CSA, CGSB Develop Standard for First Responder CBRN Protection
April 17, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
| |
| IHS Sells Standards & Regulations |
Environment/Health/Safety solutions from IHS include current & historical codes, regs & standards from gov't, int'l & industry sources.
Complete this form for a free quote. |
|
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) developed the first national standard for fire, police and paramedic service protective equipment in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) incident.
"Canada's fire, police and EMS (emergency medical service) services are the first on the scene in 90% of emergencies and not all have the minimal level of protective equipment necessary in the event of a deliberate or accidental CBRN incident," said John Walter, vice-president of standards development at CSA.
Experts said there are only limited protective equipment standards specific to CBRN incidents today. Most first-responders in Canada have hazardous material (HazMat) or dangerous goods (DG) standards to guide them in responding to a CBRN incident.
With this project, however, first responders will have, for the first time, a national standard recognized across jurisdictions to protect them in their work.
The new standard will assist first-responder organizations in the selection, use, capabilities and limitations of CBRN personal protective equipment (PPE), enabling them to do their jobs more safely and with greater protection and functionality.
According to CSA, the standard will identify requirements for protective CBRN equipment, such as respiratory protection and whole body protection. It will also address and provide valuable guidance on key issues, such as interchanging and interoperating equipment, thus enhancing the capacity of first responders to work effectively across jurisdictions.
New guidelines will also address the differences between a conventional hazardous material incident and a deliberate CBRN incident in order to understand how equipment guidelines may differ.
Source: Canadian Standards Association (CSA).