THMG323 - Hazmat Codes Class with Jim Jaracz - Republish

Bob just returned from the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. In this episode, he talks with Jim Jaracz, who was one of his instructors there. You can apply for Jim’s course here.Our hazardous materials training manual, National Emergency Response Hazmat Drills: 50 Drills for Use with Hazardous Materials Personnel, is finally available on Amazon!Complete Show Notes3:00 (Re)introduction to Jim JaraczFrom Northwest Indiana just outside ChicagoSpent 24 years in the fire service – rode the ambulance, engine, and snorkelAlso worked in fire prevention and hazmat compliance – dealing with Tier II forms and local emergency management committeesEnsured everything was regulated properly for the safety of responding firefighters and the publicHas taught at the National Fire Academy for many years5:20 Hazmat Response and Hazmat CodesResponders need to think about what buildings are being used for, what the nature of the occupants are, and what that building could do to bite themYou can find requirements online and make a drill out of it – schools, daycares, big box stores, office buildings, etc.Code experts are responsible for pre-planning – they’re here to protect firefighters, first responders, and occupants8:50 Important Codes and Considerations for Emergency RespondersICC (International Code Council) publishes the fire code, building code, and others that correlate with those twoNFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) also publishes a fire code, building code, and standards that go with ICC and NFPANFPA typically provides the reasoning behind codes, while the ICC is more of the overarching authorityStart by contacting the Fire Prevention Bureau and determining which of these two is enforced in your jurisdictionJim recommends getting involved with this group to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the fire prevention community – diverse array of individuals are members, so you can learn a lotBuilding code tells you how the building was built and what it’s used forFire code is essentially a maintenance code for the building codeICC Chapter 57 contains all of the hazmat codes you need to know – always use your Table of ContentsYou also need to know that codes all have limits, which are called maximum allowable quantities – just means buildings are only permitted to hold so much of a substanceA lot of big cities have their own code systems that need to be followed, along with ICC and NFPA codesBe aware of environmental requirements when responding – will runoff be damaging to vegetation and animals?Think about how the fire would affect the people around the incident – they always need to be in the back of your mindAlways evaluate your community and know what you’re dealing with – especially important to form relationships with business owners25:45 Importance of Code InspectorsBeing in compliance with codes helps you minimize loss of both property and lossBusiness owners think of code inspectors as people who only cause them money, but they play an important and valuable roleEverybody wins when we’re educated and both business owners and code inspectors know what’s going onYou should be part of your neighborhood and business community – it’s called a “firehouse” for a reasonIf the department is doing it right, there really shouldn’t be any fines34:05 Contacting JimEmail: Jim JaraczHave a question? Send an email to [email protected] or leave a message on our Haz Mat Guys comment hotline: 843-628-1484Show SponsorsRigaku AnalyticalHazsim Training SystemsFlir PrimedFirst Line TechnologyRelated EpisodesTHMG066 – Hazmat Codes with Jim JaraczTHMG049 – Laws and the Hazmat Tech, Part ITHMG050 – Laws and the Hazmat Tech, Part II