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The second part of Emergency Film Group’s production shoot for Responding to Highway Incidents Involving Commercial Explosives brought us to Alabama. (See related story here).

Sound engineer Dillard Morrison and DP Jim Simeone preparing for shot.

Our first stop was at a surface coal mine run by Nelson Brothers Inc. Our crew was given a tour of the mine, including a demonstration of how the coal is exposed. We got some great technical footage of the way commercial explosives are utilized in this endeavor.

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Day two in Alabama was spent with the all-volunteer Dora Fire Department. One deadly scenario that can occur when transporting commercial explosives is the truck catching on fire. The Dora F.D. did a great job in helping us create that situation for the film. We also did some filming at a local home that had previously burned down, recreating another dangerous situation that emergency responders should always be aware of when dealing with any kind of incidents involving explosives. (See related story here.)  

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The Emergency Film Group production team recently traveled to Texas and Alabama to film location shots for a project for the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME). According to its website, the IME “develops recommendations and guidelines for all facets of explosives operations from manufacture to use and disposal. These recommendations and guidelines are produced as Safety Library Publications and promoted throughout the industry and to regulating agencies.”

The film, Responding to Highway Incidents Involving Commercial Explosives, will provide training for firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, truck drivers, industry personnel, and others who may need to respond to an incident involving commercial explosives. Commercial explosives play an important role in today’s world and are utilized in mining, construction and in the petrochemical industry.

Over seven billion pounds of commercial explosives are manufactured and used every year in the United States. Most of these explosives must be transported over the highway. The IME and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) have established rigorous and comprehensive safety practices to help prevent accidents.

One of the scenarios highlighted in the film involves guidelines and procedures emergency responders should follow when a truck transporting commercials explosives is involved in a vehicle accident. EFG had the pleasure of working with the Fort Worth Fire Department. Members of the department, as well as members of the Fort Worth Police Department, participated in the filming. Several local actors also played the roles of ‘victims’ and ‘bystanders’. A great job by everyone involved.

All of Emergency Film Group’s programs are created with the assistance of leaders in emergency response training. This technical committee for this program included experts from The Austin Powder Co., Core Labs, North America Orica Mining Services, Nelson Brothers Inc., Halliburton, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and Eastern Kentucky University.

Hazcom - the Hazard Communication Standard, often called Right to Know - was implemented by OSHA to ensure that employees who work with chemicals are trained in their safe handling and use, to recognize symptoms of adverse health effects related to exposure, and to take appropriate measures in an emergency.

The 2012 update to Hazcom takes a new approach to communicating information in order to ally it with the international initiative known as Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), and is now being tagged Right to Understand. Changes include specific criteria in the way physical and health hazards are classified, new requirements for labels, and a new format for Safety Data Sheets, formerly called Material Safety Data Sheets. Ultimately GHS will affect other OSHA standards, and those of other standards-making organizations.

Emergency Film Group's newest program - Global Harmonization & the Hazard Communication Standard - examines the changes to Hazcom. It is appropriate for training personnel who work with or around hazardous chemicals, and also for hazmat teams, firefighters and others who may respond to an incident where chemicals are involved.

For more information about this program, go to the website at https://www.efilmgroup.com/product.php/166.htm.