The purpose of this course is to provide participants who are likely first responders with an improved capability to respond to Haz Mat events in a safe and competent manner, within the typical resource and capability limitations at the "Awareness" Level.

Cal OSHA Requirements for Training: §1592(q)(6) Training shall be based on the duties and function to be performed by each responder of an emergency response organization. The skill and knowledge levels required for all responders shall be conveyed to them through training before they are permitted to take part in actual emergency operations on an incident. Employees who participate, in emergency response, shall be given training in accordance...§5195(q)(6)

Topics

This 8 hour course should give the responder the ability to:

Recognize potential or actual Haz Mat incidents
Conduct basic initial identification and assessment
Safely isolate and deny entry
Initiate notifications
Contribute to effective and efficient response

At the conclusion of this course participants will be able to achieve all of the following objectives through completion of a comprehensive exam meeting listed performance standards:

Recognize what Hazardous Materials are; the problems they pose; the risks and outcomes Haz Mat events present; and identify the Haz Mat First Responder's Awareness VS Operational Role (including the limits of both roles).
Recognize a Haz Mat event through basic clues, warning signs, placards, labels, shipping papers and MSDS's; cite the need for a positive safety attitude; and describe a mental safe approach tactic upon recognition of the Haz Mat event.
Describe basic First Responder actions, citing the need for safety, isolating/denying entry, and making required notification to begin a safe and effective response to a Haz Mat incident.
Describe purpose and need to safely initiate command, and explain purpose, need and benefits of scene management.
Describe identification and hazard assessment techniques; and demonstrate use of the North American Emergency Response Guidebook to initiate basic action planning

Prerequisites

Training shall be based on the duties and functions to be performed by each responder in an emergency response organization. The skill and knowledge levels required for all responders shall be conveyed to them through training before they are permitted to take part in actual emergency operations on an incident. Employees who participate, or are expected to participate, in emergency response, shall be given training in accordance with 29CFR- 1910.120(q)(6)(iii) [CalOSHA is 8CCR§5192(q)(6)(C)].

Other Information

Refresher Training:
Forklift refresher training requirements call for evaluation and certification of competence by the employer at least once every 3 years, and more often in the following circumstances:

The operator operates vehicle in unsafe manner
The operator is involved in an accident or near miss
The operator has received a poor evaluation
Assignment to a different type of forklift
Workplace conditions change