Minimize Your Aerosol Risk

     Physical altercations between law enforcement officers and individuals resisting arrest have historically been a source of injury to both officers and subjects. Law enforcement officers adequately trained in the use of force are authorized to use force in specified circumstances, and frequently are faced with numerous occasions when use of force is not only appropriate, but also necessary.

     Concerns for increased civil liability, as well as the court-imposed limitations on the use of deadly force require agencies to continuously explore safer, yet more effective less-than-lethal force alternatives. One such alternative is Aerosol Subject Restraints (ASRs).

     Agency use of ASRs has increased dramatically in recent years as ASRs have proven to greatly assist law enforcement officers in resolving difficult situations. When correctly deployed, ASRs are a viable method for controlling resistive behavior without increasing the likelihood of death or serious injury.

     As with any weapon system, officers should be trained, and retrained. In the interest of officer safety, and to reduce the threat of litigation, initial training should be as realistic as possible while following the manufacturers recommendations. Policies should be adopted that call for objective and reasonable use of all control options, including ASRs. Policies should also require appropriate post exposure monitoring and aftercare.

Note: While adherence to the recommendations listed at right may reduce the likelihood of a successful claim against your agency, it will not eliminate all exposure to such claims. To that end, always consult with your attorney for specific legal advise.

Minimize Your Aerosol Risk By:

¡Choose a NON-FLAMMABLE formulation that contains NO CARCINOGENS
   and NO ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. Acquire Material Safety Data
   Sheets (MSDS) in accordance with the American National Standards
   Institute (ANSI) format prior to purchase. If you receive an MSDS with blank
   spaces that are not completed, be certain to request one that is appropriately
   completed.

¡Adopt a procedure governing the use of ASRs that is not brand specific and
   addresses the proper use of all OC products. Make certain to incorporate
   language with regard to training considerations and reporting requirements
   following use of ASRs.

¡Avoid the placement of ASRs onto specific levels in your agencies force/
   control continuum.

¡Require training and certification of all officers BEFORE authorization to
   carry or use ASRs. Training must include use, decontamination, maintenance,
   and storage of ASRs.

¡Utilize training programs that meet your state POST Councils guidelines for
   use of force programs, and that are post approved.

¡Accomplish the most realistic training possible. While some agencies allow
   officers to carry ASRs without being exposed, the vast majority of training
   officers recommend a dynamic, full spray hit; which is a 1–2 second burst
   sprayed directly into the face.

¡Develop appropriate safety and medical controls for your training program.

¡Require a bare minimum of annual retraining with all issued/approved
   weapons/control options. More recurrent training is suggested.

¡Require meticulous post use-of-force monitoring of subjects, particularly
   when ASRs are used.

¡Require that an ASR Usage Report and/or Use Of Force Report be
   completed after every usage.

Stay Safe/Minimize Your Aerosol Risk

Reliapon offers the safest, most environmentally friendly ASRs available today. All products are nonflammable, contain no carcinogens or isopropyl alcohol, and all utilize non-hydrocarbon, environmentally friendly propellants.

Although exposures to a number of well-recognized carcinogens have been reduced or eliminated in recent years, many law enforcement professional continue to be unnecessarily exposed to known or suspected cancer-causing agents through the use of ASRs containing Methylene Chloride, and/or other potential carcinogens. Do you know that agencies that choose to use an ASR which contains known or suspected occupational carcinogens are required to comply with the Federal Hazard Communication Act?

This Act requires that employers must communicate to employees that they are being exposed to chemicals that may cause cancer in humans. OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.1200 sets forth the guidelines and is intended to address comprehensively the issue of evaluation the potential hazards of chemicals, and communicating information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees. This is to be accomplished by means of compressive hazard communications programs, which include container labeling, material safety data sheets (MSDS), employee training and employee monitoring. 29 CFR 1910.1052 (Subpart Title: Toxic and Hazardous Substances) states that employees exposed to Methylene Chloride and other carcinogens are at increased risk of developing cancer, adverse effects on the heart, liver, central nervous system, and skin or eye irritation. Exposure may occur through inhalation, or contact with or absorption through the skin. Under the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1052(d), employers are required to monitor "employee exposure" which is defined as "Exposure to Methylene Chloride, which occurs or would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protection".

Employers who recognize that employees are/have been exposed to Methylene Chloride must make an "initial determination" of each employee's exposure level. If the employer determines that employees are exposed at or above the "Action Level" (29 CFR 1910.1052(b)) which by the way is lower that the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), the employer is require to:

     A) Establish a record of each employees past exposure to Methylene Chloride (and other
           carcinogens)
     B) Establish a determination level for each employee's past exposure to Methylene Chloride
           (determination levels must be made in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(1)(i)(a) or 29
           CFR 1910.1052(d)(1)(i)(b)).
     C) Provide training to each "exposed" employee in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1052(l).
     D) Initiate provisions to shield other employees from contact with
           Methylene Chloride in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1052(h).

Minimize your aerosol risk by choosing a nonflammable formulation that contains NO CARCINOGENS and NO ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (which can cause corneal burns). Acquire Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) format prior to purchase. If you receive an MSDS with blank spaces that are not completed, be certain to request one that is appropriately completed.

Adopt a procedure governing the use of ASRs that is not brand specific and addresses the proper use of all OC products. Make certain to incorporate language with regard to training considerations and reporting requirements following use of ASRs.

Avoid the placement of ASRs onto specific levels in your agency's force/control continuum.

Require training and certification of all officers BEFORE authorization to carry or use ASRs. Training must include use, decontamination, maintenance, and storage of ASRs.

Utilize training programs that meet your state POST Councils guidelines of use of force programs, and that as POST-approved.

Accomplish the most realistic training possible. While some agencies allow officers to carry ASRs without being exposed, the vast majority of training officers recommend a dynamic, full spray hit: which is a 1-2 second burst sprayed directly into the face.

Develop appropriate safety and medical controls for your training program.

Require a bare minimum of annual retraining with all issued/approved weapons/control options. More recurrent training is suggested.

Require meticulous post use-of-force monitoring of subjects, particularly when ASRs are use.

Require that an ASR Usage Report and/or Use Of Force Report be completed after every usage.