ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the different hazards associated with the seizure of clandestine manufacturing operations. It will provide a general overview of the different types of clandestine lab hazards. While some sections may be simplified and a refresher for experienced investigators, the goal is to provide the information required to give everyone involved in the investigations and prosecution of clandestine manufacturing operations a basic understanding of the scope of the hazards involved.
The three things clandestine labs have in common, regardless of their location or sophistication, are the simple facts that the operators usually have little chemical training, the operations are makeshift, and no two operations are alike. These three principal hazards exist whether the final product is methamphetamine or phencyclidine (PCP), flash powder or nitroglycerine.
There are numerous specific types of hazards associated with clandestine labs. These hazards have been grouped into categories and prioritized according to the immediate harm they can present to the personnel responding to the scene of a suspected clandestine lab. These hazard groups, in order of priority, are explosion, fire, firearms and exposure.
A clandestine lab is a mixture of physical hazards and chemicals with varying hazard levels and chemical compatibility. The hazards associated with some of the reaction by-products may be greater than those of any known chemicals. The generic rules that can be used when dealing with the hazards at a clandestine lab site will be discussed.
