DoD Center for Environmental Initiatives and Hands-on Training (CEIHOT), Ft. Sill

OSAN AB, OSAN, Korea

GBK has been approved by the US EPA Environmental Response Team Program external provider program.

Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents (EPA165.15)

This course provides those personnel, primarily firefighters, police officers, emergency medical services, and environmental personnel with the information and skills needed to recognize, evaluate, and control an incident involving the release or potential release of hazardous materials.  It is intended for members of hazardous materials response teams.

The focus of the course is on recognizing and evaluating a hazardous materials incident, organizing the response team, protecting response personnel, identifying and using response resources, implementing basic control measures, refining decision-making skills, and protecting the public.  Firefighting techniques are not part of the course.

Instructional methods use are lectures, class problem-solving sessions, and exercises.  Emphasis is on the hands-on use of equipment to practically apply lecture information.  Class members will participate in two simulations designed to apply and test the lessons learned during the week.  Participants will wear fully encapsulating suits and chemical splash gear.  Individuals who are not participating in a medical surveillance program should consult their physician prior to attending this course. 

Learning Objectives

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

1. Select the appropriate personal protective equipment for responding to an incident involving hazardous materials;

2. Use combustible gas detectors, oxygen meters, and detector tubes to evaluate the hazards present at a hazardous materials incident;

3. Use confinement and containment techniques to control the release of a hazardous material;

4. Identify the importance of an incident command system for effectively managing an incident involving hazardous materials; 

5. Develop procedures for the decontamination of emergency response personnel; and

6. Use size-up techniques to develop strategies and select the appropriate tactics for mitigating hazardous material incidents.

Methods and procedures for evaluating and controlling a hazardous materials incident.

Guidelines and principles for protecting the health and safety of response personnel.

The fundamentals of response team organization and operations.

The proper use of chemical protective clothing and direct-reading instruments.

Confinement and containment techniques