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Hazardous Materials Response - Awareness Level
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Introductory Information:

Participants will learn how to recognize a hazardous materials release and the risks involved. They will also learn how to identify the released material; how to use available resources, including the Emergency Response Guidebook; and how to notify the proper authorities in the event of a hazardous material emergency.

Main Topics Covered in this Course Include:

  • Definitions
  • Six Clues
  • Resources
  • Health Hazards
  • Protective Actions

Opening Remarks:

SafeResponse has developed this online Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Awareness and Refresher training program for personnel working for federal, state, and local government agencies. This includes law enforcement personnel, fire and EMS personnel, Road Commission employees, and others who may be first on the scene of a hazardous materials emergency.

Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training Resources:

  • MUNICIPAL First-on-the-Scene Participant Manual
  • INDUSTRIAL First-on-the-Scene Participant Manual

Certification

Certificates of completion can be printed by the participant once a 70% or greater score is achieved. The participant may take the quiz as many times as necessary in order to reach the 70% mark. A representative from the employer will need to certify/sign each certificate. In order to be certified, all participants must complete the required information within the registration process. In addition, each participant must complete the training on an individual basis. If you ask someone else to go through the program for you, you will not learn the information that will be necessary to protect your health and safety. This will also render your certificate null and void.

Legal Requirements:

First responders at the Awareness Level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release. They are also trained to define a hazardous material and its risks, recognize a release, identify the material if possible, and identify the need for additional resources, such as the area Hazmat Team. This includes law enforcement personnel.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and state OSHA programs, a responder at the Awareness Level must have:

  • An understanding of hazardous substances and the risks associated with them in an emergency
  • An understanding of the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous substances are present
  • The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency
  • An understanding of the role of the first responder at the Awareness Level, including site security and control and use of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook
  • The ability to realize the need for additional resources and to provide good information to the communication center

Getting the Most out of the Program:

  1. Before starting the course, click on each Section Tab at the top of the Introduction page. This will tell you how the course is organized.
  2. You do not need to complete the course in one session. Plan 20 to 30 minute blocks of time for each module.
  3. This course should take (on average) 3 hours to complete. Use this number if you are required to track time spent during training.
  4. To continue a course that's been started, simply view your dashboard.
  5. You should try to complete an entire module before ending your session. Also, if your computer system crashes during your session, you may have to start your current module all over again when you return.
  6. Each of the modules of this course has a summary and questions at the end. Completing these questions will reinforce what you have learned.
  7. At the end of the course, you will have to take a short quiz. In order to receive a certificate, you will have to get a minimum score of 70%. Certificates of completion can be printed by the participant once the 70% or greater score is achieved. The participant may take the quiz as many times as necessary in order to reach the 70% mark. Passing the test will confirm that you have met OSHA training requirements for Hazardous Materials Awareness.
  8. Many of the questions in the quiz are based on information that appears in the pop-up boxes that occur throughout the course. You will get a better score on the quiz if you click on any words or phrases that are highlighted in blue.
  9. Finally, online learning is based on content and learner responsibility. As a learner, you have even more responsibility when taking this course. If you skip a section or fail to review all the material, it could result in an injury to you, a fellow employee, or a member of the general public. For this reason, we urge you to get as much out of this course as you can.
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