Emergency Response

Monitoring & Sampling Air to Protect Your Personnel

EC helps protect your team through air monitoring and sampling surveys, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and approved methodologies. We approach all emergency responses with one goal in mind: to conduct our science with the utmost attention to safety, sound methodologies, quality environmental sampling & analysis, and defensible data collection. EC provides:

• Immediate coordination with appropriate regulatory agencies
• Installation of exposure monitoring for the community and workers
• Establishing action levels to support work-zone delineation
• Participation in community meetings and crisis communications
• Evaluation and interpretation of data for potential human health concerns

AIR DISPERSION MODELING

The EC emergency response atmospheric dispersion modeling team assists Incident Command with site safety, situational awareness, and, if any, community exposure evolutions. We construct information to help identify any impact and movement of chemical releases and assist in determining:

• Areas of impact to community, site, or facility
• Safe work zone delineations
• Real-time plume variation from changing meteorological conditions

Decades of Experience Studying the Environment After Accidents & Disasters

This awareness provides our multi-disciplinary staff the proper background to handle any industrial accident or natural disaster with the potential to adversely affect human health and the environment. We also perform rapid water, sediment, and soil sampling at and around the incident site. This includes confirmation sampling and source water, drinking water intake, and surface water sampling. The results of this analysis can be utilized to assess potential public exposures.

HYDROCARBON FINGERPRINTING

In the event of an oil spill, EC sampling teams also coordinate with state & federal agencies to collect environmental samples of oil-impacted areas for forensic analysis. Our scientists analyze the collected oil samples and compare their unique chemical fingerprints to those of natural seep oil. This is especially useful in comparing an unknown release with potential sources.

ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT LEAD

EC is often requested to fulfill the duty of the environmental unit leader (EUL) or deputy environmental unit leader to execute the environmental duties during an emergency response. Our EUL’s are extremely familiar with forms and processes of ICS and are able to oversee a variety of roles within the Environmental Unit.

Information That Drives Real-Time Decisions

Data generated during emergency response projects typically consists of the following:

• Near Real-Time Monitoring Data
• Field Observations
• Sampling Data
• Analytical Laboratory Data
• Geospatial Data

Our information contains near real-time monitoring, analytical air, and environmental sampling summaries accessible from any desktop computer. Quick access to current site conditions allows all stakeholders to appraise the site and make more informed safety decisions. Plans, maps, and reports can easily be displayed for reference.

We are dedicated to quality, and that is evident in our thorough QA/QC procedures. This process helps us make decisions based on accurate, actionable data.
For a deeper look at EC’s Data Management capabilities, continue reading here

Elevating Work Area Safety in the Most Challenging Conditions

The Strike Team provides a specialized group of certified industrial hygienists (CIHs), PhD toxicologists, and TERP project managers, focused on applying industrial hygiene techniques for advanced worker safety in the most challenging environments.
This elite team has experience providing hazard solutions in emergency and non emergency settings, such as

• Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Safety
• Hazard Assessments
• Exposure Investigation & Reconstruction
• Exposure Assessment Strategies
• Comprehensive Safety Planning
• Training for Responders & HSE
• PPE Selection
• Confined Space
• Ventilation
• Air Dispersion & Modeling

ER Medical Support, Training, and Assessments

The consulting, testing, and training done by EC in emergency response situations is key to operational success. From fluid collection for analysis to questionnaire conduction, clients across the country look to EC to help support on site medical needs efficiently and effectively. Our on site medical surveillance services include:

• Quantitative respirator fit testing
• Pulmonary function testing
• OSHA medical clearance questionnaire review for respirator use
• Collecting blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for laboratory analysis
• CPR/First Aid and other similar training
• Coordinating with client IH/Health & Safety/Risk Management resources to provide occupational health consulting for chemical exposure concerns
• Collecting and transporting biological samples from clients and other third-parties
• Conducting heat stress/fitness for duty evaluations on project sites

Expert Safety Practices, Procedures, and Reporting During Crisis

EC provides rapid deployment of safety staff to emergency sites who can immediately evaluate conditions for responders, affected community, and recovery crews. Our team can quickly provide Safety Officers (SOFR) to perform within Incident Command or integrate within a NIMS structure to support the safety officers with reliable safety oversight services.

