HAZWOPER Training:
Emergency Response Initial: Hazmat-Technician-Level Responders

First responders at the hazardous materials (hazmat) technician level are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of stopping the release. They take a more aggressive role than lower-level responders and will approach the point of release to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release.

To prepare for these duties, first responders at the technical level need to know about:

• Their organization's Emergency Response Plan and how to implement it
• Hazardous substance classification, identification, and verification using field survey instruments and equipment
• Their assigned role within the Incident Command System
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection and use
• Hazard and risk assessment
• Advance control, containment, and/or confinement measures
• Decontamination procedure implementation
• Termination procedures
• Chemical and toxicological behavior and terminology

HAZWOPER Emergency Response Initial Training: Hazmat-Technician-Level Responders Curriculum

There are eleven e-learning courses included within the HAZWOPER: Emergency Response Initial Training: Hazmat-Technician-Level Responders Curriculum:

HAZWOPER: Emergency Response Planning

Designed to focus on what an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is, the basic steps involved in an emergency response, employee roles in a response to a hazardous substance emergency release, and internal and external communications during an emergency.

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Chemical Fundamentals

Designed to inform learners of how chemical-related terms are defined; the health and physical hazards, properties, stability, reactivity, and toxicity of chemicals; and the routes, symptoms, types, and effects of chemical exposure.

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Hazardous Substance Recognition & Identification

Designed to teach learners the methods and resources available to help recognize and identify hazardous substances in an emergency, how to assess risk in an emergency, and make initial decisions in an emergency.

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Emergency & Post-Emergency Response Procedures

Designed to expose learners to the steps used for notification, preparation, and response during emergency and post-emergency response operations.

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Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing

Designed to inform learners of the different types of PPE and chemical protective clothing (CPC) including their uses and limitations, levels of protection, how to don and doff the equipment, and the importance of proper storage, inspection, and maintenance of the equipment.

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HazCom, Hazmat, and Hazardous Waste

Designed to cover the basics of OSHA Hazard Communication, DOT Hazardous Materials, and EPA Hazardous Waste regulations with the perspective of the hazardous waste cleanup site worker and emergency responder in mind. The HAZWOPER Standard, at its core, is about operations that involve the handling of hazardous substances, including hazardous chemicals, materials, and waste.

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Exposure Monitoring & Sampling

Designed to inform the learner of the purpose and advantages and disadvantages of exposure monitoring and sampling, types and frequency of monitoring and sampling, the instruments used along with calibration and maintenance requirements, methods available for obtaining samples, and the importance of recognizing result data and keeping accurate records of samples collected.

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Medical Program

Designed to acquaint learners with the Medical Program including the types of exams required, emergency and non-emergency treatment, medical records available, and symptoms to watch for that may indicate injury or illness while working with hazardous substances during hazardous waste cleanup or emergency response operations.

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Decontamination

Designed to focus on ways to avoid contamination, the decontamination process including methods and equipment used in decontamination, the limitations associated with decontamination, the decontamination line itself, and emergency decontamination procedures.

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Respiratory Protection

Designed to provide learners with comprehensive information on the purpose of respirators, all the components and types of respiratory protection equipment, respirator selection factors, respirator fit tests, and how to care for and use a respirator properly.

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Health & Physical Hazards

Designed to create awareness to hazards that may be present when working at a hazardous waste cleanup site or responding to an emergency release. Hazard control, chemical hazards, other site hazards, and related safety and health precautions are covered.

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Intended Audience: Any employees who may be involved or expected to engage in:

1. Hazardous waste cleanup operations where the employee may be exposed to hazardous substances; or
2. A response to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance

Copyright Date: 2018

IMPORTANT NOTE: In OSHA's view, HAZWOPER online training, by itself, is not sufficient to meet the intent of the agency's training requirements for HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1910.120 for general industry or 29 CFR 1926.65 for construction. Therefore, online training must be supplemented by site-specific elements, hands-on training and exercises, and an opportunity for trainees to ask questions of a qualified trainer. When using this curriculum as a tool to help with training under §1910.120(q)(6)/§1926.65(q)(6), we suggest you:

• Ensure your trainer is qualified, in accordance with §1910.120(q)(7)/§1926.65(q)(7)
• Augment the online training with site-specific elements
• Tailor your training to the employees' assigned duties
• Include hands-on training to familiarize trainees with equipment, PPE, and safe practices
• Provide trainees with immediate and direct access to a qualified trainer as they are taking the course
• Offer an opportunity for trainees to ask questions of the qualified trainer
• Ensure all training elements listed in the regulation are covered
• Meet the training duration requirement under §1910.120(q)(6)/§1926.65(q)(6) (NOTE: This online training course curriculum is not intended to fill the training duration requirement of 24 hours, and it is anticipated the remaining duration will be filled with the items in the bullets above)
• Ensure the employer certifies the trainee has met the training requirements in accordance with §1910.120(q)(6)/§1926.65(q)(6). (NOTE: The online training curriculum does not provide HAZWOPER certification; the online course curriculum certificate only acknowledges the completion of the online training itself.)