Emergency response to a refinery fire, overturned tanker, terrorist alert, or chemical leak must include using atmospheric monitors to protect first responders investigating the incident. Firefighters, hazardous materials (HazMat) teams and law enforcement personnel should follow these ten reminders to safely and efficiently measure and monitor the presence of gases and vapors.
1) A clear understanding of the capabilities and limitations of each detector is critical. Purchasing decisions should consider past and potential response situations to evaluate the types of hazardous atmospheres that may be encountered.