- Success Stories, Uncategorized
- Emergency Preparedness & Response
Developing a Decontamination Line Guide for EPA Responders
CSS employee owners supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Scientific and Technical Assistance for Consequence Management (STACM) contract have been working with the National Chemical Preparedness Workgroup and Sub Workgroups to create a decontamination (decon) line guide and detailed drawing for EPA on-scene coordinators and EPA’s special teams to use for emergency responses and incidents. The decon line guide and drawings presents a detailed approach and steps to decon responders for different levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) (A, B, C, and D) used during responses to dangerous chemicals in the field. The decon guide includes the steps and lists of equipment and materials needed to put together a decon line with most equipment commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS). CSS scientists developed the steps, guide, and drawings.
Following the development of the decon line guide, CSS scientists demonstrated the lines for EPA on-scene coordinators and special teams by directing the EPA responders through the line providing verbal instruction to ensure they followed all steps.
One critical step in an effective decon line is to screen each responder to ensure that no dangerous chemicals remain on their personal protective equipment (PPE). During the decon line demonstration, CSS scientists screen EPA responders with a chemical monitoring instrument to ensure all chemicals were removed. Following the decon, if CSS scientists detect chemicals on the PPE, they instruct the responder to return to the beginning of the decon line to repeat the process.
The line guide, processes, and demonstrations are critical in ensuring EPA responder safety when responding to dangerous chemicals in the field.
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Providing Data Products for More Effective Consumption
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is responsible for providing data, products, and services that help businesses and organizations operate more efficiently and effectively. As such, these data and products need to be available in a publicly accessible and digestible format the audience are able to understand. To…
Strengthening Risk Communications Training Support to Clients
A CSS employee owner supporting NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (sub-contracted through Lynker Technologies) has been working closely with colleagues to develop, improve, and deliver trainings related to risk communication. The CSS trainer delivered their first training of Building Risk Communications Skills in Rhode Island to an audience of over 30 coastal managers, planners, practitioners, and a U.S. Representative. The training was well received and will help participants develop new…
Monitoring Algal Blooms for Harmful Toxins
CSS employee owners support NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Sensor Development Team in their efforts to detect and monitor these harmful algal blooms in coastal waters where they are likely to occur. HAB monitoring is critical for detecting harmful toxins produced by some algae. When present in over…