Hazmat specialist team

Hazmat is short for hazardous materials. These incidents require a more specialist response because they are dealing with materials that are dangerous to humans, animals and/or the environment. We have a range of response capabilities to deal with Hazmat incidents. This includes Hazmat Detection, Identification and Monitoring (HDIM) vehicles, Environmental Protection Units (EPU), frontline appliances and a team of Hazardous Material Advisors (HMAs) who are specialist managers, who respond and advise incident commanders on these types of incidents. We can also call upon our scientific advisers, external experts with advanced chemistry knowledge.

They attend incidents that involve hazardous materials, and work to make people – and the area around the incident – safe.

There are typically two kinds of incidents we respond to:

• Accidents (such as spills or chemical leaks)
• Incidents with criminal intent (terrorism)

Depending on the nature of what has happened, we’ll work with police, the ambulance service, Environment Agency and Natural England to reduce harm and resolve the situation.

Incidents vary from spills following motorway crashes, to factory or hospital chemical leaks, to private individuals who have mixed the wrong substances in their own properties. 

Depending on the incident, how much and what type of substance is involved and where it is located, we help in several ways including: 

• Mass decontamination – setting up special large shower units to reduce risk to the public
• Stopping chemicals getting into the water system following tanker crashes, thereby safeguarding the local water supply

No two Hazmat incidents are ever the same. Our advice is to always be careful when using chemicals as they can have the potential to cause serious injuries or even cost lives.