The HazMat Guys

Guests John Glazier • Packaging Engineer (RIT graduate) • 25+ years in chemical and dangerous goods packaging • Representative at DGO, specializing in lithium-ion battery containment and transport • Expert in third-party testing, thermal runaway mitigation, and DOT-compliant packaging Contact: • Email: jglazier@dgo.com John Orlando • Retired Fire Marshal with FDNY (27 years) • Former Supervising F...

We had great traction with the last AI episode, so we dived a little deeper and created a miniseries on the topic. More to come on this one, so strap in, this landscape is shifting quickly. EPISODE SPONSORS Rigaku Analytical Devices Rigaku provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders facing unknown hazards. Their 1064 nm Raman technology reduces fluorescence interference, enabling chemic...

In this episode, Mike sits down with Bob to explore how AI can be applied in today's response landscape. Even if you're already working with AI, there's a good chance you'll discover some fresh insights along the way. EPISODE SPONSORS Rigaku Analytical Devices Rigaku provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders facing unknown hazards. Their 1064 nm Raman technology reduces fluorescence i...

Rigaku Analytical Devices Rigaku provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders operating in unknown environments. Their 1064 nm Raman technology reduces fluorescence interference, enabling chemical identification in under a minute—even in challenging samples. Rigaku’s fourth-generation platform builds on years of hazmat and public safety experience with expanded accessory support to help...

Rigaku Analytical Devices Rigaku provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders operating in unknown environments. Their 1064 nm Raman technology reduces fluorescence interference, enabling chemical identification in under a minute—even in challenging samples. Rigaku’s fourth-generation platform builds on years of hazmat and public safety experience with expanded accessory support to help...

After hearing about a recent conflagration in Warwick, NY, we went and did a little research on some of the recent ones and the outcomes from them.   Thank you to our sponsor for this episode: Rigaku   Rigaku Analytical Devices provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders who face the unknown.  Rigaku’s 1064 nm Raman technology reducesfluorescence interference, helping responders identif...

We recently finished recording an unboxing video that'll be available soon on the LMS. During filming, the sales rep brought up that the product detects 7-OH - something we hadn't come across before. After doing some digging, we thought it'd be worth sharing what we learned since you'll likely start seeing this substance out there. Tune in to hear more! Thank you to our sponsor for...

We recently finished recording an unboxing video that'll be available soon on the LMS. During filming, the sales rep brought up that the product detects 7-OH - something we hadn't come across before. After doing some digging, we thought it'd be worth sharing what we learned since you'll likely start seeing this substance out there. Tune in to hear more! Thank you to our sponsor for...

After a recent class, we got to think about how, in hazmat, we’re always told to avoid using our five senses. But honestly, we don’t always follow that advice ourselves. In this episode, we dig into how your senses might actually help you out in certain situations. Give it a listen! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing w...

After a recent class, we got to think about how, in hazmat, we’re always told to avoid using our five senses. But honestly, we don’t always follow that advice ourselves. In this episode, we dig into how your senses might actually help you out in certain situations. Give it a listen! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing w...

This episode features a chat with Ralph Supa from Cervitas, where we dive into what makes leadership in hazmat situations unique compared to leading on the fire ground. Ralph shares real-life stories about how mentoring evolves into leadership, along with a few other practical insights you’ll want to hear. Give it a listen! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobi...

A listener emailed us asking about the practice of washing up after a fire when using firefighting gear, and how that compares to using chemical protective clothing. We dig into the topic and see if this trend really lives up to the hype. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former...

We're catching up with our friend Pat from StasheD Training, who shares some fresh takes on batteries - this time, looking at the engineering side rather than just the chemistry. Website:  StacheD Training YouTube:  @stacheDTraining Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former FD...

It might sound surprising, but we invited our friends Chris Pfaff from PHRT Training and Patrick Durham from Stached Training - experts in staff training - to talk about a possible new DOT category just for batteries. Website:  StacheD Training YouTube:  @stacheDTraining Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium...

During our recording of DOT class 9, we realized we missed talking about the dangerous placard. So, we bumped a few episodes and made sure to cover all the details about DOT class dangerous in this one. Tune in for the full scoop! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former FDNY Haz...

In this special bonus episode, we chat with Gwyn Winfield and Zoe Rutherford from CBRNE magazine about new global threats. We're aiming to bring you these updates every few months, so tune in to stay informed and get a fresh perspective on what's going on around the world. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing wit...

This episode dives into the often-overlooked "miscellaneous" section of DOT transports. Even though it covers everything that doesn’t fit in the main categories, there’s a lot more to it than you might think. Join us as we break it all down together. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode: ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires...

This episode is all about corrosives - we chat about what they are, the different names they go by, and how to deal with them safely. We’re putting the spotlight on how to transport these substances, so if you’re curious about the ins and outs, you’re in the right place. And if you want more background, check out our earlier deep-dive episodes! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionF...

We caught up with some folks from 908 Devices to chat about their lineup of chemical identification tools and dive into what makes VipIR such a game-changer. This episode is definitely worth a listen! Check them out at https://info.908devices.com/chemidtoolbox or email them for more info at mailto:info@908devices.com HazMatters: If you’ve been living under a rock, here’s your wake-up call: we're c...

In this episode, we thought we would smash this all into one episode, but it turned out to be two. In this one, we're going through DOT Class 7, which covers radioactives. Radioactives involve a lot of information. So dig in with us and enjoy. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created b...

In this episode, we thought we would smash this all into one episode, but it turned out to be two. In this one, we're going through DOT Class 7, which covers radioactives. Radioactives involve a lot of information. So dig in with us and enjoy. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created b...

This episode dives further into DOT 6, all about Poisons. Mike had to step out last minute because of our busy training schedule, so it’s just Bob flying solo this time. Tune in for some great insights! Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former FDNY Hazmat experts. It uses advance...

We're diving into Class 6 - yep, the infamous poisons! But it turns out, not everything here is as toxic as you might think. Some are even biological. We stumbled across a few surprises ourselves. Tune in for this two-part look at DOT Class 6. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by fo...

We're diving into DOT class 5 today - a category that’s often mixed up and not always clear-cut. Join us as we break things down and clear up some of the confusion around this tricky classification. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former FDNY Hazmat experts. It uses advance...

We're diving into DOT class 5 today - a category that’s often mixed up and not always clear-cut. Join us as we break things down and clear up some of the confusion around this tricky classification. Thank you to our sponsor for this episode:   ObexionFR ObexionFR is a mobile solution for first responders dealing with lithium battery fires, created by former FDNY Hazmat experts. It uses advance...