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Hazardous materials

First practical training of the Hazmat commission of CTIF

During the 2016 meeting in Croatia, the Hazardous commission decided to organize common practical trainings.

The first one took place, the last 1st and 2nd march 2017, in the French Mulhouse fire station and was managed by the Radiological unit of Upper Rhine Fire Department.

Hazardous Materials Commission 48th meeting Athens, Greece

Date: 
Wednesday, 23. November 2016 (All day) to Saturday, 26. November 2016 (All day)
Location: 
Athenes, Greece

Dear Representative!

On behalf of the Greece Association, we hereby formally invite you to the 48th CTIF Hazardous Materials Commission meeting.

The meeting will take place from 23rd - 26th November 2016 in Athens, Greece.

We will discuss the standard items of the commission (lessons learned and national reports) and also the products of the working groups.

The following topics from our last meetings will be also taken up by us in Athens.

  • UN Dangerous Goods regulation, future steps and needs
  • Tactics with gas cylinders, i.e. Acetylene
  • Response to LNG incidents
  • EU project cooperations
  • Ban on fluorinated foams
  • HERCA - WENRA cooperation
  • Telematics, future development, electronic paper
  • Education and training courses for hazmat and CBRN,...

The organizers will put together a very interesting study program including visits with the local authorities in order to take advantage of our time in Athens.

A definitive proposal of schedule is being worked on and will be forthcoming.

Best regards and a nice summer!

Roman Sykora
Chairman

Katerina Sfyri
Organisation Fall Meeting

CTIF HazMat Commission Meeting in Trogir/Croatia

Date: 
Wednesday, 30. March 2016 (All day) to Sunday, 3. April 2016 (All day)
Location: 
Trogir, Croatia

Preliminary Program

 

Wednesday March 30th 2016

  • Arrivals (by plain at airport Split, you will be fetched by fire-fighters to the hotel)

  • 20.00-22.00 Welcome drink and dinner at hotel Palace (http://www.hotel-palace.net/)

Thursday, March 31st 2016

  • 09.00-13.00 First part of the meeting in hotel Palace

  • 13.00-14.00 Lunch at the hotel

  • 14.00-17.00 Second part of the meeting in hotel Palace

  • 17.00-20.00 Free time

  • 20.00-22.30 Dinner at the hotel

Partners program:

  • 09.00-12.30 Visit of Split and surroundings

  • 13.00-14.00 Lunch in hotel Palace

Friday, April 1st 2016

  • 08.30 Departure infront of the hotel to shipyard Trogir

  • 09.00-11.00 Visit of shipyard Trogir

  • 11.30-13.00 Third part of the meeting

  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch in hotel Palace

  • 13.00-17.00 Fourth part of the meeting

  • 18.00-20.00 Visit of volunteer fire-brigade Trogir (if time)

  • 20.30-22.30 Dinner in hotel Palace

Partners program:

  • 11.30-13.00 Visit of old town Trogir in own arrangement

  • 18.00-20.00 Visit of volunteer fire-brigade Trogir (if time)

Saturday, April 2nd 2016

  • 09.00-12.00 Fifth part of the meeting in hotel Palace

  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch at the hotel

  • 13.00-15.00 Sixth part of the meeting

  • 17.00-23.00 Excursion-dinner with local and national fire-fighters in restaurant Radešić (50 km away)

Partners program:

  • 9.00-12.00 Sightseeing of Trogir in own arrangement

  • 17.00-23.00 Excursion with commission members

Sunday, April 3rd 2016

  • Departures

Price in hotel Palace, Trogir (5 km away from the airport Split): in single-room 100 EUR per night (includes full program); double-room for 2 persons 140 EUR per night (includes full program)

Zagreb, 16.10.2015

Mario Starčević

 

 

Hazardous materials commission 46th meeting

Date: 
Thursday, 10. September 2015 (All day) to Saturday, 12. September 2015 (All day)
Location: 
Warsaw, Poland

To all representatives of the CTIF Hazardous Materials Commission

Dear Representative!

On behalf of the Polish Association, we hereby formally invite you to the 46 th CTIF Hazardous Materials Commission meeting. The meeting will take place from 10 th - 12 th September 2015 in Warsaw, Poland.
We will discuss the standard items of the commission (lessons learned and national reports) and also the products of the working groups.

