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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS & DECONTAMINATION TRAINING

Please click on the Titles below for full course descriptions in their Pa. State Fire Academy
Minimum Standards for Accreditation (MSA).

Please click on the following links to go down the page to the course descriptions:

1. Basic Life Support and Hazardous Materials Response

2. Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level 2011 Delmar Curriculum

3. Hazardous Materials Awareness Level 2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

4. Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level, NFPA 472 2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA

5. Hazardous Materials Awareness Refresher 2011 Delmar Curriculum

6. Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Refresher 2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

7. Hazardous Materials Awareness Refresher Level, NFPA 472 2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA

8. Hazardous Materials Operations 2011 Delmar Curriculum

9. Hazardous Materials Operations Level 2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

10. Hazardous Materials Operations Level - NFPA 472 2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA

11. Hazardous Materials Operations Level - Core Competencies 2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

12. Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher 2011 Delmar Curriculum

13. Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher 2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

14. Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher - NFPA 472 2006 Curriculum – Non PSFA

15. Hazardous Materials Defensive Practices

16. Decontamination Practices

17. Propane Emergencies Awareness

18. Propane Emergencies Operations

Basic Life Support and Hazardous Materials Response
(HMBLS)

Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level
2011 Delmar Curriculum
(DHMA)

Course Length:

7 Hours (Lecture)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively manage a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Awareness Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders charged with response actions associated with hazardous materials releases. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Awareness Level. This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Handbook: Awareness & Operations Levels, Pennsylvania Custom Edition (DELMAR, CENGAGE Learning)

Hazardous Materials Awareness Level
2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

Course Length:

4 Hours

Course Goal:

Provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, 29 CFR 1910.120, OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).

Course Description:

Hazardous Materials Awareness meets and exceeds the requirements for first responders within the 2008 Edition of NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. Additionally, the material presented also exceeds the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Certifying Agency:

Bucks County Community College

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, by Rob Schnepp (Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness Level - NFPA 472
2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA ¹
(HMA)

Course Length:

4 Hours (3 Hours Lecture & 1 Hour Lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively manage a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Awareness Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders charged with response actions associated with hazardous materials releases. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Awareness Level. This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Description of Methodology:

Lecture, discussion, demonstration, and supervised practice.

Hazardous Materials Awareness Refresher
2011 Delmar Curriculum
(DHMAR)

Course Length:

3 Hours (Lecture)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively manage a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Awareness Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders who have had the Hazardous Materials Awareness Level 472 course. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Awareness Level. [Refresher] This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Handbook: Awareness & Operations Levels, Pennsylvania Custom Edition (DELMAR, CENGAGE Learning)

Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Refresher
2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

Course Length:

1.5 Hours

Course Goal:

Provide the First Responder with the annual refresher training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, 29 CFR 1910.120, OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).

Course Description:

Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Refresher meets and exceeds the requirements for first responders within the 2008 Edition of NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. Additionally, the material presented also exceeds the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Certifying Agency:

Bucks County Community College

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, by Rob Schnepp (Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

Hazardous Materials Awareness Refresher Level - NFPA 472
2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA ¹
(HMAR)

Course Length:

2 Hours (1.75 Hours Lecture & 0.25 Hour Lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively manage a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Awareness Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders who have had the Hazardous Materials Awareness Level 472 course. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 4 Competencies for the First Responder at the Awareness Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Awareness Level. [ Refresher] This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Description of Methodology:

Lecture, discussion, demonstration, and supervised practice.

Hazardous Materials Operations
2011 Delmar Curriculum
(DHMO)

Course Length:

24 Hours (12 hours lecture & 12 hours lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively control, manage, and mitigate a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Operations Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders charged with response actions associated with hazardous materials releases. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 5 Competencies for the First Responder at the Operational Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Operations Level. This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Handbook: Awareness & Operations Levels, Pennsylvania Custom Edition (DELMAR, CENGAGE Learning)

Hazardous Materials Operations Level
2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

Course Length:

24 Hours

Course Goal:

A responder’s ability to recognize an incident involving hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is critical. They must possess the knowledge required to identify the presence of hazardous materials and WMD, and have an understanding of what their role is within the response plan. Hazardous Materials Operations Level will provide fire fighters and first responders with these skills and enable them to keep themselves and others safe while mitigating these potentially deadly incidents.

Course Description:

Hazardous Materials Operations meets and exceeds the requirements for Fire Fighter I and II certification and satisfies the core competencies for operations level responders including the eight mission-specific responsibilities for first responders within the 2008 Edition of NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. Additionally, the material presented also exceeds the hazardous materials response requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Hazardous Materials Operations provides in-depth coverage of:

• The properties and effects of hazardous materials and WMDs
• How to calculate potential danger and initiate a response plan
• Selection, use, advantages, and disadvantages of personal protective equipment
• Mass and technical decontamination
• Evidence preservation and sampling
• Product control
• Victim rescue and recovery
• Air monitoring and sampling
• Illicit laboratory incidents

Certifying Agency:

Bucks County Community College

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, by Rob Schnepp (Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

Hazardous Materials Operations Level - NFPA 472
2006 Curriculum - Non PSFA ¹
(HMO)

Course Length:

24 Hours (12 hours lecture & 12 hours lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively control, manage, and mitigate a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed to educate the student in hazardous materials responses and to prepare the student for professional certification testing in accordance with NFPA 472 Operations Level.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this course are the First Responders charged with response actions associated with hazardous materials releases. Student will learn and adapt the knowledge and skill requirements for effective scene and response management. The goal of this program is to provide the First Responder with the training needed to comply with NFPA 472 Chapter 5 Competencies for the First Responder at the Operational Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Operations Level. This program is designed to give the first responder the necessary skills to handle hazardous materials emergencies.

