Public Safety

Hazmat Teams Train For Bioterror Attack

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If you happened to see people walking around the County Operations Center Thursday in full “hazmat” suits, there’s no need to worry.

It was just San Diego County’s Hazardous Materials experts conducting their annual training to make sure they’re prepared for any and all disasters.

This year, the training involved the hypothetical release of a biological weapon — Bacillus anthracis, which causes the incredibly deadly anthrax disease. Actual anthrax attacks created a nationwide panic in the U.S. in 2001 when someone deliberately mailed letters through the postal system carrying a weaponized version of the bacteria.

During Thursday’s daylong training, hazardous materials inspectors worked in teams around the County Operations Center, following strict protocols to collect, test, control and prepare to ship mock anthrax samples (actually fluorescent powders).

“We’re required to do hazardous waste operations training every year,” said Mike Vizzier, chief of the County Department of Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Division.

Inspectors started the day with a classroom session to review procedures. Then, dressed in full hazardous protection garb, they split into groups to go to different “release” sites around the center to conduct sampling.

Each sampling team of inspectors had four members: a lead sampler; the sample assistant; a documenter/photographer and a safety person. The members rotated positions to understand each role.

The teams used various equipment including HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum equipment and air samplers and were required to use sterile methods to make sure equipment and samples didn’t create cross-contamination problems that would taint real-event tests.

Vizzier said the training often gives inspectors the chance to work with unfamiliar equipment. But, he said, it always gives them the opportunity to perform what would be an incredibly tense task in a more relaxed — because it’s hypothetical — atmosphere.

“In my experience, if you train for something, then you can do it well when the real situation ever comes up,” Vizzier said.

Gig Conaughton is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact