Massachusetts receives 200 Teledyne FLIR identiFINDER R425 personal radiation detectors
The US state of Massachusetts has announced that 200 state hazmat technicians are being outfitted with personal radiation detectors through a federal grant programme.
A photo accompanying the announcement on Wednesday 28 October would suggest that the state is receiving Teledyne FLIR identiFINDER R425 personal radiation detectors.
"Massachusetts hazmat technicians are our first line of defence against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive hazards,” said public safety & security secretary Gina K. Kwon. "Making this powerful tool available to so many techs is going to help protect them and our residents from hazards that are unseen but deadly serious."
“Metering for radiation is one of the first steps that our hazmat techs take at any scene, even when radiation isn’t the primary known hazard," state fire marshal Jon M. Davine said. "Radioactive substances may not be detected by the first responding fire personnel. They could be present in medical equipment, laboratory environments or the workshop of someone attempting to make a weapon. Knowing the nature and severity of the threat is vital to making informed decisions on personal protection and public safety."
The delivery of 200 detectors and 14 larger, more sensitive meters was funded through a federal Securing the Cities grant, which is issued by the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. The grant is administered at the state level by the Boston Police Department, which serves as the regional coordinator and fiduciary agent for the grant programme.
