Hazardous Materials Monitoring and Detection Devices, Third Edition is designed for a variety of industries. Although primarily written for emergency responders, hazardous materials responders, firefighters, and law enforcement officers, this resource may be utilized by a number of other occupations. Persons who work in an industrial facility or who are involved in health and safety, such as industrial hygienists or safety managers, will find this text to be very helpful. Persons involved in environmental recovery or in other areas where monitoring is utilized will also benefit.
 
The Third Edition covers monitors and detection devices for both hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It also provides a broad-spectrum picture of monitoring, one that can help with purchasing decisions and in the implementation of a monitoring strategy. The Third Edition covers a wide variety of detection devices, some basic and some advanced. An important discussion in this resource is how to use these devices tactically and how to interpret readings. The backbone of the text is the discussion of risk-based response (RBR) and the thought process behind this strategy, which is a common approach to emergency response.
 
Many response agencies follow a risk-based response, and NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents includes the recommendation to follow this method. The goal of RBR is to assist the responder in making appropriate decisions regarding response tactics.
 
Hazardous Materials: Monitoring and Detection Devices, Third Edition covers the technology that runs monitoring devices, how monitoring devices work and, more importantly, when monitoring devices do not work. This critical knowledge will help keep responders as safe as possible.