HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 111.04 REVISED 8-2012_Haz Mat Training1 1 1.04 - Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes
Effective. 11/1/1999
p
Revised: 8/5/2012
Replaces. UOG 111.03
I. Guiding Philosophy
There are a number of state and federal agencies that enact and enforce laws relating to
hazardous substances. These agencies assist local governments in ensuring that lives and
property are adequately protected by setting minimum requirements for training and response to
hazardous materials incidents. For the safety of our workforce and the public we serve, we do
our best to comply with these regulations and respond professionally to hazardous materials calls
for service.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to define the procedures and responsibilities associated with
initial and refresher hazardous materials training requirements for Beaumont Fire -Rescue
personnel.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Reference applicable regulatory agencies, laws, and training requirements related
to hazardous substances.
B. Communicate required initial and refresher haz mat training requirements.
C. Detail the responsibilities associated with the hazardous materials training
program.
IV. Definitions
A. DOT — Acronym for the U.S. Department of Transportation; federal agency that
enacts and enforces regulations related to the transport of hazardous materials.
B. EPA —Acronym for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; federal agency
that enact and enforces regulations on environmental contamination related to
hazardous materials.
C. First Responder Operations Level — 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
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 1 of 6
from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent exposures.
[1910.120(q)(6)(ii)]
D. Hazard Communication Program — Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter 502,
also referred to as the Employee Right -to -Know Act, which regulates the
minimum requirements employers must meet for providing information about
hazardous chemicals in the workplace to employees and other interested parties.
E. Hazardous Materials Technician — 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. [1910.120(q)(6)(iii)]
F. Hazardous Substances — Toxic or harmful materials that can pose a potential
hazard to human health if not handled or disposed of properly.
G. HMRT — Acronym for Hazardous Materials Response Team.
H. OSHA — Acronym for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, an
office of the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA writes workplace safety and health
rules and makes sure that workers have a safe environment to do their jobs.
I. TCEQ — Acronym for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; state
agency that enacts and enforces regulations on contamination of land, air and
water in Texas.
J. TGLO — Acronym for the Texas General Land Office; state agency that enacts
and enforces regulations on contamination of waterways in Texas.
V. Reaulatory Aaencies & Responder Trainina Reauirements
A. In Texas, local, state and federal governments cooperate to investigate and clean
up areas affected by hazardous materials spills and/or releases. The state agencies
regulating hazardous materials operations are the TCEQ and TGLO. The EPA,
DOT and OSHA regulate different aspects of hazardous materials operations at
the federal level.
B. The TCEQ cooperates with OSHA in regards to worker safety and health rules for
workers who may be exposed to hazardous substances in their jobs. Though
Texas is not an OSHA state, the TCEQ requires that workers who may be
exposed to hazardous substances receive training that meets OSHA requirements.
C. Training requirements for first responders to hazardous materials emergencies are
outlined in 29 CFR 1910.120(q) — Emergency Response Program to Hazardous
Substance Releases.
D. Refresher training may consist of appropriately documented benchmark
practice/evaluations, drills, exercises, instructor -led classes, computer-based
instruction or a combination of these methods.
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 2 of 6
VI. Reauired Initial & Refresher Trainin
A. Employee Right -to -Know Training
1. All new hires will be provided initial Right -to -Know training during
orientation.
2. Right -to -Know refresher training will be completed and appropriately
documented by all personnel annually.
B. First Responder—Operations Level [1910.120(q)(6)(ii)]
1. The minimum level of training required for all uniformed Beaumont Fire -
Rescue Services personnel is First Responder -Operations Level. Unless
superseded later in this policy, all uniformed personnel must maintain this
level of training and competency for the duration of their employment.
2. Persons who have not successfully completed or who do not have
documentation to support successful completion of Operations Level
training at the time of hire will be required to successfully complete the
training and provide necessary documentation prior to the end of the
probationary period.
a. One training opportunity for the probationary member to
successfully complete Operations Level training will be
provided at the Department's time and expense.
b. Should the probationary member fail to successfully complete
the training on the first attempt, subsequent attempts will be at
the probationary member's time and expense.
c. If probationary member does not successfully complete the
training on or before the third attempt, he/she will be
terminated, OR
d. If the probationary member fails provide proper documentation
of completion prior to the end of his/her probationary period,
he/she will be terminated.
3. All personnel trained to the Operations Level will successfully complete
and properly document a minimum of six (6) hours of refresher training
annually.
4. Operations Level training should include the following:
[ 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)(A)-(F)]
a. Knowledge of the basic hazard and risk assessment techniques.
b. Know how to select and use proper personal protective
equipment provided to the first responder operational level.
c. An understanding of basic hazardous materials terms.
d. Know how to perform basic control, containment and/or
confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources
and personal protective equipment available with their unit.
e. Know how to implement basic decontamination procedures.
f. An understanding of the relevant standard operating procedures
and termination procedures.
