SUBJECT: CERTIFIED HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE
TEAMS IN PENNSYLVANIA / DATE: April 12, 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

  1. Purpose 1

II. Authority and References 1

Hazardous Material Response Team Standards

III.Emergency Response Plan 1

IV.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program 2

V.Medical Surveillance Program 2

VI.Training of Hazmat Team Members 4

A.Levels of Individual Training Required in 29 CFR 1910.120 4

B.Training Courses8

C.Training Required for Hazmat Team Certification 9

D. Operational and Refresher Training for Hazmat Teams 10

E.Continuing Operational Training for Hazmat Teams 10

VII.Hazmat Team Structure and Response 10

A.Emergency Services Response 10

B.Hazmat Team Response 12

C.Hazmat Team Structure 14

D.Disposal of Waste Resulting from A Hazardous Material Incident 15

VIII.Hazmat Team Dispatch and Response 15

IX.Incident Command System (ICS) Structure 16

A.Incident Command Structure 16

B.Relationship to EmergencyOperationsCenter (EOC) 17

C.Incident Command System Personnel for the Hazmat Team 18

D.Required ICS Personnel Training 19

E.General Conditions and ICS Model 19

X. Hazmat Team Equipment List 20

A. References 20

B. Personal Protective Equipment 21

C. Leak Control Equipment 21

D. Suppression Equipment 21

E. Tools 22

F. Containment Equipment 22

G. Monitoring and Detection Equipment 22

H. Decontamination Equipment 23

I. Communication Equipment 23

J. Special Equipment 24

K. Maps and Miscellaneous Equipment 24

L. Vehicles 24

XI.Hazmat Team Certification Process 24

XII.Maintenance of Certification 25

XIII.Hazmat Team Re-certification Process 26

XIV.Terms of Revocation of State Certification 26

XV.Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations 27

XVI.Supersession 31

Attachments:

A.Application for Certification of a Hazmat Team - - Form A

B.CountyCommissioners' Statement of Intent - - - - - Form B

C.Hazmat Team Roster and Training Certification - - - Form C

D.Application For Re-certification of a Hazmat Team - Form A(R)

E. CountyCommissioners’ Statement of Intent - - - - - Form B(R)

F. Hazmat Team Roster and Training Certification - - - Form C(R)

1

I.PURPOSE

To provide standards and guidance for the organization, training, state certification/re-certification and operation of hazardous material response teams (hazmat teams). (NOTE: vertical lines in the right margin of this document signal additions, deletions, or changes from the superceded publication.)

II.AUTHORITY AND REFERENCES

  1. Pennsylvania’s Hazardous Material Emergency Planning and Response Act, Act 1990-165, as amended. (Hereinafter, Act 165.)
  2. Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Services Code, Title 35.
  3. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, 29 CFR 1910.120
  4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Worker Protection Standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, 40 CFR 311
  5. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 471, Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents
  6. National Fire Protection Association Standard 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
  7. National Fire Protection Association Standard 473, Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE TEAM STANDARDS

III.EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

A.Employers of a hazmat team shall develop and implement a written emergency response plan and standard operating response procedures/guidelines. Copies of these planning documents shall be available to all employees, their representatives, and state and federal personnel. The emergency response plan and procedures shall meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120(q) and Act 165. See also NFPA Standard 471 regarding incident response.

B.The emergency plan and standard operating procedures shall address, as a minimum, the following elements:

1.Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties.

2.Personnel roles, training, communication, and lines of authority, to include communications linkage to applicable emergency operations centers and elected officials. Team preparation for response to terrorist incidents involving hazardous materials should be included.

3.Personal protective equipment and emergency equipment to be used.

4.Emergency recognition and prevention.

5.Safe distances and places of refuge.

6.Site security and control.

7.Evacuation routes and procedures.

8.Decontamination procedures.

9.Emergency medical treatment and first aid.

10.Emergency notification and response procedures.

11.Critique of response and follow-up.