We actively evaluate the conditions in which response work to help support the ongoing safety of personnel in the field. EH also participates in the implementation of safety and health policies, practices, and procedures established by United Command or other regulatory authorities like OSHA. When workers are equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), EC can monitor current working conditions and provide general observations to help prevent injuries and maintain a healthy worksite.

PERIMETER MONITORING & SITE SAFETY

Performing perimeter monitoring is crucial to determining chemicals of concern, monitoring HAZMAT teams in the hot zone, and profiling the release movement from the site into surrounding communities. EC provides a combination of both personnel and area air monitoring, and generally includes the following activities:

• Determining an “exclusion-zone” around the incident with personnel and instrumentation.
• Providing an early warning sign as conditions change and assist in directional determination of any chemicals of concern.
• Identifying action levels to serve as a measurement to changing site conditions.
• Documenting site and work zone conditions for the duration of the monitoring activity.

Emergency Response Experts On Call Any Day At Any Time

The EC TERP team is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays, and is able to mobilize from their home or office to any incident site. The team is mobilized by contacting our Help-Desk at 1-866-869-2834. The TERP team is flexible and can be modified according to changing project requirements. Field personnel have completed all necessary training required in the OSHA HAZWOPER regulations found in 29 CFR 1910.120, as well as emergency procedures, hazard assessment and mitigation, respiratory protection, and first aid/CPR.

TERP services include:

• Air Monitoring
• Water Sampling, Soil Sampling, & Assessments
• Unknown Chemical Identification
• Known Chemical Quantification
• Toxicology Support
• Public Health Concerns
• Environmental Assessment & Technical Support
• On Site Safety Support
• Regulatory Issues Assistance
• Scientific & Regulatory Research
• Information Documentation & Databasing

PUBLIC & COMMUNITY HEALTH MONITORING

Community monitoring is a critical component during a spill or release. The public should be intensely monitored to so residences and communities are not being exposed to potentially harmful levels of chemicals. EC monitoring generally consists of mobile personnel with instrumentation traversing the surround area and community to evaluate air quality for comparison with safe acceptable ranges determined by community exposure guidelines. Find out more about our TERP services in the pdf below.

Chemical Exposure Experts Available At All Times

EC developed the 24/7/365 Worker Exposure Emergency Response Program (WERP) to offer immediate response from toxicology professionals to employees reporting a chemical exposure at their workplace. The program is designed to provide access to a full complement of toxicological resources to help support medical care providers, employees, and company supervisors with the necessary information concerning the potential chemical exposure in question.

WERP offers a unique and proactive method of addressing employee chemical exposure incidents and injury claims. EC toxicologists, in consultation with occupational health services staff, can tailor a program to suit the specific needs of any client and their industry.

Empowering Decisive Decision Making During Critical Moments

The Global Preparedness Crisis Management team helps to ensure client preparedness for all-threat/all-hazard events. EC has expanded our international consulting expertise to include incident management and resource tracking software which supplements our crisis preparedness and response capabilities. Our team facilitates resilience and recovery through planning and preparation. This is achieved by integration with public and private sector partners, allowing experts to deliver results with flexibility and speed. EC services assist in controlling long-term cost and help to facilitate the return to normalcy by allowing clients to focus on their core business efforts.

EC has experience in a wide range of responses, including, major offshore oil spills, transportation incidents with hazardous materials, well control events, human health and environmental events (e.g., Ebola, Avian Flu), and natural disasters for both the public and private sectors. We also have an extensive network of emergency responders to support the delivery of our preparedness, response, and recovery of all-threat/all-hazard services. We offer a valuable surge capability for your crisis management needs and in support of Incident Management Teams.