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District tests spill skills
Lisa Collacott
School District 38 takes every precaution to keep its students and staff safe. The district recently conducted a training exercise on what to do in the event of a hazardous waste spill.
“We simulated the actions that would be required if a chemical spill happened in the vicinity of a school,” said Hal Garland, the auxiliary services and safety and security director for the school district.
The district had a tabletop exercise Nov. 12 at the administration building. The exercise was district level and included the superintendent, principals, directors and all staff that would be involved if a real emergency situation took place, in addition to local responders from the police and fire department.
During the training simulation presented to the group, a truck carrying chlorine gas had overturned near Creekside Middle School.
Garland said it was a very structured training event.
“It was a great training tool,” Garland said. “It showed how well the school district, the town of Monument, and El Paso County would respond to a real scenario.”
Capt. John Vincent of the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection was there and said the training went well and it showed the school district how the fire department thinks during this type of emergency situation and it showed the fire department how the school district thinks.
If a real hazardous waste spill took place near a school, Garland said the fire chief would be in charge. A Unified Command would assemble that would include county hazmat, the fire department, and the police department. If it was a more serious spill then state hazmat would get involved.
“We have to know what to do to mitigate and stabilize the incident,” Vincent said.
The fire department and hazmat have to access what type of spill it is and where it is going.
While the schools are the first priority for the district, the fire department also has to think about the surrounding neighborhoods.
Vincent said there is an Emergency Response Guide that is put out by the Federal Department of Transportation that they must follow. There are specific guidelines that are followed as to what type hazardous waste it is.
The guidelines address how to clean up the spill. Vincent said some chemicals do not react well with water. Others are cleaned up with soap and water and some with dirt.
The weather also plays an important role. The temperature, wind change, and even humidity are dependent on how to deal with the spill.
“It’s always the weather with a chemical spill,” Vincent said. “We have to decide do we evacuate or have a shelter-in-place.”
During a shelter-in-place, Garland said the students would not be allowed outside. They would not necessarily be confined to their classrooms. School would continue as normal but all outside activities would be suspended.
It may be possible for students to be moved to one side of the building if the situation called for it.
The district’s priority is keeping the students and staff safe.
“We put a great deal of emphasis on safety,” Garland said. “The district has been doing a lot over the last four years to improve safety.
All schools are required to conduct fire, lockdown and evacuation drills. Some even do tornado drills.
Garland said the district plans on doing two more tabletop exercises this school year and the schools will do several at their level.
“[A hazardous waste spill) could happen anywhere,” Garland said.
“It’s all about communication,” Vincent said.
School District 38 takes every precaution to keep its students and staff safe. The district recently conducted a training exercise on what to do in the event of a hazardous waste spill.
“We simulated the actions that would be required if a chemical spill happened in the vicinity of a school,” said Hal Garland, the auxiliary services and safety and security director for the school district.
The district had a tabletop exercise Nov. 12 at the administration building. The exercise was district level and included the superintendent, principals, directors and all staff that would be involved if a real emergency situation took place, in addition to local responders from the police and fire department.
During the training simulation presented to the group, a truck carrying chlorine gas had overturned near Creekside Middle School.
Garland said it was a very structured training event.
“It was a great training tool,” Garland said. “It showed how well the school district, the town of Monument, and El Paso County would respond to a real scenario.”
Capt. John Vincent of the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection was there and said the training went well and it showed the school district how the fire department thinks during this type of emergency situation and it showed the fire department how the school district thinks.
If a real hazardous waste spill took place near a school, Garland said the fire chief would be in charge. A Unified Command would assemble that would include county hazmat, the fire department, and the police department. If it was a more serious spill then state hazmat would get involved.
“We have to know what to do to mitigate and stabilize the incident,” Vincent said.
The fire department and hazmat have to access what type of spill it is and where it is going.
While the schools are the first priority for the district, the fire department also has to think about the surrounding neighborhoods.
Vincent said there is an Emergency Response Guide that is put out by the Federal Department of Transportation that they must follow. There are specific guidelines that are followed as to what type hazardous waste it is.
The guidelines address how to clean up the spill. Vincent said some chemicals do not react well with water. Others are cleaned up with soap and water and some with dirt.
The weather also plays an important role. The temperature, wind change, and even humidity are dependent on how to deal with the spill.
“It’s always the weather with a chemical spill,” Vincent said. “We have to decide do we evacuate or have a shelter-in-place.”
During a shelter-in-place, Garland said the students would not be allowed outside. They would not necessarily be confined to their classrooms. School would continue as normal but all outside activities would be suspended.
It may be possible for students to be moved to one side of the building if the situation called for it.
The district’s priority is keeping the students and staff safe.
“We put a great deal of emphasis on safety,” Garland said. “The district has been doing a lot over the last four years to improve safety.
All schools are required to conduct fire, lockdown and evacuation drills. Some even do tornado drills.
Garland said the district plans on doing two more tabletop exercises this school year and the schools will do several at their level.
“[A hazardous waste spill) could happen anywhere,” Garland said.
“It’s all about communication,” Vincent said.
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