Standard Guide for Developing a Hazardous Materials Training Curriculum for Initial Response Personnel

1.1 This guide covers a format for a hazardous materials spill initial response team training curriculum. This guide is designed to assist trainers of initial response personnel in assessing the content of training curriculum by providing guidelines for subject content against which these curricula may be evaluated. The guide should be tailored by the trainer to fit specific circumstances that are present in the community or industry where a spill may occur.

1.2 Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of this guide identify those training areas that should be considered in a curriculum. The area of preplanning is listed and this topic should be seriously considered by the user. Training is only a small part of an overall spill response contingency plan. A properly equipped and trained spill response team cannot operate without a previously agreed plan of attack.

1.3 Currently the Code of Federal Regulation 40 CFR 112, 40 CFR 265, and 49 CFR 173 specify that producers, handlers, and shippers of hazardous materials shall plan and train for hazardous spill response. The broad interpretation of these regulations could include the requirement to train state and local response organizations who may be required to handle hazardous materials in an emergency spill situation. Regardless of the above regulatory requirements, training is essential to a proper response in an emergency.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.