 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
cjustice
Administrator
back to top
|
Posted: Fri Dec 12th, 2008 04:18 am | 1st Post |
|
On December 19, 2008, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with John Astad and Bob LaPlante on preventing and mitigating fire and explosion from combustible dust. According to OSHA, “any combustible material (and some materials normally considered noncombustible) can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, it can become explosive.
The force from such an explosion can cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. Such incidents have killed scores of employees and injured hundreds over the past few decades.” As an example, “In January 2003, devastating fires and explosions destroyed a North Carolina pharmaceutical plant that manufactured rubber drug-delivery components. Six employees were killed and 38 people, including two firefighters, were injured. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent Federal agency charged with investigating chemical incidents, issued a final report concluding that an accumulation of a combustible polyethylene dust above the suspended ceilings fueled the explosion. The explosion severely damaged the plant and caused minor damage to nearby businesses, a home, and a school.”
Program Date: December 19, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Combustible Dust: The Threat to First Responders
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders
About the Guests
John Astad is Director and Research Analyst of the Combustible Dust Policy Institute. At the Institute, John tracks and researches combustible dust related fires and explosions. The results of this business intelligence data can be utilized by a myriad of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in developing cost effective strategies in assessing risk concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace. John Astad holds a BS Business and Public Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, with a major in Environmental Management.
Bob LaPlante is the General Manager at United Training Specialists (Phoenix, AZ). He has 29 years of power plant experience in Engineering, Fire Protection and Emergency Response Planning. His responsibility have included developing emergency response plans for power generating plants with regards to meeting OSHA, NFPA and DHS regulations and standards; and, developing emergency response power plant training, facility pre-plans, standard operating procedures and fire protection equipment maintenance and training programs for plant Emergency Response Team members. Bob LaPlante is a member of the NFPA, Edison Electric Institute’s Fire Committee, International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and the Arizona Fire Training Association.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, Criminal Justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
|
cjustice
Administrator
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16th, 2008 02:23 am | 2nd Post |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with John Astad and Bob LaPlante on Combustible Dust Hazards that are unknowingly present when emergency responders respond to combustible dust related fires and explosion in the manufacturing, non-manufacturing, utility sectors. In the past, fire-fighter fatalities and injuries have occurred when responding to these incidents. These occurrences could have been prevented if responders understood the hidden and unknown dangers of combustible dust found throughout the diverse multitude of manufacturing facilities.
Currently a situational awareness is lacking nationwide that combustible dust also poses a potential explosive atmosphere in the same light as flammable gases, vapors, and mists. Instead of vapor cloud or BLEVE explosions that occur in the refining sector there are deflagrations and dust explosions in the manufacturing sector. According to OSHA, “any combustible material (and some materials normally considered noncombustible) can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, it can become explosive. The force from such an explosion can cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings.
John Astad is Director and Research Analyst of the Combustible Dust Policy Institute. At the Institute, John tracks and researches combustible dust related fires and explosions seeking effective policy-making solutions on occupational health and safety. As the result of John’s recent work he was a research consultant for the CBS 60 Minutes segment, “Is Enough Done to Stop Explosive Dust” following the catastrophic Imperial Sugar Refinery dust explosion, which the Chemical Safety Board is still investigating. Additionally, John collects business intelligence data utilized by a myriad of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in developing cost effective strategies in assessing risk concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace. John Astad holds a bachelor of science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Business and Public Administration with a major in Environmental Management. Currently John is on the Advisory Committee for the 4th Annual Industrial Fire, Safety, and Security conference (IFSS 2009) where he is also chairperson of the Combustible Dust Hazard Workshop.
|
cjustice
Administrator
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16th, 2008 07:16 am | 3rd Post |
|
We will be discussing:
Combustible Dust Hazards Workshop http://www.ifssexpo.com/conf_track.asp?ID=453#2099
at IFSS Feb 3-6 2009 @ Reliant Center (next to the Astrodome) Houston,Texas. This is special event where emergency responders can learn how to identify and evaluate the risk of combustible dust hazards when responding to future combustible dust related fires and explosions.
|
cjustice
Administrator
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16th, 2008 07:17 am | 4th Post |
|
Combustible dust resources:
Annual Industrial Fire, Safety, and Security Conference (IFSS 2009) Combustible Dust Hazard Workshop Feb. 3-6 2009 Houston, Texas at the Reliant Center (next to the Astrodome) http://www.ifssevent.com
2. Combustible Dust Policy Institute http://www.combustibledust.com
3. Dust Hazard Investigation-Recommendations- CSB http://www.csb.gov
4. OSHA Combustible Dust Hazards http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust
5. Dangers of Combustible Dust-CBS 60 Minutes http://www.cbsnews.com
6. Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion http://savannahnow.com/node/444690
7. Global Malt Explosion-1 Fire-fighter fatality/7 inquires http://www.globalmalt.de/
8. Six Stockton, Ca firefighters slightly hurt in plant explosion http://www.recordnet.com
|
cjustice
Administrator
back to top
|
Posted: Sat Dec 20th, 2008 07:52 pm | 5th Post |
|
Justin Clift's contact email:
jclift@hct-world.com
|
Current time is 01:55 pm | |
|
|
|
|
