Working Quickly to Protect the Health and Safety of First Responders During the Opioid Crisis

Early in the opioid crisis, some emergency medical technicians and police officers were hospitalized after being exposed to Fentanyl while on the job. Recognizing this emerging danger to first responders, EPA tasked CSS to prepare a Quick Response Guide on the dangerous drug. With limited published information on the health impacts of fentanyl, our staff reached out to scientists in the US and other countries. We also worked with an EPA toxicology expert to develop Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) on fentanyl because other federal health agencies lacked updated, useable information. In just 20 weeks, CSS conducted detailed research; obtained and incorporated input from outside experts; wrote large sections of the document; assembled the first draft; presented the draft to On-scene Coordinators in EPA Regions 4 and 5; shepherded 11 subsequent drafts through reviews by all stakeholders; and coordinated with Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) to publish the final 10-page Quick Response Guide on EPA’s website. We continue to update and revise the document as new information becomes available.

Additional Projects

Procedures, Plans, and Training to Support Emergency Response

CSS provided health and safety, field, and analytical support for EPA’s Consequence Management Advisory Division.

Industrial Hygiene Services for the Army Public Health Command (APHC)

CSS served as the prime contractor performing facility-wide industrial hygiene (IH) surveys and assessments at 16 CONUS and 8 OCONUS Army installations for FY2016. We scheduled and executed surveys using teams of IH professionals for large-scale (NTE 200 shops surveys, 400 ventilation evaluations, 100 sound level measurements, and 100 noise dosimetry measurements per Army installation)…

Biogeographic Assessment of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI)

CSS compiled and visualized data showing the distribution of habitats and marine organisms, to establish a baseline for assessing and monitoring potential environmental impacts from renewable energy projects.

Human Health Risk Assessment

We help advance the understanding of chemical effects on people and the environment.

Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

We apply science to address challenges affecting the nation’s natural resources.

IT Services

Our IT solutions meet clients’ evolving needs.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

We help our clients prepare for and protect the health and environment of communities after disasters and hazmat releases.

Earth & Space Science Support & Operations

We deliver scientific support to advance our clients’ research goals.

Satellite Data Applications

Helping create a more environmentally sustainable, weather-ready, and secure nation through application of earth observation data  

Safety, Health, & Environmental

We provide our clients with tools to protect their workforce, the public, and the environment.

Get in touch

Contact us to learn more about our projects, capabilities, solutions, and service offerings.