C. Technician Level [I 910.120(q)(6)(iii)]
1. Persons who are interested in receiving technician level training will
utilize the request for training process (SOG 111.01 Requests for
Training).
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 3 of 6
2. Persons who were hired with documented technician level training or who
were provided technician level training at the Department's time and
expense must maintain this level of training and competency for the
duration of their employment.
3. All personnel trained to the technician level, who are not currently active
members or candidates of the HMRT, will successfully complete and
properly document a minimum of twelve (12) hours of refresher
training annually.
4. HMRT members will fulfill the training requirements necessary for team
membership as outlined in SOG 104.05 Haz Mat Team Organization &
Assignment.
5. Technician Level training should include the following:
[ 1910.120(q)(6)(iii)(A)-(I)]
a. Know how to implement the employer's emergency response
plan.
b. Know the classification, identification and verification of
known and unknown materials by using field survey
instruments and equipment.
c. Be able to function within an assigned role in the Incident
Command System.
d. Know how to select and use proper specialized chemical
personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous
materials technician.
e. Understand hazard and risk assessment techniques.
f. Be able to perform advance control, containment, and/or
confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources
and personal protective equipment available with the unit.
g. Understand and implement decontamination procedures.
h. Understand termination procedures.
i. Understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and
behavior.
D. TCFP 80 -hour Hazardous Materials Technician
1. Persons who have been active members of the HMRT in good
standing for a minimum of two years, and who are interested in
receiving TCFP Technician Level certification, will utilize the request
for training process (SOG I IL 01 Requests for Training).
2. Persons who were given hiring preference based on their TCFP
hazardous materials certification or who were provided this
certification at the Department's time and/or expense must maintain
the certification for the duration of their employment.
E. On -Scene Incident Commander [1910.120(q)(6)(v)]
1. All personnel, Grade III and above, will be required to successfully
complete on -scene incident commander training.
2. All personnel trained to the on -scene incident commander level will
successfully complete and properly document a minimum of twelve (12)
hours of refresher training annually.
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 4 of 6
On -Scene Incident Commander training should include the following:
1910.120(q)(6)(v)(A)-(F)]
a. Know and be able to implement the employer's incident
command system.
b. Know how to implement the employer's emergency response
plan.
c. Know and understand the hazards and risks associated with
employees working in chemical protective clothing.
d. Know how to implement the local emergency response plan.
e. Know of the state emergency response plan and of the Federal
Regional Response Team.
f. Know and understand the importance of decontamination
procedures.
VII. Responsibilities
A. All members are responsible for:
1. Following up, as necessary, to insure initial and annual refresher training
is successfully completed and appropriately documented based on his/her
current haz mat training level(s).
2. Reviewing operating guidelines, performance benchmarks and training
materials, as necessary, to insure understanding and consistent application
of policy across the department.
3. Practicing performance benchmarks and drilling, as necessary, to maintain
competency.
4. Following his/her chain of command if clarification is required.
B. Supervisor's Responsibilities
1. Insuring the initial training and annual refresher training is successfully
completed as directed and is properly documented by subordinates.
2. Insuring routine review and/or practice of performance benchmarks and
drilling for those under their command, as necessary, so that safety,
efficiency, effectiveness of operations and operational discipline is
maintained.
3. Counseling, facilitating re-training or recommending discipline for
personnel under their command who do not comply with performance
standards or meet established training deadlines.
4. Following his/her chain of command if clarification is required.
C. Certification & Training Group's Responsibilities
1. Coordinating initial and annual Right -to -Know training.
2. Coordinating initial Operations Level training for new hires who have not
previously been trained or who do not have appropriate documentation of
prior training.
3. Coordinating with the Haz Mat Program Manager to develop the annual
haz mat training plan that will achieve compliance at all training levels
defined in this policy.
4. Tracking and reporting progress towards achievement of the annual haz
mat training targets.
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 5 of 6
5. Compiling and distributing deficiency reports to assist individuals and
supervisors in following up on outstanding training requirements.
6. For audit purposed, insuring haz mat training documentation meets
regulatory requirements, is properly filed and easily retrievable.
7. For quality assurance purposes, performing random benchmark
evaluations and reporting on results.
D. Haz Mat Program Manager's Responsibilities
1. Annually reviewing the Department's Hazard Communication Program
and taking necessary action to insure compliance.
2. Facilitating development of the annual haz mat training plan with the
Certification & Training Group and reporting on progress.
3. Monitoring training compliance and taking action, as necessary, to insure
full compliance is achieved.
4. Monitoring individual, crew, and HMRT competency and taking action, as
necessary, to insure that safety, efficiency, effectiveness of operations and
operational discipline is maintained.
SOG 1 1 1.04 — Haz Mat Training & Refresher Processes Page 6 of 6