Equipment and supply logistics during emergency response.
Source
American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 10-15, 2003, Dallas, Texas. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2003 May; :55
Abstract
Initial provision and continued supply of appropriate materials is paramount to the success of any emergency response effort. This holds true for emergency response activities of the Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch of NIOSH. Our role has typically involved monitoring and protecting the health and safety of responders, as well as supplying specialized sampling and analytical technical experts. Based upon the experience gained during numerous emergency responses, we have concentrated logistics preparation on (1) staging areas, (2) electrical supply, (3) provision of clean water, (4) shipping and receipt of dangerous goods and controlled substances (involved with our environmental sampling and analytical activities), and (5) a reliable source of equipment and supplies in the event of a prolonged response. For on-site staging, a large canvas tent with cooling/heating capability provides a base of operations. High capacity electrical generators provide power for heating/cooling, recharging of equipment, and communications. Water is brought on site and stored in appropriate containers. Shipping containers for hazardous materials have been acquired and pre-cleared for all appropriate shipping regulations. In addition to establishing and continually interacting with contacts at local, regional, and national supply houses, large stock piles of equipment and supplies are maintained at our headquarters. In the near future, our response capability will be augmented with a truck/trailer mobile unit designed for nuclear, biological, and chemical emergency response. By addressing these logistic problems in advance, more effort and efficient actions can be directed to the emergency response efforts.
Keywords
Emergency-response; Emergency-equipment; Emergency-responders; Biological-warfare-agents; Biological-weapons; Chemical-warfare-agents
Source Name
American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 10-15, 2003, Dallas, Texas
