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669 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers X
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Level III: Hazardous Materials Technician Training

Hazardous materials technicians respond to releases or potential releases to stop the release.

Hazardous materials technicians respond to releases or potential releases to stop 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 to plug, patch or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance.

These are the employees OSHA expects to be used to staff "hazardous materials teams" (Hazmat teams), spill control teams, and similar groups. Consequently, these employees must have chemical protective clothing available for their use.

Hazardous materials technicians must have received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency in the following areas and the employer must certify that hazardous materials technicians:

  1. know how to implement the employer's emergency response plan,
  2. know the classification, identification and verification of known and unknown materials by using field survey instruments and equipment,
  3. can function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System,
  4. know how to select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials technician,
  5. understand hazard and risk assessment techniques,
  6. can perform advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available with the unit,
  7. understand and implement decontamination procedures,
  8. understand termination procedures, and
  9. understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-4. Which activity might employees who have been certified having Level III: Hazardous Materials Technician training perform?