HAZWOPER Refresher Training: Operations-Level & Hazmat Technician-Level Responders Curriculum Online Training Course

Emergency responders are individuals who participate, or are expected to participate, in emergency response^[1] operations for releases of, or substantial threats of releases of, hazardous substances.

This refresher training curriculum is geared for:

• First responders at the operations level — Individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances as part of the initial emergency response effort 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.
• First responders at the hazardous materials (hazmat) technician level — Individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of stopping the release. They take a more aggressive role than lower-level responders and will approach the point of release to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release.

After initial training, emergency responders at the operations level and hazmat-technician level must receive annual refresher training or demonstrate competency at least annually, according to 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(8) for general industry or 29 CFR 1926.65(q)(8) for construction. While a refresher training duration is not specified in the regulation, annual refresher training must be of "sufficient content and duration" to maintain a responder's competencies. The employer must make a statement of the training or competency, and if a statement of competency is made, the employer must keep a record of the methodology used to demonstrate competency.

There are 8 online courses included within the HAZWOPER Emergency Response Refresher Training: Operations-Level & Hazmat Technician-Level Responders Curriculum:

• Emergency Response Planning refreshes learners on what an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is, the basic elements of an ERP, employee roles in a response to a hazardous substance emergency release, and internal and external communications during an emergency.
• Chemical Fundamentals refreshes learners in how chemical-related terms are defined; the health and physical hazards, properties, stability, reactivity, and toxicity of chemicals; and the routes and types of chemical exposure.
• Hazardous Substance Recognition & Identification refreshes learners in the methods and resources available to help recognize and identify hazardous substances in an emergency. This course also re-familiarizes learners with the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), assessing hazards and risk in an emergency, and making initial decisions in an emergency.
• Emergency & Post-Emergency Response Procedures refreshes learners in the steps used for notification, preparation, and response during emergency response operation, as well as post-emergency activities.
• Medical Program re-acquaints learners with the Medical Program including the types of exams required, emergency and non-emergency treatment, medical records available, and symptoms to watch for that may indicate injury or illness while working with hazardous substances during emergency response operations.
• Personal Protective Equipment & Clothing refreshes learners in the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and chemical protective clothing (CPC) including their uses and limitations, levels of protection, how to don and doff the equipment, and the importance of proper storage, inspection, and maintenance.
• Exposure Monitoring & Sampling refreshes the learner in the purpose and advantages and disadvantages of exposure monitoring and sampling, types and frequency of monitoring and sampling, the instruments used along with calibration and maintenance requirements, methods available for obtaining samples, and the importance of recognizing result data and keeping accurate records of samples collected.
• Decontamination refreshes learners in ways to avoid contamination, the decontamination process including methods and equipment used in decontamination, the limitations associated with decontamination, the decontamination line itself, and emergency decontamination procedures.

Intended Audience: Any employees who may be involved or expected to engage in a response to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. Specifically, this refresher training curriculum is geared for first responders at the operations level and first responders at the hazmat technician level.

Length: 4.75 hours

Copyright Date: 2019

Looking for different levels of HAZWOPER training? Visit the HAZWOPER Training Page for a full list of programs.

^[1]"Emergency response" means a response effort by employees from outside the immediate release area or by other designated responders (i.e., mutual-aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. The term emergency response does not include responses to incidental releases of hazardous substances where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel. Responses to releases of hazardous substances where there is no potential safety or health hazard (i.e., fire, explosion, or chemical exposure) are also not considered to be emergency responses.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In OSHA’s view, HAZWOPER online training, by itself, is not sufficient to meet the intent of the agency’s training requirements for HAZWOPER, 29 CFR 1910.120 for general industry or 29 CFR 1926.65 for construction. Therefore, online training must be supplemented by site-specific elements, hands-on training and exercises, and an opportunity for trainees to ask questions of a qualified trainer. When using this course curriculum as a tool to help with refresher training under §1910.120(q)(8)/§1926.65(q)(8), we suggest you:

• Ensure your trainer is qualified, in accordance with §1910.120(q)(7)/§1926.65(q)(7);
• Augment the online training with site-specific elements;
• Tailor your training to the employees’ assigned duties;
• Include hands-on training to re-familiarize trainees with equipment, PPE, and safe practices;
• Provide trainees with immediate and direct access to a qualified trainer as they are taking the course curriculum;
• Offer an opportunity for trainees to ask questions of the qualified trainer;
• Ensure that the trainees receive refresher training with sufficient content and sufficient duration to maintain their competencies listed for their particular level under §1910.120(q)(6); and
• Ensure the employer makes a “statement of the training” in line with the requirements of §1910.120(q)(8)/§1926.65(q)(8). (NOTE: The online training course curriculum does not provide HAZWOPER certification or HAZWOPER statements of training; the online course curriculum certificate only acknowledges the completion of the online training itself).