Industrial Strength Podcast

About Industrial Strength Podcast

A podcast more focused on industrial fire departments and industrial hazmat response. From discussing interesting calls, to talking about equipment, to touching on distinctly corporate aspects of the job, the Industrial Strength team delves into different aspects of working within an industrial hazmat team. Through these podcasts the team endeavors to shed more light on what’s often an overlooked part of the public safety sector for other industry insiders as well as visitors from municipal teams.

Publisher

Industrial Strength Podcast

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Dec 2024

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Hidden Hazards: When the Label Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

   A chemical’s primary hazard may be obvious, but the hazard that changes the response can be hidden in its age, temperature, decomposition products, moisture sensitivity, or headspace. Steve and Randy examine secondary hazards they have encountered in industrial hazmat work, from hydrogen in a formic acid drum and unstable peroxide formation to acid-gas generation and dangerous refrigerant decomposition. They also discuss why responders need deeper research before changing PPE or going hands-on, and how tools such as the ERG, CAMEO, and PubChem can help uncover hazards that are not obvious from the label. Key Moments 00:00 Hidden hazards and why the primary hazard may not be the worst one 01:09 Formic acid, degradation products, and hydrogen in the headspace 06:30 THF, peroxide formation, and explosive secondary hazards 14:15 Nitric acid and unexpected reactivity 16:57 Going deeper with CAMEO, PubChem, and technical references 22:05 Water-reactive chemicals and acid-gas formation 27:19 Refrigerant decomposition and a hidden toxic-gas hazard 30:13 Why deeper research can change PPE and tactics Training & Resources Training (https://thehazmatguys.com/training/) Contact (https://thehazmatguys.com/contact/) Media Network Command Media Network (https://commandmedianetwork.com/) Hazard Class (https://thehazmatguys.com/hazard-class/) Follow Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thehazmatguys) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thehazmatguys) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-haz-mat-guys) Haz Mat Harder™ Music Credit Music from #InAudio https://inaudio.org/Sport (https://inaudio.org/Sport)

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   18 Suspect Drums, Explosive Crystals, and a Remote Opening Plan

   Crystalline residue on a few 55-gallon drums quickly became a much larger problem when the team identified a 1,4-dioxane mixture capable of forming explosive peroxides and ultimately found 18 drums that had been sitting outdoors for about two years. Steve walks through the response, including SDS research, peroxide testing, concerns about crystals in the bung threads and headspace, use of a remote drum opener, water-based friction control, PPE decisions, and the role of an experienced environmental contractor. The crew also discusses CAMEO and MARPLOT preplanning, conflicting peroxide test results, meter selection, and the lesson that the chemical may still be usable while the container has become the hazard. Key Moments 00:00 - Suspect drums and crystalline residue 03:35 - The peroxide-forming explosive crystal warning 06:16 - Securing 18 drums and planning for the unknown 10:15 - Weather complications and remote drum opening 17:23 - Two years outside and container degradation 21:25 - CAMEO, MARPLOT, and plume preplanning 26:14 - Peroxide testing and conflicting field results 38:09 - Why industrial hazmat networking matters Training & Resources Industrial Strength Podcast (https://thehazmatguys.com/industrial-strength-podcast/) Training (https://thehazmatguys.com/training/) Contact (https://thehazmatguys.com/contact/) Media Network Command Media Network (https://commandmedianetwork.com/) Hazard Class (https://thehazmatguys.com/hazard-class/) Follow Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thehazmatguys) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thehazmatguys) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-haz-mat-guys) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@HazmatHarder) Haz Mat Harder™ Music Credit Music from #InAudio https://inaudio.org/Sport (https://inaudio.org/Sport)

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Drum Handling & Overpack Operations

   In this episode of the Industrial Strength Podcast, Jeff, Randy, and Steve break down different ways to move, lift, and overpack drums during industrial hazmat incidents. The crew compares simple hand tools with forklifts, cranes, drum lifters, and specialized chime attachments while sharing lessons learned from real-world operations. Episode Breakdown 00:31 — Introduction The crew introduces the topic: drum handling and the different tools available to industrial and municipal hazmat responders. 02:49 — Basic drum movement The discussion starts with simple options such as drum dollies, drum wrenches, bung wrenches, rolling drums by hand, and moving drums while they remain on pallets. 06:15 — Pallet jacks, forklifts & powered lifts The team covers pallet jacks, forklifts, excavator forks, and powered drum-handling devices. Some powered lifts even include scales, making drum-to-drum transfers easier to monitor. 09:12 — Cranes, chain falls & lift points Industrial facilities may have fixed cranes, chain falls, and other lifting equipment available. The crew stresses that smooth operation and secure attachment points are critical, especially with compromised drums. 13:23 — Overpacking damaged drums Sometimes rolling or flipping a drum into an overpack isn't practical. Leaks, patches, slippery surfaces, or container damage may make a controlled vertical lift the better option. 15:24 — J-hook chime lifters J-hook systems work well on metal drums with solid chimes. However, they rely heavily on tension and are best suited for straight vertical lifts with minimal swinging. 20:26 — Parrot-beak lifters Parrot-beak devices provide a more positive grip and can be used on both metal and some plastic drums. The more weight applied, the tighter the device grips the drum. 23:07 — Other drum lifting devices The crew discusses full-ring drum grabs, multi-drum forklift attachments, and other specialized devices for lifting or repalletizing drums. 26:45 — Ratchet-style lifting straps Body-gripping straps can help when a drum's chime is damaged, but responders must consider the pressure being applied to an already compromised container. 30:03 — Final takeaways There is no single best method for every drum. Teams should understand several options and choose based on the condition of the container, access, available equipment, and the task being performed. Key Takeaways • Start with the simplest safe method. • Avoid unnecessary handling when a drum can remain on a pallet. • Know what lifting equipment is already available at your facility. • Operator skill matters with forklifts and cranes. • Inspect drum chimes before using chime-based lifting tools. • Make sure the lifting device will fit inside the overpack. • Damaged, bowed, or slippery drums may require a different approach. • Have multiple drum-handling options in your toolbox. Equipment Mentioned Drum dollies, drum wrenches, pallet jacks, forklifts, powered drum lifts, cranes, chain falls, J-hook chime lifters, parrot-beak lifters, drum grabs, ratcheting lifting straps, and overpacks. Closing The crew invites listeners to share other drum-handling tools or techniques their teams use, especially equipment that works well on compromised or slippery poly drums. Know your tools, know their limitations, and always have a Plan B.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

552

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

19

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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