NCEC Emergency Response Competiton

How well can you respond to a chemical emergency?

With over 40 years’ experience, and a global customer base including 50% of the world’s top 100 chemical companies, the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) supports organisations across the world with global and multi-lingual telephone chemical emergency response and regulatory compliance services.

Our services enable chemical emergencies to be dealt with quickly and safely; reducing the risks to people, the environment, assets and reputation.

The scenario detailed below will give you a taste of what we at the NCEC do on a daily basis and is based on an incident we were involved with. By answering the questions below, you will be in with a chance of winning a £500 prize. It may also inspire you to want to join our team. We are currently looking to add to our dedicated team of emergency responders. Please follow this link to find out how to apply. The roles provide an excellent insight into the chemicals sector, working with leading chemical and transport companies. They also have potential for exposure to other technical consultancy work and all aspects of project management.

The closing date for submitting your responses is: 30th June 2017.

Terms and Conditions apply.

Question Title

* Please complete your contact details (Use N/A for any sections which cannot be answered):

Name

Telephone

Are you studying towards or have you achieved a university degree involving chemistry?

What is/was your course title?

Studying towards - what is completion date?

Achieved - what was your classification?

Are you fluent in any foreign languages? If yes which?

Accident Scenario

A student mistakenly mixed two chemicals in a 50 cm3 beaker, there is a swimming pool like smell which has been noticed as far as a couple of benches away.

Question Title

* What are the hazards of Sodium Hypochlorite?

Corrosive, Oxidiser

Flammable, Oxidiser

Explosive, Water Reactive

Corrosive, Flammable

Question Title

* What gas is released when Sodium Hypochlorite is mixed with an acid?

Chlorine

Hydrogen Chloride

Hydrogen

No gas

Question Title

* Sodium Bisulphate is a white solid, what is its formula?

NaH(SO4)2

Na2SO4

NaHSO4

NaHSO3

Question Title

* What does Sodium Bisulphate form when dissolved in water?

Neutral solution

Not soluble

Acidic solution

Basic solution

Question Title

* Which of these solutions is most appropriate?

Place the solution in a fume hood and keep people away until the reaction is complete

Pour the solution away

Add a neutralising agent to stop the reaction

Place in the waste containers and seal immediately

The actual call was from a busy indoor swimming pool where the same chemicals were mixed and released directly into the pool. A fire and rescue service (FRS) called us to advise them on the products and how to approach the situation.

Question Title

* Please describe how you would advise the FRS attending the scene, what are their priorities? What could be done to remediate this situation and how would you protect the fire crew? What communication style would you use?