Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Training

Regulatory Requirement Summary

General Industry . –  Hazardous Waste Training Standards – CCR Title 8 Sections 5192 (California OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.120 (Federal OSHA)

OSHA requires employers to provide the following training to employees who are designated to respond to a hazardous materials spill (29 CFR 1910.120(q) and CCR Title 8 Section 5192(q)). Employees may NOT respond to spills if they have not been certified to do so. The following courses include student materials and certification.

Hazardous Materials (FRA) Awareness Level Training  

Eight (8) Hours

First Responders at the Awareness Level (FRA) 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. This course meets requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 and Title 8 section 5192.

Hazardous Materials (FRO) Operations Level Training  

Twenty Four (24) Hours

First Responders at the Operations Level (FRO) are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances as part of the initial response to the site for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, or the environment from the effects of the release. They are trained to respond in a defensive fashion without actually trying to stop the release. Their function is to contain the release from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent exposures. This course meets requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 and Title 8 section 5192.

Hazardous Materials Technician Level Training  

Thirty Two (32) Hours

Hazardous Materials Technicians are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for the purpose of stopping the release. They assume a more aggressive role than a First Responder at the Operations Level in that they will approach the point of release in order to plug, patch or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance. Also, Technicians will decontaminate the release area and properly prepare materials for proper disposal. This course meets requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 and Title 8 section 5192.

Hazardous Material Incident Commander  

An additional eight (8) hours beyond Technician Level

This course is designed to provide participants with an increased capability to assume the role of an Incident Commander during hazardous materials events; with specific emphasis on personnel safety and management of the HazMat scene. This course is targeted and helpful for anyone who may assume an ICS Commander General Staff role on a HazMat incident. This is an excellent scene management class for any multi-agency emergency. Any public or private agency which has “scene management responsibility must have this level or training under Federal/State OSHA regulations. This course meets requirements of Title 8 section 5192. Must also complete the 32-hour Technician for this certification.