Many Hazardous Materials incidents involve volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a vast chemical family that is primarily made up of hydrocarbons such as gasoline, alcohols, methane, acetone as well as the BTEX family which include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. Typically, VOCs have a high vapour pressure at ambient temperatures, meaning the liquid gives off vapour that can be readily detected.

The general Hazardous Material spill response procedures include;

• Rescue: Evacuate the spill area. Provide assistance including the use of safety showers and eyewashes. Seek emergency medical assistance once properly decontaminated.
• Confine: Confine the spill area by cutting off access to the spill area. Isolate contaminated persons and do not allow them to leave or spread the contamination. Cover drains to prevent spills from entering the environment.
• Report: Immediately report the spill to the appropriate emergency response office. Provide information on injured staff, type of hazardous material spilled, estimated quantity, and location.
• Secure: Secure the area until emergency response personnel arrive to ensure no one enters the spill area.
• Cleanup: Cleanup must only be conducted by qualified personnel with the appropriate training, protective equipment and cleanup materials.

Can PID Help In A Hazmat Incident?

During contamination, decontamination and remediation, PID sensors can quickly monitor, acquire and log measurements to provide vital information on clean up procedures and later on in post- incident analysis, allowing First Responders to learn from each incident.

The ability of PID to supply accurate measurements in a wide range of diverse situations make it a very powerful tool for First Responders in a Hazardous Materials emergency