Safety Management Services, Inc. (SMS) conducted Department of Transportation (DOT) hazard classification of energetic materials training at the Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) test facility May 10. Participants included 15 representatives from the Department of Defense, DOT and commercial explosives manufacturing / handling organizations.
SMS is a TEAD Public Private Partner (P3) and a leader in the international energetics testing industry.
"Both SMS and TEAD have a genuine commitment to safety and share extensive explosive expertise and culture," said Roger Hale, test manager, TEAD. "This partnership affords TEAD improved logistical support capabilities, customer responsiveness and reliability."
The four-day class includes one day at the TEAD test site for hands-on training. SMS has trained 125 explosives professionals in this training over the past five years. Explosives specialists from as far away as the Washington, DC area attended this year's training.
"This training provides background for transportation of dangerous good and explosives," said Kirt Sasser, director of engineering and testing, SMS. "This training is critical to keeping the public safe."
The training included explosives handling, packaging and proper safety protocols.
"We want the students to come away with an understanding what tests are required to properly test materials and the overall process to obtain classifications," said Sasser.
Kelly Johnson, logistics coordinator, from northern California's Reynolds Systems, Inc. (RSI), has attended the course for the past four years and comes back every year to learn something new.
"My company, RSI, makes detonators, igniters and boosters and we put them on the road (in commercial carriers.) So this training is important in what we do," said Johnson. "I'm not going to put anything on the road that's going to cause any harm to the public."
The TEAD test site enables a range of testing with ammunition and high explosives. The multiple facilities, remote operations with high speed data collection and video capabilities provide critical data needed for test requirements at all levels.
"Due to the test site's close proximity to Salt Lake City, Utah and its world class technical capabilities, the site offers explosives professionals the ability to not only witness live testing onsite, but also affords them the opportunity to investigate the results and collect data to make determinations as to the validity of the test," said Hale.
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