Multiple studies have been conducted across the world and we now know what batteries release during thermal runaway. Between all this data and research, should your team go out and but the latest and greatest shiny object? Maybe, maybe not. We will discuss this and ways to begin to quantify the hazards associated with Li-Ion events and VOC level and limitations we have in the field. We will also briefly discuss some of the discussions that have been occurring for the fire code and community risk reduction in relation to fixed air monitoring capabilities and the community

Based on the widely praised book “Building a Hazmat Team”, this 90 minute session explores what truly makes high-functioning hazardous materials teams successful – and why so many fail. Attendees will examine the foundations of operational culture, leadership accountability, team dynamics, and instructional practices that influence long-term team performance. This session challenges both instructors and team leaders to confront the unspoken barriers that erode skill retention, foster disengagement, and impede team cohesion. Drawing directly from real-world case studies, instructional failures, and successful program models, participants will leave with actionable strategies for building or repairing a hazmat team that lasts.

Using chemicals to commit suicide is still on the rise and responding to help these victims will often pose an immediate risk to the first responders. This is not a course in how to commit suicide but a warning to responders what to watch out for in order to protect you. We will discuss 8 of the most common ways people take this action.

Step into this tag-team training session that fuses practical, boots-on-the-ground hazmat tactics with strategic-level command insight. From the back of the hazmat rig to the front seat of the command vehicle, this session dives into the reality of managing high-risk flammable liquid incidents across railways, bulk storage facilities, LNG yards, and industrial tank farms.

This course challenges the “command and control” mentality, showing why effective hazmat leadership requires vulnerability, adaptability, and the ability to say, “I don’t know”. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to create a culture of trust, resilience, and operational excellence, ensuring that on the most complex calls, they leave with influence, not just authority.

Hold your matches and watch this! A highly interactive demonstration of the physical and chemical properties of flammable liquids and flammable gases! During these sessions, participants will witness flash point, flammable range, vapor pressure, boiling point, and vapor density. Additionally, we will be demonstrating the dynamic tendencies of flammable vapors when they encounter oxygen and ignition sources to create the “Boom” that tends to surprise us if we don’t fully understand the hazards of our response situation!

You’re on scene, and you have to start making quick decisions based on the information you are receiving from the entry team. Or you’re the entry team, and you’re making the decisions based on the numbers you’re receiving. We will review basic monitoring principles as they are applied to the chemical and physical properties using a formulated detection plan.

This class will be focused on awareness while refreshing basic radiation principles, measurements, response, and concerns. There will also be discussion on the different types of instrumentation and when to use them. This class is geared to any person who feels this is an area they are weak in and would like to learn more.

This comprehensive training program is designed to equip participants with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively handle railcar valves and fittings. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the various valves and fitting components, functions, and maintenance procedures.

It is often the small details which can make incidents difficult or challenging. These details can prolong an operation or foil an otherwise straightforward response. In this course we will identify commonly confused information and other simple errors that can have costly consequences.