1. WISER Training Scenario Warehouse – Leaking Drums
Specialized Information Services
National Library of Medicine

2. Scenario
You are the Hazardous Materials Specialist responding to an incident at a warehouse. The scene has been cleared and the situation stabilized.  Your primary task is to identify the substance and provide information and recommendations to the Incident Commander. 
The substance in question has been leaking from unmarked drums.  It has been described as a colorless liquid with an alcohol smell.  The workers from the warehouse are showing the following symptoms:  nausea, dizziness, headache, and eye irritation.

3. Questions
Based on properties and symptoms, what are the possible substances?
How can you reduce the results list to a smaller, more manageable list?

4. Scenario
You are the Hazardous Materials Specialist responding to an incident at a warehouse. The scene has been cleared and the situation stabilized.  Your primary task is to identify the substance and provide information and recommendations to the Incident Commander. 
The substance in question has been leaking from unmarked drums.  It has been described as a colorless liquid with an alcohol smell.  The workers from the warehouse are showing the following symptoms:  nausea, dizziness, headache, and eye irritation.

5. Scenario Solution
This slide uses screenshots to demonstrate the same thing contained in the video of the previous slide. Choose between one of these two slides, hiding the other.

6. Now What? How to further reduce the list? A list of 1 is unrealistic!
Group By to determine key differentiators (substance floats in water)
View Substance Data and compare to conditions (substance is not water reactive)
Use your experience
A list of 1 is unrealistic!

7. Scenario Solution (continued)
This slide uses screenshots to demonstrate the same thing contained in the video of the previous slide. Choose between one of these two slides, hiding the other.

8. Follow-Up
WISER grouping can help determine what else to look for when identifying unknowns
Remove unlikely substances from results
Compare substance data
A results list of 1 is not likely and usually not necessary!