SWMC Employees Get Hazwoper Training

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Training was conducted February 3-5 in Conference Room 2 at Southwest Medical Center.

Kansas Hospital Education & Research Foundation funding was utilized for this annual training said SWMC Safety Officer Bobby Carpenter.

The first day of the training/education was the Awareness Level, according to Carpenter.

This level included making sure the participants have an understanding of what are hazardous materials, the health and fire hazards of products, proper labeling, shipping and different hazardous material categories Carpenter explained.

The second day of the training/education was the Operations Level.

This level was to make sure the participants understood what being a first responder is all about: the hazard and risk, the importance and purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the 3 s (Control, Containment and Confinement), Decontamination and methods and Standard Operating Procedures Carpenter said. The third day training/education was the Technician Level, which according to Carpenter, was focused at making sure the participants understood the procedures in suiting up (putting on and the usage of Personal Protective Equipment).

The three-day training was presented by Safety Solution, Inc. of Liberal and the third day afternoon session was hands on with Self Containing Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Carpenter said.

Assisting in the (SCBA) training were representatives from the Liberal City Fire Department.

According to Capenter, Southwest Medical Center, currently has a Hazmat/Decontamination Team of 15 members and there is consistent, ongoing training to ensure they are ready for any type of hazardous/emergency situation, and that they are also kept up on the procedures and equipment available.