Photo By Cpl. Claudio Martinez | Two station personnel discuss how to approach a chemically-contaminated site after...... read more read more
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IWAKUNI, Japan - Marines, sailors and local contractors participated in an Introduction to Hazardous Response course hosted by the Station Environmental Division in Building 411 from May 16 to 27.
HazTrain, a business which provides its clients with environmental health and safety training courses, was brought in to lead the class. The course trained the participating personnel on the basics involved in responding to a local chemical disaster.
“This benefits the station because it now has a cadre of people that can be called upon to assist in any kind of hazmat operation,” said Steven Wood, lead course instructor. The personnel who have received the training are now capable of working with dangerous chemicals because they have the basic knowledge and certification needed, he added.
Twenty-seven station personnel participated in the 40-hour course.
The course involved nearly three days of classroom training, which educated the participating personnel on some of the hazards associated with dangerous chemicals. They also learned the compound structure of certain chemicals and how to identify the environments those chemicals might thrive in.
Wood said although the course provided the participants with only a basic knowledge in hazardous material, they now have a solid foundation to build on with additional training.
During the final stage of the course, the participating station personnel were trained on how to suit up in chemically protective suits and learned how to use self-contained breathing apparatuses. They also learned how to set up a decontamination site and team.
“They’ve gotten a lot more in depth knowledge and more skills and abilities when it comes to dealing with chemical spills,” said Chuck R. Hill, a station Environmental Division protection specialist. “Besides just cleaning up a petroleum oil spill, they can actually suit up with the appropriate protective equipment and go and clean up the spill.”
The course participants were faced with two scenarios toward the end of the course, which tested the knowledge they gained during the training.
“This training really benefits the station because we now have more assets,” said Hill. “The station’s [emergency command center] can actually pull those assets, if need be, to help with an emergency situation.”
During the first scenario, the course participants were faced with responding to a strong acid, which bursted free from a pipe.They were faced with containing the spill while responding to a situation where the acid burned through one of the participant’s protective suit.
During the second scenario, the participants needed to react to a situation in a warehouse where several unknown chemicals escaped free from their containment. They were tasked with identifying the chemicals and containing them before they interacted with each other.
The course participants were donned from head to toe in fully encapsulated chemically resistant hazardous material protective suits throughout the scenarios. Several of the participants found there were many obstacles to overcome in just wearing the suits. The participants found the rise in body temperature, communication, movement, and vision were hindered as soon as they wore the suits.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Farmer, a station fuels dispatch aviation boatswain’s mate, participated in the 40-hour course.
“Breathing through the SCBAs was one of the biggest challenges,” said Farmer. “I made it through, and I actually had a good time doing it.”
Farmer previously received hazardous material training while serving in his last duty station.
“I was a Hazmat representative at my last command and this course opened me up to a whole new level of knowledge I didn’t know before,” said Farmer. “With this being a basic level entry course, it really made me realize that there was a whole lot more that I can learn. I really enjoyed doing this course.”
This is the first time HazTrain has been brought here to teach this course. HazTrain has provided training in environmental health and safety since 1983.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2011 01:35 |
| Story ID: | 71457 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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