HAZWOPER Training for Emergency Responders

The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard is an OSHA workplace health and safety standard found at 29 CFR Part 1910.120. HAZWOPER exists to protect employees in work environments that pose an elevated risk of exposure to “hazardous substances.”

There are five levels of responsibility for HAZWOPER-covered emergency responders. In this guide, we detail what each role looks like, and the training required by OSHA.

Level 1: First Responder Awareness (FRA)

The Role

HAZWOPER first responders at the awareness level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release, including lab and warehouse personnel.

Awareness level responders must be trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities. That can mean sounding an alarm, making an announcement over a PA system, calling security, calling 911, or using a radio to contact the hazmat team. Awareness-level responders take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release.

Required Training

For a new employee, OSHA requires training sufficient to demonstrate competency in specific areas. OSHA does not mandate a specific number of hours for this training.

For employees already trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training.

Lion recommends this 2 Hour Awareness course for both new awareness-level first responders and those needing refresher training.

Level 2: First Responder Operations (FRO)

The Role

Operations-level or FRO responders are trained to respond in a defensive fashion without trying to stop the release. FRO employees work to contain the release from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent hazardous substance exposure.

Examples of defensive response actions include remotely shutting down pumps or ventilation, putting covers on floor or storm drains, or placing absorbent booms to prevent spreading of the hazardous substance.

Required Training

For a new employee, OSHA requires 8 hours of initial training (or “sufficient experience to demonstrate competency” in key areas). Lion recommends this 8 Hour Initial course for new operations-level first responders.

For employees already trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends this 4 Hour Refresher course for operations-level first responders in need of annual refresher training.

Level 3: Hazardous Materials Technician

The Role

Hazardous materials technicians or hazmat techs, also called emergency response technicians, are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases by approaching the point of release to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance.

Because they take aggressive action in areas where the risk of hazardous substance exposure is especially high, employees at the technician level must complete extensive training to develop emergency response competencies like hazard recognition, PPE selection and use, and decontamination practices.

Required Training

For a new employee, OSHA requires 24 hours of initial training. Lion recommends this 24 Hour Initial course for new hazmat technicians.

For employees already trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends this 8 Hour Refresher course for hazmat technicians in need of annual refresher training.

Level 4: Hazardous Materials Specialist

Hazardous materials specialists are individuals who respond with and provide support to hazardous materials technicians. Their duties parallel those of the technician; however, they require a more direct and specific knowledge of the substances that could be involved in a release.

For a new specialist, OSHA requires 24 hours of initial training equal to the Hazardous Materials Technician Level. Plus, competency in several additional skills and areas found at [29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iv)].

Lion does not offer training appropriate for Hazardous Materials Specialists.

Level 5: Incident Commander

The Role

On-scene incident commanders carry overall responsibility for managing the emergency scenario by establishing objectives, planning, strategizing, and implementing tactics.

Required Training

For a new IC, OSHA requires 24 hours of initial training, and training on additional Incident Commander topics. Lion recommends its 24 Hour Initial and 4 Hour Initial courses for new incident commanders.

For employees already trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends its 4 Hour Refresher and 4 Hour Incident Commander Refresher courses for incident commanders in need of annual refresher training.

Tags: emergency response, HAZWOPER