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All-Hazards Response

All Hazards Receipt Facilities and Training

Increasingly public health laboratories are called upon to provide testing to rule out biological, chemical, radiological and even explosive hazards in unknown samples and packages.

Saved Topics: All-Hazards, Emergency Preparedness, Safety, Training
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Their capability to safely screen or “triage” such unknowns has become a priority. Yet there are no standardized screening facilities, sites and protocols for all-hazards environmental sample collection and analysis. The lack of standards represents a risk for laboratory scientists as well as first responders, HazMat personnel and law enforcement officials.

Many public and environmental health laboratories have expressed strong interest in receiving training on the protocols for screening and safely handling unknown environmental samples. In response to these requests, APHL is currently collaborating with the Department of Defense, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center to develop and provide training on unknown environmental sample screening protocols. These protocols have been evaluated in the two prototype All-Hazards Receipt Facilities located at the New York State Public Health Laboratory and the Boston EPA Laboratory.

Upcoming All-Hazards Training Programs

Wadsworth Center - Albany, NY

The New York State Department of Health is pleased to announce the upcoming “All Hazards Training Program” being offered at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY. The training will provide in-depth training for the implementation of an all hazards response to uncharacterized environmental threat samples.

The first 4 day course is being offered to engineering and support personnel for training in safety, security and engineering requirements for an All Hazard Receipt Facility (AHRF). 

The second 4 day course targets laboratory staff that performs testing on uncharacterized samples.  This course will provide fundamental training on the EPA All Hazards Receipt Facility protocol, and will include extensive work with various hand-held detection systems for chemical, explosive and radiation sources.

All classes will be held in Albany, NY at the Wadsworth Center and will involve extensive hands-on sessions.  Classes are limited to 8 participants per week so register early to save your spot!  Please note that each participant is responsible for their own travel expenses, such as airfare and lodging accommodations.

For more information, email allhazards@wadsworth.org or visit the website: http://www.wadsworth.org/testing/biodefense/training.html