Book excerpt: Written by a hazardous materials consultant with over 40 years of experience in emergency services, the five-volume Hazmatology: The Science of Hazardous Materials suggests a new approach dealing with the most common aspects of hazardous materials, containers, and the affected environment. It focuses on innovations in decontamination, monitoring instruments, and personal protective equipment in a scientific way, utilizing common sense, and takes a risk-benefit approach to hazardous material response. This set provides the reader with a hazardous materials "Tool Box" and a guide for learning which tools to use under what circumstances. Emergency responders are bound to a Standard of Care for response to hazardous materials incidents, based on federal law, regulations, and consensus standards. Volume Two, Standard of Care and Hazmat Planning, presents the hazardous materials legal issues and background on the Hazmat Standard of Care, including incidents where Care was violated and the repercussions felt. FEATURES Uses a scientific approach utilizing analysis of previous incidents Suggests guidance in developing plans for hazmat response Provides an exploration of laws, regulations, and standards Outlines the elements of Standard of Care response Includes case studies and in-depth history of Standard of Care response