This 3-day, 24-hour course emphasizes how to properly respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials for the purpose of mitigating the release in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii). This course is designed for the first responders (firefighters, law enforcement, hazmat team members and environmental personnel responding to emergencies).

Individuals should have awareness and operations level training prior to attending this course.

The course focuses on:

• Recognizing and evaluating a hazardous materials incident.
• Organizing the response team and protecting response personnel.
• Identifying and using response resources and equipment.
• Implementing confinement, containment and control measures.
• Refining decision-making skills to protect the public and environment.

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Implement an emergency response plan.
• Classify, identify and verify known and unknown materials using field survey instruments and equipment.
• Function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System.
• Select the appropriate specialized chemical personal protective equipment.
• Understand hazard and risk assessment techniques.
• Perform advanced control, containment and/or confinement operations.
• Understand and implement decontamination procedures.
• Understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.

Topics that are discussed include emergency response plans, characteristics of hazardous materials, toxicology, information resources, container identifications, incident command for hazardous materials, control contain and confinement of materials, chemical protective clothing, monitoring instruments, and decontamination.

Instructional methods used 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 a full scale exercise designed to apply and test the lessons learned during the course. Participants will wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) fully encapsulating suits. Individuals who are not participating in a respiratory protection and medical surveillance program should contact Registration and their employer prior to attending this course.

NOTE: A medical evaluation in accordance with the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134 is necessary in order to attend this course. PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT NOTES BELOW.

NOTE: This course meets and exceeds the minimum OSHA requirements of 24 hours of training for a hazardous materials technician.

Continuing Education Units: 2.2

ABIH (American Board of Industrial Hygienists) has previously awarded CM (Certification Maintenance) credit for this event. The current event contains 22 hours which can be claimed for CM credit.

In compliance with Executive Order 13589 - Promoting Efficient Spending, Section 5; the ERTP will not be regularly printing or providing students hard copies of the course manual. Students may obtain an electronic copy of the student manual for personal printing or e-reading at https://ertpvu.org/ClassroomCourseDetail.aspx?id=3

Unless otherwise specified, THIS COURSE, AND OTHER ERTP COURSES, IS NOT OPEN TO CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, OR ANY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*

IMPORTANT NOTICES – Applicable to all ERTP courses :

1. ERTP’s receipt of a Trainex course registration is a Registration Request, it is not a Guaranteed Enrollment in the Course. All ERTP training courses require applicant registration thru the Trainex system. Last minute course arrivals without prior ERTP Trainex course registration approval is not permitted. Before ERTP issues final approval to deliver any course and/or any EPA offices incurring expenses for the training event (including but not limited to EPA staff travel TA’s and/or ERTP training contractor expenses incurred), all EPA mandatory pre-approvals must all be met. The pre-approvals include (but are not limited to) the following:
   
   • Training location’s availability;
   • COVID status and/or other COVID Guidelines in effect for the location, as well as staff;
   • Agency limitations, scrutiny, and approvals of ‘Conference Spending Requirements (known as the “5170”)’ for the specific training course(s) scheduled delivery timeframe;
   • Weather (blizzard, hurricane, etc);
   • Contractual number of available course training slots;
   • EPA training location staff having priority registration over all other registrations; and/or
   • Hosting site Training Coordinator approval.
   
   In the event a course is subsequently postponed or canceled, or notification of registration cancellation is received, all EPA travel arrangements (airline/car rental/hotel) should be canceled in a timely manner. Registered students will receive a notification via email if/when a course is postponed and/or cancelled.
    
2. For in-person course deliveries, confirmed course registered participants must abide by all facility physical access requirements for the location (examples: check-in at the security gate, Federal ID, Government PIV/CAC cards, photo id’s, etc.). If applicable for the course or location, restrictions may apply to non-citizens and acceptable identification may be required for facility entry.

This course is being conducted primarily for current EPA ERTP external provides and people interested in becoming an external provider.  If you have questions about this course, contact Ted Ellwood at 513-333-4812 or ted.ellwood@tetratech.com.  For information about the EPA ERTP External Provider Program contact Bruce Potoka at potoka.bruce@epa.gov or visit www.ertpvu.com and click on External Providers.