Lion will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026. Online training support is available via support@lion.com.
Search

Quick Quiz: A Hazmat Father's Day

Posted on 6/15/2023 by Lion Technology Inc.

A Hazmat Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! Kick off Dad's Day weekend with this short quiz highlighting contributions to hazardous materials training and emergency response made by "the Father of Modern Hazmat Thinking"—Ludwig Benner Jr.



ludwig benner jr the father of modern hazmat thinking
Pictured: Ludwig Benner, Jr. Photo credit: Firehouse.com

 

Benner developed a decision-making process to help firefighters evaluate hazmat incidents. It goes by the acronym...





Not quite.

Detect HM Presence. Estimate Likely Harm Without Intervention. Choose Response Objectives. Identify Action Options. Do Best Option. Evaluate Progress.
The DECIDE acronym represents key decision-making points that occur during a typical HAZMAT emergency. “The intent of the DECIDE process,” according to Benner, “is to help the responder get ‘ahead of the curve’ during a HAZMAT incident.”

That's right.

Detect HM Presence. Estimate Likely Harm Without Intervention. Choose Response Objectives. Identify Action Options. Do Best Option. Evaluate Progress.
The DECIDE acronym represents key decision-making points that occur during a typical HAZMAT emergency. “The intent of the DECIDE process,” according to Benner, “is to help the responder get ‘ahead of the curve’ during a HAZMAT incident.”

It can be argued that Benner’s work influenced the development of major US regulations—including OSHA’s primary standard for emergency response operations, known as





Not quite.

HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. It is an OSHA health and safety Standard found at 29 CFR 1910.120 that details training requirements for personnel who respond to emergencies involving hazardous substances (and other groups who work with and around hazardous substances).

That's right.

HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. It is an OSHA health and safety Standard found at 29 CFR 1910.120 that details training requirements for personnel who respond to emergencies involving hazardous substances (and other groups who work with and around hazardous substances).

Benner first identified a need for improved hazmat response while working for this agency.





Not quite.

While working for the NTSB in the 1960s and 70s, Benner was troubled by the number of deaths and injuries among firefighters responding to hazardous materials incidents. This led him to re-think training methods for emergency responders.

That's right.

While working for the NTSB in the 1960s and 70s, Benner was troubled by the number of deaths and injuries among firefighters responding to hazardous materials incidents. This led him to re-think training methods for emergency responders.

Benner created the General Hazardous Materials Behavior Model (GEBMO) as a model for how hazmat container failures occur. This was influenced by incident(s) in





Not quite.

Incidents in ALL of these cities influenced Benner. The first iteration of the GEBMO flow chart in 1975 was influenced by the idea that hazmat incidents were not much different from other "risky processes", according to Benner. This was then redesigned in 1980 and finalized in 1998.

That's right.

The first iteration of the GEBMO flow chart in 1975 was influenced by the idea that hazmat incidents were not much different from other "risky processes", according to Benner. This was then redesigned in 1980 and finalized in 1998.

 

Happy Father's Day! Thanks for checking out the quiz.

We present this quiz with special thanks to author and hazardous materials specialist Robert Burke, who wrote a moving tribute to Benner for Firehouse. That article served as inspiration and a main source of information for this piece.

We leave you with a short video clip of Mr. Benner discussing principles of effective emergency response.

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

I chose Lion's online webinar because it is simple, effective, and easily accessible.

Jeremy Bost

Environmental Health & Safety Technician

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

My experience with Lion training, both online and in the classroom, is that they are far better organized and provide a better sequential explanation of the material.

Robert Roose

Manager, Dangerous Goods Transportation

Given the choice, I would do all coursework this way. In-person courses go very fast without the opportunity to pause or repeat anything.

Ellen Pelton

Chemical Laboratory Manager

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

This is a very informative training compared to others. It covers everything I expect to learn and even a lot of new things.

Quatama Jackson

Waste Management Professional

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

We have a very busy work schedule and using Lion enables us to take the course at our own time. It makes it easy for me to schedule my employees' training.

Timothy Mertes

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion's information is very thorough and accurate. Presenter was very good.

Melissa Little

Regulatory Manager

Lion's online training is more comprehensive, has better slides, and is a superior training experience than what I would get from other trainers.

Robert Brenner

District Environmental Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Knowing why TSDFs reject loads of hazardous waste—and the exact steps to follow if it happens—can reduce your anxiety and uncertainty about rejection.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.