SAFER Meeting Minutes
April 19, 2019
SAFER Board Attendees: President Quinn, Past President Gurrola, Seely, VP Weise, Wilkerson, Szczepanek , Communications / Social Media Liaison Rabe
Capstone Infrastructure Protection Services
2240 Auto Park Way, Escondido CA 92029
B/C Kelly Sisson
ksisson@capstonefire.com , (619) 742-5573
0940 Meeting called to order – President Quinn opened the meeting and related the meeting agenda and introduced B/C Kelly Sisson who welcomed the attendees and provided location information. He related he hopes to make Capstone a regular SAFER participant / member and led the pledge of allegiance. Introduced the CEO of Capstone Infrastructure Protection Services. He related the various responsibilities and business services they offer to industry and utilities in the areas of fire-life safety, industrial safety and perimeter protection. They key on insurance support strategies such as site survey’s and fire prevention, follow-on / mop up measures in the wildland fire scenario.
Chief Quinn related the dues we pay in support the organization.
Thanks Capstone for the morning hospitality.
Committee Reports:
NFPA – Dick Weise – No report available at this time.
CalOSHA – Scott Hudson :
Dept of Industrial relations (DIR): is moving ahead with an Emergency Smoke Standard. This is for non-first responders.
Monthly Cal/OSHA “advisory meeting’s” has now ended.
New Standard – Night work elimination standard.
Note – Valley Fever – Both a standard and endorsed by governor.
Working on an “Indoor Hazards” standard. (Includes high temperature locations – not incident specific locations but does cover apparatus bays and training venues.
Workplace violence issue is another current “hot Button” topic.
Apparatus – Rob – No report this month
Safety and Training- No specific committee report.
Technology – See Website, Facebook, twitter, linkedin
Treasurer – Given by B/C Guinn for Tony Duran – Reminder to please pay your annual dues!
Communications – Tracy / Tony:
Vendor Liaison – Gabe for Joe,
*FDIC is at the end of April 27, 28 & 29 in Indianapolis.
Program: Gas Detection Fundamentals for Fire and Emergency Response
David Molinatti – Industrial Scientific
Introduced his background and several experiences he had:
Volunteer Fire Dept.
Chimney Fire
Introduced the program agenda:
Gas Related Causes of Death
Rules to Live By
The Gas Monitor
Oxygen and Oxygen Sensor
Combustibles / LEL Sensors
#1 cause of “monitor failure” is not trusting the metering unit
Rules to Live By
Bump Test Monitor – How Often? Why?
Every week: connect to docking station
Before each use
“Peak Screen” – saves highest reading on screen until cleared before next sampling.
Use monitors per manufactures recommendations to comply with CalOSHA and recognized national standards
Electromechancal Sensors for toxic gases is like batteries- in the presence of a target gas they will react and “wear out” more quickly.
Sensor Response Time : (T90 factor) Certain sensors
LEL Sensor Options
Catalytic Bead LEL Sensor – Detection of all LEL’s. Disadvantage: High power usage. Sensor will be damaged by “silicones” like Amoral like products – calibrate if exposed
Infrared (IR) Sensors detect combustible gases and are immune to poisons (ie silicon based lubricants). Can detect combustibles in an inert environment. Disadvantages: effected by temperatures and humities.
PID (Photoionization Detection: Detects Hydrocarbons and some inorganic vapors.
Calibrate: According to manufacturers recommended procedures – may be diffent fo
Effects of Oxygen :
23.5 % Maximum Safe Level (OSHA)
21.0% O2 content in air (20-954%)
19.5% Minimum allowable safe
1% of Oxygen = 10,000 ppm of other gases, Oxygen = 1/5 of air
1% displacement of
43% of all deaths are oxygen diffiecency related.
