Classifying Unknown Chemicals Made Safer and Easier!
Developed, piloted and refined over four years with the help of hazardous waste remediation and disposal professionals and Fire Department HAZ MAT Teams.
Haz Mat Technicians, Hazardous Waste Site Workers and Homeland Security Professionals all face the daunting task of attemtpting to identify and categorize unknown substances to ensure public and worker protection, safe emergency response, handling and storage and ultimately-proper disposal.
The HAZMatch® System was designed by HAZ MAT Response and Hazardous Waste Management professionals with over 35 years of experience in the field.
The HAZMatch® System is designed to aid in the classification of hazardous materials and hazardous wastes in a simplified and safe manner that minimizes contact with hazardous reagents during the testing procedures. This:
Minimizes contact with hazardous testing reagents that pose a risk to personnel
Keeps to a minimum the hazardous substances that must be included in the employer's Hazard Communication Program and stored in the workplace
Eliminates much of the disposal burden for outdated testing reagents
Eliminates the need for peridic reagent testing to ensure functionality
Keeps to an absolute minimum, the time personnel must handle potentially lethal substances
Clear and concise, step-by-step instructions with guidance to assist you with critical decisons and to provide support as you apply testing results.
The series of tests contained in this kit are intended to aid in the characterization of unknown chemicals and potentially hazardous substances.They are not intended to identify specific hazardous substances.These tests will help the individual responsible for the proper handling and disposal of unknown and potentially hazardous substances by identifying characteristics that must be factored in determining proper handling, storage and ultimately disposal decisions.While other types of hazard categorization systems may enable the user to more accurately identify a particular chemical family or even a specific hazardous substance, it is often not necessary to do so and may prolong exposure to and contact with hazardous substances.It is assumed by the creators of this testing system that users will consists largely of hazardous material emergency responders and hazardous waste site workers who may encounter unknown hazardous substances and who may need to determine hazardous characteristics so that decisions regarding movement or removal, temporary storage while awaiting disposal and EPA hazardous waste classifications can be made.This series of tests will focus on general hazard categories and hazardous characteristics such as flammability, water reactivity, corrosivity, poison families, oxidizers and peroxides.The advantage to this system of unknowns testing lies in its brevity-allowing the user to quickly determine key information, and the minimum number of hazardous substances utilized in testing procedures.The creators of this testing system feel that little is gained with regard to safety if unknowns testing results in the introduction of large numbers of exceptionally hazardous chemicals into the workplace. Introducing large numbers of hazardous substances in kits such as this adds burdensome responsibilities to the employer and complicates their safety and hazard communication program
Becky Wehrman-past research chemist, creator and past manager of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Household Hazardous Waste Program, creator of the Rehab the Lab Program, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, fire fighter, hazardous waste specialist with Metro Waste Authority
Becky Wehrman is a hazardous waste specialist with Metro Waste Authority in Central Iowa, with degrees in chemistry and biology with graduate work in chemistry, biology and genetics. She worked as a research chemist for DuPont and served with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, creating and managing a network of household hazardous waste collection facilities. At Metro Waste Authority she created the Rehab the Lab Program designed to remove and dispose of outdated and frequently, extremely hazardous chemicals at dozens of educational facilitites. To date over 205,000 pounds of hazardous wastes-including explosives, radioactives and extremely toxic substances have been removed from schools under the program. Becky has been recognized for her work by the Iowa Governor's Office and EPA. EPA is currently adopting the Rehab the Lab program Becky created. She also serves as a fire fighter with the Bondurant Fire Department.
President of EHS Resource Group LLC, Matt Woody has over twenty years’ experience in the chemical safety field.He founded the regional hazardous materials response program in Des Moines, Iowa in 1983 and has been involved in handling hundreds of chemical emergencies.He has worked extensively with the design community, assisting with the design of numerous chemical storage, manufacturing and handling facilities.A dedicated proponent of planning and preparedness, Matt has worked extensively with local emergency planners and LEPCs.As an accomplished writer, he has authored instructional materials used by the National Fire Protection Association, state universities, International Association of Fire Fighters, Federal Emergency Management Agency and has written a number of other texts.
Matt is an accomplished instructor, drawing from his personal experience at hundreds of hazardous material emeergencies and environmental crimes and has trained thousands of HAZWOPER professionals.
Matt Woody-25-year HAZ MAT Technician, 22 years with the Des Moines Fire Department and 17 years as Hazardous Materials Coordinator, owner of EHS Resource Group, certified FEMA, National Fire Academy and Domestic Preparedness instructor
We can provide training for your personnel on the HAZMatch® System at your site or in our classroom.
Contact us by phone at 515-987-5929 or e-mail us using the form below. Let us know how we can help.
