May 2, 2002

ROCK HILL—As part of the York Technical College HAZWOPER certification course, students will be conducting a training exercise on Saturday that will simulate a major chemical spill.

The students will be asked to assess the danger posed by the contents of various “contaminated” drums and perform any necessary cleanup of hazardous materials. As part of the exercise, students will learn how to use protective suits and breathing units like those used by investigators during last year’s anthrax scare. The training exercise will be from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Baxter Hood Center.

HAZWOPER stands for hazardous waste operations. It is training required by OSHA to teach workers how to work safely with different kinds of potentially hazardous materials, including how to respond to emergencies involving hazardous materials. York Technical College offers the 40-hour HAZWOPER course as part of its Environmental Elective of the Associate in Science Degree program.

Members of the media are welcome to attend, with the best photo opportunities expected to be in the late morning. For more information about Saturday’s training exercise or Environmental Science at York Tech, contact Instructor John McGill at (803) 981-7329.