Hazardous Materials Operations

Over the past several years fire departments have been asked to respond to hazardous material spills. Fire Department members respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of control or stabilization of the incident.

A hazardous materials response (HAZMAT) team is an organized group of employees designated by the employer to perform work to handle an actual or potential leak or spill of hazardous substances requiring close approach to the substance. A HAZMAT team is not a fire brigade nor is a typical fire brigade a HAZMAT team, but they may be a separate component of a fire brigade.

There are different certification levels within the hazardous materials scope of operations. They are:

Awareness

The members of the team will in no way come in contact with the hazardous material. The members document the mental and physical status of the other team members before, during, and after a hazardous materials incident. Some, if not all, of these members will be trained in emergency medical services.

Operations

HAZMAT team members are often the first members to arrive on the scene of a hazardous materials incident. Their main responsibility is to identify and, if possible, to safely contain the leak or spill. Then members must determine the next plan of action. Until the incident is contained, the HAZMAT team is responsible for assisting the technicians in preparation for entry, and for decontamination after technicians have controlled the incident. To be certified at the operations level you must be certified at the awareness level also.

Technician

These HAZMAT team members are the most highly trained members. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to, control and containment. Technicians may have to physically enter a hazardous environment to facilitate the end of the incident using specialized suits, breathing equipment and monitoring equipment.

All of the current members of the Oskaloosa Fire Department are trained to the operations level. Each member is required to have a minimum of eight hours of formal training annually to retain his or her certification.