September 2001
Hazardous Materials Safety
Since 1970 more than 50 responders have been killed while responding to
hazmat incidents according to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
• August 2001
Clandestine Drug Labs
Clandestine drug laboratories are not a new hazard to the response
community but their numbers are growing at an alarming rate.
| 
