Which action is an awareness level hazardous materials responder qualified to take

Objectives

The objectives of this course are to meet the Federal OSHA HAZWOPER training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(i) for general industry, and 29 CFR 1926.65(q)(6)(i) for construction. This course is also intended to meet any HAZWOPER training requirements for the EPA and State OSHA regulations.

Per 29 CFR 1910.120 (q) (6) (i) and 29 CFR 1926.65 (q) (6) (i)

First responder awareness level. First responders at the awareness level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. They would take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release. First responders at the awareness level shall have sufficient training or have had sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• An understanding of what hazardous substances are, and the risks associated with them in an incident.
• 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.
• The ability to identify the hazardous substances, if possible.
• An understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual in the employer's emergency response plan including site security and control and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook.
• The ability to realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center.

Topics

This course consists of 15 sections broken down into 3 modules. It is recommended that users take each section in sequential order, although this is not required.

Exams

This course has 3 module exams.

It is recommended that once a student completes a module, they take the corresponding exam while the information is still fresh.

Each exam consists of 10 questions randomly selected from a large pool of questions. A 70% score or better is required to pass each exam.

If a student does not pass the exam the first time, they may retake the exam as many times as necessary in order to pass.

Additional

This course is designed to help workers meet the OSHA Hazmat First Responder Awareness (FRA) training requirement as outlined in the OSHA HAZWOPER regulation.

It should be combined with company specific training on the employer's Emergency Response Plan, including policies and procedures for employees that respond to hazardous materials emergencies.

Workers must receive additional training, when required by OSHA standards, on the specific hazards of their job.

Training Providers should be used to ensure credibility and augment a company's training program. Therefore, in addition to the training provided by an outside party, a student should receive site-specific training that is supplied by their own company. This training should target the company's unique approach to hazard prevention, including the use of site-specific equipment, health and safety policies, and emergency procedures. As a rule, this company specific training should be well documented.

The bottom line in ALL SITUATIONS is that employers are required to ensure that their employees are adequately trained to do their job.