#1 sensor that fails is oxygen sensor – because it’s always being exposed to its target gas (Oxygen) even when the monitor is turned off
Combustible gas LELs:
Methane 5% by volume
Propane 2.1 %
Pentane (gasoline) 1.45
Butane 1.95
CALIBRATE WITH PENTANE:
A methane calibrated sensor “under estimates” the hazard – a pentane calibrated sensor will “overestimate” the hazard
Carbon Monoxide:
Flamable at 12.5% vol= 125,000ppm
CalOSHA 25 ppm TWA, 200 ppm stel
200-400 headaches, dizziness, nausea
800-1600 death within 1-2 hours
At LEL-death in 1-3 minutes
Blood has affinity for CO 200x that of O2
Hydrogen Sulfide:
0.13 ppm can detect odor of H2S
10 ppm – eye irritation
100 ppm – loss of sence of smell in 2 minutes
300 ppm – IDLH
Can Hide in “black puddles”
Inhibits cell respiration , shuts down your lungs
Hydrogen Cyanide (overhaul)
Colorless to pale blue liquid or gas
Extremely dangerous due to its toxic
Confined Space Entry – 2x2 Rule
**Show Phoenix FD Video (on internet) on CO2 hazards
Remote Sampling:
Fault check pump and sample line prior to drawing sample
Sample top middle and bottom of the space PRIOR to entry
New Capabilities in Gas Detection:
Man Down and panic button
Peer tp Peer Wireless Communication
Ability to identify if data for gas readings is occurring while fire fighter is using SCBA
Live Monitoring (SFS Chlorine plant)
Area Monitoring:
Detects up to 7 gases -15 censoring options including PID
Agenda (from PPT – Word Transfer – May restate meeting notes above)
• Gas Related Causes of Death
• Monitor not working correctly – How do you identify this?
• Not using your monitor correctly – Proper Confined Space Entry Procedure?
• Not trusting your monitor – Why?
Rules to Live By;
Bump Test Monitor – How often? Why?
Confined Space Entry – 2x2 Rule
When your monitor goes into alarm, immediately remove yourself from the environment, ESPECIALY if you are in a confined space.
Peak Screen – how to use.
The Gas Monitor
• Sensor Response Time (% x time)
• LEL Sensor Options
• Catalytic Bead LEL Sensor – advantages include detection of all LEL’s, linear response to LEL’s. Disadvantaged include high power consumption, more easily poisoned.
• Infrared (IR) Sensor – advantages include not easily poisoned, can work in inert environments, low power consumption. Disadvantages include blind to H2 and Acetylene, designed primarily for Methane.
• Combustible Bead
• Combustibles (LEL) – catalytic bead
• Poisons
Adhere to the catalyst bead
Damage all or part of the sensing bead
Sensor cannot recover
If exposed - calibrate
Most common
WD-40
Silicone based lubricants
Silicone caulking
Armor All
Infrared Sensor:
• Infrared sensors use infrared light with filters to identify combustible gases within the specific wavelength spectrum
• Most gases have a unique infrared wavelength signature
• The amount of light absorbed by the gas determines the concentration present in the atmosphere
Infrared Sensor Advantages
• Infrared sensors:
– Will detect combustible gases in inert atmospheres
– Are immune to poisons (e.g., silicone based lubricants, )
– Have a quick response
– Can be used together with a catalytic bead sensor in the same instrument
– Sample range is 10 times greater than dilution tube
– Have fail safe operation
Infrared Sensor Disadvantages
• Infrared Sensors:
Can be affected by temperature change
Can be affected by high humidity
Can be affected by dusty environments
Cannot detect H2, O2, N2 , CO, Acetylene, Ammonia
Can be affected by pressure change
• Photoionization Detection:
PID – Detects hydrocarbons and some inorganic vapors by photoionization in ppm from 0.1 to 2000 ppm
Measure low concentrations of ionizable chemicals like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other toxic gases
• Effects of Oxygen:
23.5% vol – Maximum Safe Level (OSHA)
21.0% vol – O2 content in air (20.954%)
19.5% vol – Minimum Safe Level (OSHA, NIOSH)
17.0% vol – Impairment of Judgement begins
16.0 – 12.0% vol – Breathing and pulse rate increase, coordination is impaired.
Effects of Oxygen
14.0 – 10% vol – Fatigue, disturbed respiration
10.0 – 6.0% vol – Nausea and vomiting, inability to move freely and loss of consciousness.
< 6.0% vol – Convulsive movements and gasping respiration occurs; later heart rate ceases.
3.0 – 5.0% vol – Life expectancy three to five minutes.
LEL Correlation Factors
• Toxic Sensors:
Typical for confined space and personal monitoring is H2S and CO.
Some applications may require other gasses to be detected such as NH3, SO2, HCN…
• Carbon Monoxide Data:
Odorless and colorless. By-product of incomplete combustion.
Flammable at 12.5% vol = 125,000 ppm
Cal OSHA 25 ppm TWA, 200 ppm STEL
200 – 400 ppm – headaches, dizzinesss and nausea
800 – 1600 ppm - death within 1 – 2 hours
At LEL – death in 1-3 minutes
• Hydrogen Sulfide Data:
Colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs.
By-product of composition.
0.13 ppm can detect odor of H2S
10 ppm – eye irritation
100 ppm – loss of sense of smell in 2 minutes
300 ppm – IDLH
Can hide in “black puddles”
Inhibit cell respiration, shuts down your lungs
• Hydrogen Cyanide (overhaul):
Colorless to a pale blue liquid or gas with a distinct odor resembling bitter almonds.