NOTE: This document is required under 29 CFR 1910.120(q) and must be approved by the employer prior to use. It must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) as part of the Act 165 team certification application. The emergency response planning and operating documents will be specifically designated as an Appendix of Annex F of the county Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for each county with which the team has a contract for response under Act 165.

IV.PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PROGRAM

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is strongly guided by the principles of responder health and safety as a high priority for the requirements created in this program. This philosophical foundation of policy shall guide the program administrators.

A.The employer of a hazmat team shall prepare and approve a written personal protective equipment program plan for the hazmat team in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120 (g)(5) and (q)(2), and 29 CFR 1910.134. When elements of the plan, such as donning and doffing procedures, are provided by the manufacturer of a piece of equipment and are attached to the plan, they need not be rewritten into the plan as long as they adequately address the procedure or element.

B.The employer's PPE program shall address as a minimum the elements listed below:

1.PPE selection based upon site hazards;

2.PPE use and limitations of the equipment;

3.Work mission duration;

4.PPE maintenance and storage;

5.PPE decontamination and disposal;

6.PPE training and proper fitting;

7.PPE donning and doffing procedures;

8.PPE inspection procedures prior to, during, and after use;

9.Evaluation of the effectiveness of the PPE program, and

10.Limitations during temperature extremes, heat stress, and

other appropriate medical considerations.

V.MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM

A.The employer of a hazmat team shall establish a medical surveillance program for the employees (members of its hazmat team) in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120(f) and (q)(9).

B.The medical surveillance program shall consist of the following elements:

1.Frequency of medical examinations and consultations. Medical examinations and consultations shall be made available by the employer to each employee (member of the hazmat team) on the following schedules:

a.Prior to assignment;

b.At least once every 12 months for each employee covered unless the attending physician believes a longer interval (not greater than biennially) is appropriate;

c.At termination of employment or reassignment to an area where the employee would not be covered if the employee has not had an examination within the last six months;

d.As soon as possible upon notification by an employee that the employee has developed signs or symptoms indicating possible overexposure to hazardous substances or health hazards, or that the employee has been injured or exposed above the permissible exposure limits or published exposure levels in an emergency situation;

e.At more frequent times, if the examining physician determines that an increased frequency of examination is medically necessary.

2.Content of medical examinations and consultations. Medical examinations shall include a medical and work history (or updated history if one is in the employee's file) with special emphasis on symptoms related to the handling of hazardous substances and health hazards, and to fitness for duty including the ability to wear any required PPE under conditions (e.g. temperature extremes) that may be expected at the work site. The content of medical examinations or consultations made available to employees shall be determined by the attending physician.

3.Examination by a physician and costs. All medical examinations and procedures shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, preferably one knowledgeable in occupational medicine, and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place.

4.Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide one copy of this standard and its appendices to the attending physician, and in addition the following for each employee:

a.A description of the employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposures.

b.The employee's exposure levels or anticipated exposure levels.

c.A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used.

d.Information from previous medical examinations of the employee which is not readily available to the examining physician.

5.Physician's written opinion. The employer shall obtain and furnish the employee with a copy of a written opinion from the attending physician containing the following:

a.The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical conditions which would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from work in hazardous waste operations or emergency response, or from respirator use.

b.The physician's recommended limitations upon the employee's assigned work.

c.The results of the medical examination and tests if requested by the employee.

d.A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment. The written opinion obtained by the employer shall not reveal specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposures.

6.Record Keeping. An accurate record of the medical surveillance shall be retained. This record shall be retained on file by the employer for thirty (30) years after the date that the employee leaves the hazmat team. The record shall include at least the following information:

a.The name and social security number of the employee;

b.Physician's written opinions, recommended limitations, and results of examinations and tests;

c.Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to hazardous substances;

d.A copy of the information provided to the examining physician by the employer.

