NFPA Conference & Expo features many conference sessions that address guidelines for workplace safety, safety precautions for storing reactive or unstable chemicals, building safety, evaluating hazardous locations, and disaster recovery. With the 3-day Conference registration pass you can attend all of these sessions below, plus choose from the entire schedule of 150 sessions. Learn more.
Monday classes
M07. HazCom 2012 Changes — What and When
Maureen Ruskin, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA
The OSHA Hazard Communication regulation (sometimes known as the “worker right-to-know” law) provides workers with essential information on the physical, chemical, and health hazards associated with materials in their workplace. The information is presented through labeling, training, and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Changes to this important regulation incorporate a globally accepted system for classifying hazardous chemicals and documenting those classifications through a system of labeling and reporting using an updated safety data sheet (SDS). This session reviews the changes and describes initiatives developed and implemented by OSHA to assist employers and employees with the transition to this new global system.
M32. Management of Time-Sensitive Reactive and Unstable Chemicals
Andrew Minister, Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratories
Time-sensitive reactive and unstable chemicals have the special ability to become significantly more hazardous just from storage — safety data sheets do not tell the full story of the hazardous aspects. Based on the requirements in Chapter 9 of NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals, this session will show participants how to recognize and manage the risks for four groups of reactive or unstable chemicals that can become hazardous during storage. This session will help participants understand the significance of the materials by showing lessons learned from chemical events that have occurred due to improper storage and management. Learn how these chemicals change over time and how to store and manage them safely to prevent an emergency situation.
Tuesday classes
Featured Presentation: The Pentagon, Fire and Life Safety – Ten Years Later
William J. Fries III and Ariam C. Kloehn of the U.S. Department of Defense
Fire protection and life safety features have significantly changed at the Pentagon during the ten plus years since the 9/11 terrorist attack on the building and its occupants. This session will discuss the changes made to enhance passive and active protection and life safety systems for the world’s largest office building. A project of this magnitude has many partners, unique problems, and “politics”. Case study examples of such will be shared, as well as the application and use of international building codes, NFPA standards, DoD Uniform Facilities Criteria, and code “plus” additions to reach solutions.
T17. Responders/Workers at Risk During Disaster Recovery and Cleanup
SeaRay Beltran, County of Maui
Assuring the safety and health of workers in the aftermath of any disaster requires planning and consideration of several issues. These operations can be very hazardous to workers. Depending on the type of disaster, these salvage cleanup and recovery operations can involve many exposures to workers, including hazardous chemicals, fuel and oil spill hazards, heat stress, electrical hazards, and structural safety just to name a few. A major recovery operation will require more than the capabilities of internal staff. It will likely require working with contractors and salvage specialists.
Wednesday classes
W11. The Basics of Electrical Hazardous Locations
Mark Ode, UL
The NEC®, NFPA 497, Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas, and NFPA 499, Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas, address gases, vapors, and dust explosion hazards. This session will focus on explaining the basic requirements for determining a hazardous location.
W20: Assessing the List of Typical Oxidizers
Elizabeth Buc, Fire & Materials Research Laboratory, LLC
A new means to assess the hazard classification of oxidizers was recently added to the NFPA 400, Hazardous Materials Code. This document applies to the storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials in all occupancies and facilities, including ammonium nitrate solids and liquids. This session will describe the results of a project that assessed selected oxidizers in the typical oxidizer list in the code to determine if the current class listed in the table is in agreement with the bench-scale screening test criteria. Download a free copy of NFPA 400.
W45. Combustible Dust: Firefighting Precautions
Mat Chibbaro, OSHA
Every year, a number of emergency responders are injured, and sometimes killed, while operating at facilities with combustible dusts. When responders have adequate information and training on the explosibility of combustible dust and the conditions present in the facility, incidents are more likely to be handled safely and effectively. Everyone is safer when plant and emergency personnel share information involving combustible dusts, develop safe procedures to handle incidents, and train together. This session provides the framework necessary to gather the appropriate information and translate it into safe operating procedures. Emergency responders include firefighters, fire brigade members, hazardous materials teams, and others who might be called upon when a fire or explosion occurs.
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