The following topics from our last meetings will be also taken up by us in Warsaw:

  • Response to LNG incidents
  • Review of Ebola paper and the ammonium nitrate guideline for first responders
  • Collection of rules of thumb regarding Hazmat / CBRN
  • Flammable liquids in stores
  • EU project cooperations
  • Ban on fluorinated foams
  • HERCA - WENRA cooperation
  • Telematics, future development, electronic paper
  • Education and training courses for hazmat and CBRN

The organizers will put together a very interesting study program including several visits with the local authorities in order to take advantage of our time in Warsaw. A definitive proposal of schedule is being worked on and will be forthcoming.
Mr. Zdzisław Salamonowicz, our host and delegate from Poland, will send you as soon as possible the information you need to make your reservations. The program is looking very interesting and we are looking forward to see all of you in Poland.

Best regards and a nice summer!

Roman Sykora
Chairman

Zdzisław Salamonowicz
Organisation Fall Meeting

Hazardous materials commission 45th meeting

Date: 
Wednesday, 20. May 2015 (All day) to Sunday, 24. May 2015 (All day)
Location: 
Kotka, Finland

CSB Recommends Safety Improvements to U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook Widely Used by Firefighters

Washington, DC, October 8, 2014—The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is recommending critical safety improvements to the widely-used Emergency Response Guidebook published by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for emergency responders to use when confronting chemical fires, explosions and releases of hazardous materials. 
 
The CSB noted that while the manual is provided for responders to use in transportation incidents, CSB investigators have found over the years that the guidebook is often used by emergency responders – firefighters, medical technicians and police officers -- dealing with chemical accidents at fixed facilities.  However, the CSB found some of the directions given in the manual are vague.  The CSB document specifically cited guidebook changes needed for handling ammonium nitrate fires such as the one that led to a massive explosion at a fertilizer storage facility in West, Texas last year.  
 
The CSB recommendations are contained in a seven-page response to a formal Request for Information (RFI) the transportation department issued as it seeks comment on a proposed revision issued on August 29, 2014, an edition scheduled for public release in 2016. The current guidebook was released in 2012.  The guidebook – jointly produced with Canada and Mexico and in use in those countries as well –  is used across the country by emergency responders who can quickly look up correct responses to a myriad of chemical accidents.  The department’s website states that “DOT's goal is to place an ERG in every emergency service vehicle nationwide.”
 
CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said, “We have respectfully submitted our comments to the DOT, based on years of our incident investigations, which show that responders are often not aware that this important manual is intended only for responding to chemical releases or fire incidents in transportation accidents, such as railroad tankers or truck-hauled containers, and not fixed facilities.  Directions on how to respond to incidents at fixed chemical or manufacturing facilities may be much different.”
 
The CSB proposed that the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) place a cautionary note at the front of the manual – rather than on page 356 where it is now – to read, in capital letters, “Only intended for use when responding to transportation incidents.”   
 
CSB Investigation Team Lead Johnnie Banks noted, “The CSB recommended the ERG include additional guidance on where responders can find chemical hazard information in responding to incidents at fixed facilities, such as Material Safety Data Sheets or EPA-required ‘Tier 2’ information which specifies the chemicals on hand at facilities. We feel responders need to know where to go for data quickly in the heat of battle.” 
 
The CSB found what investigators called “vague or poorly defined terms” in the proposed new guidelines.  Where firefighters are told, for instance, to “fight fire from maximum distance,” the CSB recommended DOT specify the distance so firefighters are not left to guess what “maximum” means.  
 
The CSB noted the catastrophic explosion at West Fertilizer resulted in 15 fatalities and over 250 injuries, and that twelve first responders perished which fighting the blaze when the storage facility exploded.  The CSB reviewed the DOT guidance in the ERG for ammonium nitrate fertilizer, classified as an oxidizer. Within Guide 140 for a large fire, the guidance states “Flood fire with water from a distance.”  In the case of an ammonium nitrate fire similar to West Fertilizer, the CSB response to DOT notes that “flooding the fire with water from an undefined distance could result in serious injuries or fatalities if the ammonium nitrate detonated.” 
 
The CSB RFI response addresses in detail the need for additional language in DOT guidance regarding ammonium nitrate fertilizer to consider its “unpredictable and explosive nature” and the “potential for detonation within a very short time frame.” 
 
The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
 
The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.
 
For more information, email CSB public affairs public@csb.gov, or call Sandy Gilmour, Public Affairs, cell 202-251-5496.

source: http://www.csb.gov/csb-recommends-safety-improvements-to-us-department-o...