RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
This year’s conference was Oct. 10-13 in St. Louis, Missouri, and included two days of classroom training, and a third day that was all hands-on instruction. Day one started with a rather in depth lesson on body decomposition. Day two was more into the nitty gritty of forensic restoration. And day three was fully hands-on. These pictures tell the story!
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Jeff Jones of Bio-Sheen, and one of the main organizers of the Focus on Forensics Conference, dressed as Teddy Roosevelt to prepare to be “in the arena.”
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
A view of all the attendees during the 2-day classroom learning before the hands-on training on day 3.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
4: The third day of the conference was all hands-on training, including respirator fit tests.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Jennifer Singer, corporate safety at BELFOR, helped with the respirator fit test process.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Here are three different options for respiratory protection. On the far right is a full-face respirator, the middle is a P-100 filtering face piece, and the far left is a Max Air PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator), which offered a great deal more comfort and functionality than some of the other options.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Before building full-size containment and decontamination chambers, attendees build smaller models of what the chambers would look like.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Gordy Powell, Georgia Clean, and Jason Capon, Benefect, work together to complete their model-sized decon chamber.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Michael Pinto gets hands-on to help students learn best practices when handling forensic restoration work.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
This is one of two rooms where full-sized containment and decon chambers were built before the real hands-on remediation work started.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Each containment chamber was carefully enclosed, and zipper doors added.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Another look at efforts to build one of six or so full-sized containment chambers.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Derrick Denis, Clark Seif Clark, works to form good openings for a negative air machine and hydroxyl generator.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
On the left is a look at the negative air machine, air mover, and hydroxyl generators on the outside of the containment chamber. On the right is what it partially looked like from the inside – carefully sealing any gaps where contaminated air could leak out of the chamber.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
Here’s a look at the biohazardous material attendees were tasked with remediating.
RIA Focus on Forensics Conference 2016
By late afternoon on the third day, everyone was in full PPE, and working inside containment chambers to effectively clean and disinfect a surface contaminated with biohazardous material.