***** Hazchem 4: Chlorine (DVD/VHS). Produced by Emergency Film Group, www.efilmgroup.com [1] (Web); 28 minutes; $425 (purchase), $150 (rental).

 

Chlorine is such a part of our daily lives that we often take it for granted as a safe way to purify our water, clean our clothes, and disinfect our swimming pools. Yet it is a fast-acting, and potentially deadly substance, as the Germans demonstrated during World War I when it was used in chemical warfare. The chemical has been used to limited effect by insurgents in Iraq, and its potential for use by terrorists poses great concern, which led to new regulations for railroads carrying hazmats, including chlorine.

 

The fourth installment in the Emergency Film Group’s video training series on dealing with hazardous materials incidents tackles chlorine. The video provides an excellent overview of the chemical’s characteristics and why it poses serious health risks if released either intentionally or by accident. It acquaints viewers with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reporting and security requirements for handling chlorine and with the measures to be used in responding to emergencies involving its presence. The video covers a lot of material in 28 minutes.

 

As with other installments in the Hazchem series, included with the video is an instructor’s guide, a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation that can be customized by instructors to complement the video, and other resources. The combination of the video and the instructor’s guide provides organizations of all types, both government and private, with a valuable training tool to help them provide their personnel with an overview of how to deal with incidents involving chlorine. If the purchase price is too high, it’s worth renting.

 

Reviewer: Mayer Nudell, CSC, an independent consultant on crisis management, contingency planning, and related issues. He is a member of ASIS International.