HAZWOPER First Responder Awareness Training

At the conclusion of this course, students will have a basic understanding of hazardous materials, how to identify them, and what to do if they are the first responder to an incident involving the release of a hazardous substance.

Course specifics include the four main responsibilities of First Responders at the Awareness level:

• Recognition and identification of hazardous materials.
• Isolation, evacuation, and restriction of access to the affected area.
• Protection of self and of the public, including the use of personal protective equipment.
• Notification of the next level of response according to the employer’s Emergency Response Plan.

HAZWOPER First Responders Awareness level operations need to have sufficient training or experience to:

• Know what hazardous substances are, and the risks associated with them in an incident
• Know the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous substances are present
• Recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency
• Identify the hazardous substances, if possible
• Know their role in the employer’s emergency response plan including site security and control and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook
• Realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center