Description of Methodology:

Lecture, discussion, demonstration, and supervised practice.

Hazardous Materials Operations Level - Core Competencies
2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

Course Length:

16 Hours

Course Goal:

Course Description:

Certifying Agency:

Bucks County Community College

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, by Rob Schnepp (Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher
2011 Delmar Curriculum
(DHMOR)

Course Length:

6 Hours (2 hours lecture & 4 hours lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively control, manage, and mitigate a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed as annual refresher training for students who have taken the Hazardous Materials Operations Level 472 course and provide hands on opportunities to exhibit the practical skills learned as part of that program.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this refresher course are the First Responders who have taken the Hazardous Materials Operations Level 472 course. The Student will use previous learned skills and information presented during the class room training to perform the skills associated with NFPA 472 Chapter 5 Competencies for the First Responder at the Operational Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Operations Level.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Handbook: Awareness & Operations Levels, Pennsylvania Custom Edition (DELMAR, CENGAGE Learning)

Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher
2010 Jones and Bartlett Curriculum

Course Length:

6 Hours

Course Goal:

A responder’s ability to recognize an incident involving hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is critical. They must possess the knowledge required to identify the presence of hazardous materials and WMD, and have an understanding of what their role is within the response plan. Hazardous Materials Operations Level will provide fire fighters and first responders with these skills and enable them to keep themselves and others safe while mitigating these potentially deadly incidents.

Course Description:

Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher meets and exceeds the requirements for Fire Fighter I and II certification and satisfies the core competencies for operations level responders and exceeds the hazardous materials response requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Course Description:

Certifying Agency:

Bucks County Community College

Text Used:

Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, by Rob Schnepp (Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

Hazardous Materials Operations Level Refresher - NFPA 472
2006 Curriculum – Non PSFA ¹
(HMOR)

Course Length:

6 Hours (2 hours lecture & 4 hours lab)

Course Goal:

Students completing this course will be able to safely and effectively control, manage, and mitigate a hazardous materials release using first due resources until the arrival of additional specialized units. This program was designed as annual refresher training for students who have taken the Hazardous Materials Operations Level 472 course and provide hands on opportunities to exhibit the practical skills learned as part of that program.

Course Description:

The primary target audiences for this refresher course are the First Responders who have taken the Hazardous Materials Operations Level 472 course. The Student will use previous learned skills and information presented during the class room training to perform the skills associated with NFPA 472 Chapter 5 Competencies for the First Responder at the Operational Level, and 29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, (HAZWOPER), First Responder Operations Level.

Description of Methodology:

Lecture, discussion, and scenario based practical evolutions.

Hazardous Materials Defensive Practices
(HMDP)

Course Length:

16 Hours (8 Hours Lecture / 8 Hours Lab).

Prerequisites:

IAFF or other First Responder Operations-level training per OSHA 29-CFR-1910.120(q).

Course Goal:

Ideally the student shall develop a working proficiency of Defensive Practices when working with Hazardous Materials.

Course Description:

A hands on program developing proficiencies when working with hazardous materials and WMD emergencies. An emphasis will be placed in the safe handling and control of personnel and the spill site. This will be done with drills in setting up zones, identifying material and its properties, and identifying levels of protective clothing necessary. Drills in proper types of decontamination, both land and water containment practices will be included. This will be achieved using as many items commonly available or easily accessible to fire personnel.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Decontamination Practices
[DCON]

Course Length:

8 Hours (4 hours lecture & 4 hours lab)

Course Goal:

Upon successful completion the student shall be able to identify and demonstrate proper levels of PPE as they relate to Decon. Identify and demonstrate proper Decontamination procedures in various scenarios.

Course Description:

A hands on program developing proficiencies when working with hazardous material and WMD emergencies to assist Hazardous Materials Teams and Strike Teams at the Operations level. This will be done with drills in setting up zones, identifying material and its properties, and identifying levels of protective clothing necessary. Drills in proper types of decontamination will be included. This will be achieved using as many items commonly available or easily accessibly to fire personnel and Hazardous Materials Teams.

Certifying Agency:

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Propane Emergencies Awareness
(PPEA)

Propane Emergencies Operations
(PPEO)

¹ The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PSFA) has adopted the Delmar Curriculum for Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations level training.

These courses may still be taught but without PSFA accreditation, such as for Industrial clients.