VI.TRAINING OF HAZMAT TEAM MEMBERS

A.Levels Of Individual Training Required In 29 CFR 1910.120

Training shall be based on the duties and functions to be performed by each responder of an emergency response organization (hazmat team). The skill and knowledge levels required for all new employees (members) and those hired after the effective date of this standard, shall be conveyed to them through training before they are permitted to take part in actual emergency response operations. Employees who participate, or are expected to participate in emergency response, shall be given training in accordance with the following paragraphs as required. The following paragraphs quote directly from 29 CFR 1910.120:

1.First Responder Awareness Level - Paragraph q(6)(i)

First responders at the awareness level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. They would take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release. First responders at the awareness level shall have sufficient training or have had sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the following areas:

a.An understanding of what hazardous materials are, and the risks associated with them in an incident.

b.An understanding of the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous materials are present.

c.The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous materials in an emergency.

d.The ability to identify the hazardous materials, if possible.

e.An understanding of the role of the first responder awareness-individual in the employer's emergency response plan, including site security and control, and the North American Emergency Response Guidebook.

f.The ability to realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center.

NOTE: Occupations which should be trained to the First Responder Awareness Level might include, but are not limited to: emergency medical personnel, law enforcement officers, emergency management coordinators, public works employees, sanitation workers, refuse removal workers, and truck drivers. In addition to protecting themselves and notifying the authorities, these employees may be in a position to alert and warn other nearby individuals of the danger.

Any involvement in procedures beyond those listed in #1 above will require training at the next higher level, First Responder Operations Level.

Training is cumulative and sequential. Awareness Level Training may be integrated into higher levels or documented from other courses of training already completed by an employee. However, all training courses must meet, in part or as a whole, the various training standards or competencies listed in 29 CFR 1910.120.

2.First Responder Operations Level - Paragraph q(6)(ii)

First responders at the operations level are 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 from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and prevent exposures. First responders at the operational level shall have received at least 16 hours of training or have had sufficient experience to demonstrate competency in the following areas in addition to those listed for the awareness level and the employer shall so certify:

a.Knowledge of 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.

3.Hazardous Materials Technician - Paragraph q(6)(iii)

Hazardous materials technicians are 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. Hazardous materials technicians shall have received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operational level and in addition have competency in the following areas and the employer shall so certify:

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 advanced 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.

4.Hazardous Materials Specialist - Paragraph q(6)(iv)

Hazardous materials specialists are individuals who respond with and provide support to hazardous materials technicians. Their duties parallel those of the hazardous materials technician, however, those duties require a more directed or specific knowledge of the various substances they may be called upon to contain. The hazardous materials specialist would also act as the site liaison with federal, state, local and other government authorities in regard to site activities. Hazardous materials specialists shall have received at least 24 hours of training equal to the technician level and in addition have competency in the following areas and the employer shall so certify:

a.Know how to implement the local emergency response plan.

b.Understand classification, identification and verification of known and unknown materials by using advanced survey instruments and equipment.

c.Know of the state emergency response plan.

d.Be able to select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials specialist.

e.Understand in-depth hazard and risk techniques.

f.Be able to perform specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.

g.Be able to determine and implement decontamination procedures.

h.Have the ability to develop a site safety and control plan.

i.Understand chemical, radiological and toxicological terminology and behavior.

NOTE: NFPA Standard 472 combines the Technician and Specialist level competencies into one level. It may be anticipated that OSHA/EPA will revise their standard. Until such a regulation is published, however, the Specialist level remains part of the required team complement in Pennsylvania. Even if OSHA should make such a change the total number of team members is not expected to be reduced.

5.On-Scene Incident Commander - Paragraph q(6)(v)

On-scene incident commanders, who will assume control of the incident scene beyond the first responder awareness level, shall receive 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 shall so certify:

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.

NOTE: ON-SCENE, SCENE, OR INCIDENT COMMANDER may be considered to be the same person, depending on the pre-planned command structure. Section VIII of this document outlines an acceptable incident command structure. It should also be noted that NFPA Standard 472 lists competencies for HM Branch Officer and HM Safety Officer who will typically be members of an organized hazardous materials response team. The incident commander, however, may or may not be a member of the hazmat team, depending upon the circumstances and local policy.