This 24-hour basic training program was designed for personnel in industrial manufacturing facilities that use, produce and market industrial chemicals, some of which are hazardous in nature. Participants in the course are usually plant operations, maintenance, engineering and support personnel employed by the facility who will serve on the Plant Emergency Response or HAZMAT Team. Many of the participants may have previously served on the Plant Fire Brigade and completed training programs on fire prevention and suppression, Hazard Communication and the care, use and limitations of personal protective equipment used at the facility.

The presentation of this program helps satisfy current OSHA Training Requirements for Emergency Response Personnel at the Technician Level and will utilize classroom discussions, video tapes and other audiovisuals, workbooks, demonstrations and practice sessions. Goals are to:

• Improve awareness and understanding of the hazards and safeguards associated with response to onsite and offsite emergencies involving hazardous materials they use and produce
• Understand how an emergency organization functions and operates
• Provide initial basic training on emergency response activities that can be supplemented with more detailed and specific emergency response action plans and practice sessions
• Satisfy OSHA and EPA Training Requirements for HAZMAT Technicians.

Upon completion of the program participants should be able to:

• Describe duties and responsibilities of a hazardous materials emergency response organization
• Recognize that personnel safety is the top priority and that failure to respond correctly and promptly to hazardous materials incidents can lead to more serious and possibly life threatening situations
• Use the North American Emergency Response Guidebook and the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
• Describe the hazards associated with hazardous materials emergencies and follow the company's emergency reporting and response procedures
• With additional training, serve on the Plant Emergency Response/HAZMAT Team as a Hazardous Materials Technician for materials and products used or manufactured by the company
• Describe the basic techniques available for control, containment, suppression, and cleanup of chemical spills and releases
• Implement and work within framework of the incident command system
Demonstrate how to use selected portable gas testing instruments including a combustible gas detector, oxygen analyzer and direct reading colorimetric tubes to detect and evaluate potentially hazardous environments
• Select the necessary personal protective equipment for emergency response including gloves, boots, chemical resistant suits and respiratory protection
• Describe how an emergency site is isolated and access controlled with respect to hot zones, warm zones, decontamination areas, the command post and staging areas
Take the necessary precautions to prevent heat related illnesses
• Describe the signs and symptoms of heat stress and the appropriate first aid
• Describe the basic classifications of hazardous materials and wastes and the possible methods of disposal
• Demonstrate how to properly decontaminate tools and equipment
• Explain how to terminate emergency response operations