Extremely dangerous due to its toxic / asphyxiating effects. Eliminates O2 to tissues.
Barring death, normal function quickly restored upon removal from HCN.
10 – 50 ppm – headaches, dizziness, unsteady
100 ppm – feeling of suffocation, nausea
100 – 200 ppm – death in 30 to 60 minutes
280 ppm – immediately fatal
• CO2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY__
H-CMvw0 minute 5:00
Odorless and colorless, measured with PID or CO2 sensor. O2 deficiency is indicator. False high LEL reading is other indicator. Heavier than air.
300 ppm (0.03% vol)
10,000 pppm (1.0% vol) - feeling clammy, lack of attention to detail, fatigue, weakness (jelly legs)
50,000 – 100,000 ppm (5 – 10% vol) can quickly result in irreversible health effects
• New Capabilities in Gas Detection:
Man Down and Panic Button
Peer to Peer Wireless Communication
Ability to identify if data for gas readings is occurring while fire fighter is using SCBA
Live Monitoring
FEATURE: Man-Down & Panic Button:
Man-Down Alarm
Two-Part Alarm:
Alert: Alerts user to move after set amount of time with no movement
Alarm: After 120 seconds of no movement, alarm will sound
FEATURE: LENS™ Wireless:
• Saves Lives
Relying on a localized alarm is not always practical
View peer gas readings, man-down, and panic alarms
See gas readings from area monitors and personal monitors
Rely on help from workers nearby, rather than a control center
Removes obstacles
Modeled after Military Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Power up monitor and Peer to Peer connectivity is automatic, No setup or IT assistance needed.
Area Monitoring:
• Detect up to 7 gases
15 sensor options, including PID
Pump option
IP 66
• Intrinsically Safe
Class 1, Div 1
Zone 0
• Can Automatically connect to personal monitors
Live Monitoring:
Confined Spaces
Monitor and protect your people working in and around confined spaces.
1000 Round Table:
Carsten Gulberg - Danish Fire – Has new pump / nozzle system that is 15 times more efficient that tradition nozzles. Works with water, A & B foam.
Steve Hanks – SCOTT repr in Cal, After Sept all new SCBA’s must meet 2018 standards.
Gabe AllStar Fire – Returned from FDIC, well attended. Expect increased costs for
Rincon Fire – Interested in equipment
Jeff Larson – Kapler Level A & B suits that protect from fentyle
Delon – Pelican Products – Interduced ne special lighting product for “Smokey” environments, covers SD County and AZ
Drico ISI – reps a new nozzle that is more effience
Vern Evans Solution Safety – NFPA 1851 Training experience, discussed decon trends and procedures being developed by different agencies
Chris Palmer – Capstones
Jeff Story – Air Research – Plymovent systems
Jake ASherman – Hero wipes / ems wipes
Terry Palmer – AllStar Fire –
Eric Higgins – Bestway Laundry systems – interested in providing safety gear maintenance.
Keith Gurrola – Fillmore Fire – Thanked PlyMoVent for recent install at Fillmore Fire Station. Foundation Golf Tournament June 1. Near miss of CalFire unit will be discussed at Forestry Wardens meeting.
Tracy LineGear – Discussed SCAFFW.org has info on fire wardens meeting. Related the Mystery Ranch gear she is representing. Thanked Capstone.
Matt Rios – Mirmar Fire EMS coordinator.
Jeff Wilkerson – Camp Pendleton Retired – Thanked Capstone for hosting discussed events planned at Camp Pendleton.
Scott Hudson – Hemet Retired – Hemet is out to bid for 2 new utility vehicles and ambulances. Discussed DRONEs and a recent FBI class giving first responders guidance on the use of DRONE’s. Discussed cyber security issues affecting water agencies. Related the importance of networking with local PD / sheriffs to learn what hazards relating to danger
Tifani Swink – Mallory Safety & Supply -Glad to see Capstones growth and evolution in the area.
Scott Quinn – LAFD - Discussed the “Drop Program” and how it will affect institutional knowledge in the agency. Discussed the San Diego County Fire Situation Awareness System relating how good the site is.
Mike Wyzenburg – Ventura County Fire – Discussed promotions and re-assignments within the agency. Related they will be hosting next month’s meeting Topic: Shooting in
Next meetings:
Ventura Co FD – Newberry Park Station 35 – Mass Shooting
SAFER email : SAFER.Members@gmail.com, twitter, facebook etc.
Meeting adjourned: 1200