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Discussion Forum

Fire Dept Hazmat Team Needs Suggestion

DonStephan | Posted in General Discussion on August 14, 2002 04:12am

Our community fire dept participated yesterday in a county “weapons of mass destruction” drill. Area Hazmat team was at our site to handle simulated toxic substance. As part of decontamination we wash them off in small swimming pools to catch the water. Procedure calls for plastic on ground in the area to catch any spashing. Hazmat team brought very heavy plastic sheeting (12 mil?) which was EXTREMELY slippery both against their boots and against the blacktop underneath. They are fully encapsulated in rubber suits, with 30 pounds of self contained breathing apparatus on their backs, very hot and tired when coming out, and don’t need to worry about falling.

Would like to forward them suggestion(s) for a sheet membrane to replace their slippery plastic. Needs to light enough to load and unload from their truck and carry, water proof, puncture resistant, about 15′ x 15′, and of course affordable. Thought of shower pan membrane but remember it as VERY pricey. Thought of typical roofing membrane but have concerns about its weight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and have a good week. Don

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  1. Catskinner | Aug 14, 2002 04:23am | #1

    How about pond liner?

    It's pretty tough, not terribly expensive, easy to wash down, relatively non-slip, and when they're all done you could still make some ponds and get the money back out of it.

    Alternately, how about a large plastic tarp?

    DRC

    1. MisterT | Aug 14, 2002 02:28pm | #2

      a 15 x 15 piece of rubber roof wil not be to heavy especially with all you burly strapping Firefighters around.

      It still might be slipperry when you get any kind of caustic or oily chemicals on it.

      or put a 15 x 15 painters drop cloth on top

      better yet get a 20 x 20 drop cloth and fold the excess underneath.

      We will all be saluting you and your brothers and sisters on 9/11

      Thanks for what you all do!!!!

      Mr TDo not try this at home!

      I am a trained professional!

      1. brownbagg | Aug 14, 2002 02:35pm | #3

        since in real life you be using a disposal 6 mil plastic, why not just use s 6 mil plastic.

        1. DonStephan | Aug 14, 2002 06:36pm | #4

          Plastic is what's often used, because of its low cost. But it is extremely slippery surface even before it gets wet. It's just not a good choice. The hazmat people are special, and would like to take care of them as best we can. Would feel terrible if one of them lost footing on the plastic and was injured or even worse exposed

      2. DonStephan | Aug 14, 2002 06:48pm | #5

        Thanks for the kind comments, but I joined our small community fire department about 15 years ago out of a wish to be able to help neighbors in times of need and certainly not for recognition. I'm not a hero and not deserving special recognition, and certainly not in the same class as some of the surrounding fire departments who truly risk life and limb week in and week out. We average one house fire a year and mainly respond to false fire alarm drops and squad runs of all kinds. It can require heavy physical exertion at times, and of course sometimes lost sleep, but is very rewarding, interesting, and challenging mentally as well as physically. Departments around the country are having increasing difficulty recruiting members of the community with today's ever increasing demands on personal time. Have a good week and I'll join you next month in honoring those who lost their lives and those who haven't but risk life and limb for us.

  2. vasalesman | Aug 14, 2002 07:32pm | #6

    I suggest they contact the Fairfax County (VA) Urban Search & Rescue Team, http://www.vatf1.org.  They are widely considered the finest disaster response team in the world and would be an excellent source of info for your local department on the sheeting question, and probably much more.  Check out their site and see some of the work this group has done.  It's pretty inspiring.

    Al

  3. geob21 | Aug 14, 2002 11:22pm | #7

    Why not continue to use the poly and get carpet scraps to walk on it to the pool? You need about a 1' x 5' piece of carpet for each call.  I'm sure with a few phone calls you'd get more carpet then you can use in a year. When your done dump it with the rest of waste. 

    1. DonStephan | Aug 14, 2002 11:26pm | #8

      Thanks for the thoughts and input. As to the carpet idea, brilliant. Wish I could remember to think outside the box more often. A thicker membrane would be ideal, but probably cost and weight will be obstacles. I'll visit the mentioned web site, and forward all the ideas and suggestions to a member of the county hazmat team.

      1. brownbagg | Aug 15, 2002 02:57am | #9

        In real life you are going to have to use plastic (6 mil) in order to keep site clean, to dispose of. So you train all year on carpet, first time in real life not being use to the slippy plastic you fall while carrying somebody, both hurt. I just think you train with real equipment so when the real accident happen it will be real. Or should our military train with plastic bullets pretending to kill enemy.

        training needs to be as close to the real thing as possible, the small incidents that you are not ready for is what hurt real life.

  4. OneofmanyBobs | Aug 15, 2002 03:05am | #10

    There is a variety of painter's disposable drop

    cloth that has paper bonded to one side. Made

    specifically because poly is so slippery, and

    to catch spills better. Not very thick, though

    If I were a firefighter, I wouldn't want to scrimp

    on something that could put me at risk. I'd

    experiment with using a tarp as a ground cloth

    and then unrolling rubber carpet runner on top for

    a traction surface. The runner is not too expensive,

    comes in rolls that would be easy to deploy, and

    could be washable if needed. The runner comes in

    2 foot by 50 foot rolls I think. You can also get

    3-M traction tape. Looks like sandpaper with a sticky

    back. Could stick that on the tarp, but it would be

    heavy and expensive compared to the runner.

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