Transcaer Tanker Hazmat Training

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TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a national group of volunteers from the chemical manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and emergency response industries, as well as the government, whose mission is to assist communities on how to prepare for and respond to a hazardous material transportation incident.  Founded in 1986 by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Dow Chemical Company, TRANSCAER has chapters across the United States.

One aspect of TRANSCAER's outreach effort is to train firefighters and HAZMAT first responders how to handle emergency incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials.  TRANSCAER arranges training sessions for first responders, where cargo tanker operators instruct them on topics including what types of foam to use for various chemicals, where shut-off valves are located on the tankers, and how to avoid explosions.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Captain Tricia Pollett says of a recent training event that TRANSCAER hosted at the Cal Trans South Control Yard in San Diego, California, "This is excellent training.  They've invested a lot of time and money in bringing out tools and equipment for us to see, and we're actually interacting and being trained by people who are operating these vehicles, these cargo tanks on a regular basis."

Pollett is a 20-year veteran of San Diego Fire-Rescue, and a 14-year member of the department's HAZMAT team.  Although she has traveled to other cities to obtain HAZMAT training, this is the first time such training has been brought to her city.  She and other firefighters from the area appreciate the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the men and women who work with these hazardous materials chemicals on a daily basis.

Scott Etzel, of the Dow Chemical Company and one of TRANSCAER's California Representatives says, "This is all provided, no charge to the agencies by the shippers and the carriers and the consignees and the chemical distributors across the country." 

Etzel says that fire departments across the United States can arrange to have a free TRANSCAER HAZMAT training class in their area by contacting their state's TRANSCAER representative.  For more information, visit www.transcaer.com.

In 2011, TRANSCAER plans to have an ammonia transportation training tour.  More information on this can also be found on the organization's website.


Author:Deanne Goodman - FDNNTV.com