A Beekeeping Suit (sort of) Story

[Slowmodem]

I heard a story today about a beekeeper that is a fireman.  He teaches at a fire school where they train firemen and hazmat and stuff.  He thought he'd be smart and borrow a Class A Hazmat suit for his beekeeping instead of buying a beekeeping suit.



I think his wife may have helped him get into it.  But after a little while of working his hives, he realized that there's no ventilation and he's totally enclosed in a plastic suit.  He was getting hot, and couldn't get the zipper open.  His wife finally ended up cutting the suit open with a knife to get him out.  Those suits cost $1000+.  I think he learned a lesson.  I don't know if he had to pay for the suit or not.

[Perry]

 

Nobody said beekeepers were smart!

Hey, wait a minute...................

[Jen]

 

[riverbee]

"Nobody said beekeepers were smart! "

"He was getting hot, and couldn't get the zipper open.  His wife finally ended up cutting the suit open with a knife to get him out.  Those suits cost $1000+"

perry, it's the other way around. fire folks equipped with hazmat suits aren't too smart when it comes to thinking they can use it as a beekeeping suit.....

[lazy shooter]

My training in hazmat has caused me to be suited up in a Class A hazmat suit on occasion.  Note, I said training as I have never worked a hazmat situation.  I can't imagine how anyone thought they could work bees in such a suit.  Also, a hazmat suit has to be cleaned after each use, and it is an expensive cleaning, and lastly, those suits are only to be worn for 30 minutes at a time by a trained professional.  Longer use than that increases the danger of HEAT EXHAUSTION.  This was not a well thought out plan.

[Riverrat]

Very innovative.  I would take it a step further and get a small 110 air conditioner and small generator on a wagon  hooked to the suit and have the little wifey pull it around while I worked hives.  Problem solved 

[Slowmodem]

This was not a well thought out plan.

You're right.  But some folks are penny wise and pound foolish.   

[brooksbeefarm]

When on the rescue and salvage truck (spent 8 yrs. on it) for the Springfield, Mo. Fire Dept. my partners and i  was called out on a fluid leaking out of a semi trailer truck. We were suiting up to go in when the Bat. Chef noticed a placard (USA Gov.) he called to check it out and was told a team would be on it's way and for us not to enter, To make a long story short, when the team got there and entered in what looked like space suits to  stop the leak and clean the mess off the street, there leader told us it was a good thing we didn't enter with our hazmat suits, that the leaking liquid would have ate our suits like it was candy. You never Know??? Jack

[Slowmodem]

When on the rescue and salvage truck (spent 8 yrs. on it) for the Springfield, Mo. Fire Dept. my partners and i  was called out on a fluid leaking out of a semi trailer truck. We were suiting up to go in when the Bat. Chef noticed a placard (USA Gov.) he called to check it out and was told a team would be on it's way and for us not to enter, To make a long story short, when the team got there and entered in what looked like space suits to  stop the leak and clean the mess off the street, there leader told us it was a good thing we didn't enter with our hazmat suits, that the leaking liquid would have ate our suits like it was candy. You never Know??? Jack

Knowing what you're dealing with is very important.  There are books and lists that tell what the hazards for each compound is.  Protective equipment/first aid/etc., is dependent on what you're dealing with.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hazardous-materials/hazardous-materials-emergency-response-guidebook