Fireground Contaminant Exposure

Presented by: Dr. Jamie McAllister, Darl McBride

Room 206

The seminar will present the results of a FEMA-funded study conducted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) and the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland (UMD). Attendees will learn about requirements for contaminant exposure control set forth in various NFPA standards, as well as, recommended industry best practices. The research study included a regional and national survey of contaminant exposure control programs and a regional workshop to discuss successes and challenges faced by Health and Safety Officers (HSO) related to the development, implementation, and management of program policies.

Attendees will learn about the current approaches being used by fire departments regionally and
throughout the US. Action items intended to address challenges faced by HSOs were also developed during the
regional workshop. These action items will be presented and discussed during the seminar.

The following are seminar learning objectives:

(1) Identify requirements for contaminant exposure control as set forth in NFPA 1500 and other relevant NFPA standards
(2) Identify recommended industry best practices for contaminant exposure control
(3) Identify current approaches utilized by fire departments in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region and throughout the US (4) Identify challenges faces by HSOs in development, implementation, and management of contaminant exposure control policies and remedial measures to address these challenges.