Mike Taylor is the Cumberland County (Pa.) hazmat team’s deputy chief and serves as the team manager. His role involves overseeing the hazmat operations and ensuring the team is prepared for any situation. He sat down to tell us about his team and how they stay prepared.
What type of students do you train and what facilities do you have at your disposal?
The students I train are primarily focused on hazmat, with a wide range of general training included. We conduct most of our training at the Cumberland County station, which allows us to provide hands-on experience in a controlled, realistic environment.
How do you mix up the training scenarios so they don’t become predictable or stale?
We make sure every training session is different. We never repeat the same scenario.
What is your biggest obstacle when conducting hazmat training?
One of the biggest obstacles is finding the proper space and locations for our training exercises.
What wicked training problem keeps you up at night?
Getting volunteers to show up for training and finding creative ways to keep them engaged and motivated.
Training Exercise: Flammable Liquid Leak from a Pipe
What devices do you rely on most for realistic training?
The HazSim device is our most used training tool because it allows us to plug in different meter readings and build realistic scenarios. Instead of handing students a piece of paper with data, they get to see and interact with the actual meters, making the training experience much more immersive.
As a hazmat instructor, what’s been your biggest “ah-ha” teaching moment?
My biggest “ah-ha” moment came when my son joined hazmat training five years ago. He started when he was 14 as a junior member, and having him involved really made me realize how much more serious this job becomes when your family is part of it. It gave me a new perspective on how I approach training and how I teach others.
What role does technology play in how you teach hazmat and what do you think the future holds for it?
Technology plays a huge role in our training, especially with devices like the HazSim. We’re always looking for ways to enhance our training using new tech. For example, we’ve been exploring simulation systems that allow us to build scenarios in a tabletop or classroom setting, which evolve as the training progresses. This gives us a visual representation of how things are unfolding, making the training experience more realistic and engaging.