Hazardous materials training: supporting the emergency services
Challenge
The use of chemicals and dangerous goods is part of our everyday lives: from established industrial chemicals to sustainable technologies, chemical substances are integral to humanity’s way of life. But when calamity strikes, and when public safety is at risk, it is the duty of all Category 1 Response Organisations to protect life from the front line of emergencies.
Responsible for responding to life-threatening chemical incidents with little or no chemical response knowledge, the UK Fire and Rescue Services required a theoretical and practical understanding of how to respond safely and effectively – to protect people, the environment and property.
Solution
Communication is key. The courses and training methodologies provided are based on real-life risks and challenges that the emergency services face today. Utilising our active Chemsafe emergency service telephone advice line – a service that keeps people safe by advising the best course of action in chemical incidents – allows us to stay informed of emerging or recurring issues which we translate into classroom-based learning, table-top, role-play, and practical exercises with live chemical agents. Case study and peer-to-peer learning also effectively communicate the behaviours of dangerous substances and what to expect.
With courses ranging from a few days to three weeks, with or without the inclusion of eLearning and distance learning tuition, we can deliver what matters most to our learners. With the breadth of our expertise providing knowledge from almost all response situations, combined with the diverse technical backgrounds of the team, enables us to communicate realistic expectations when it comes to responding to hazardous materials and bring the subject to life.
“The mix of theory and practical sessions. The extensive knowledge and teaching ability of the instructors.”
Benefit
The courses that we offer have direct implications and impact not just for our learners, but through how an entire emergency service team respond to incidents. Some of the qualifications learners achieve are built into their organisation’s competency frameworks, serving as irreplaceable functions within their respective service.
Our courses enable incident commanders and tactical advisors, with the necessary decision making tools and the practical experience that provides the confidence to make those decisions within operational, tactical and strategic settings.
“The lab demonstrations, wet chemistry, and all the practical/tabletop scenarios”.
After attending our courses learners not only are able to assess and respond safely and effectively to incidents involving hazardous materials, but they also gain insight into the world of dangerous goods and the courses set them on a path of discovery, helping them look forward to acquiring valuable experience. Learners know that with the continued development of a sustainable world, new innovations will present additional challenges in the future. We integrate students closely into the Chemical Risk family, encouraging them to engage with our annual events, such as the Hazardous Materials Practitioner’s forum, our Hazmat Conference and the monthly newsletters and national incident trend updates to ensure they stay prepared, to stay safe.
Ricardo's capabilities
The Ricardo Chemical and Response Training (CRT) team have over 250 years of experience working with and training frontline emergency responders. Borne from the 50-year pedigree of supporting the emergency services with chemical safety advice in the form of the National Chemical Emergency Centre, CRT instructors know what it takes to teach first responders how to be safe and confident when attending incidents involving hazardous materials.
Ricardo’s CRT employs safe and effective training methodologies to ensure the impact of hazardous materials and chemical substances is understood and respected, both in the classroom, and through practical exercising. From illicit laboratories to major chemical spills, waste fires to alternative fuels, the focus is always on protecting responder personnel, members of the public and the environment.