ABSTRACT
The purpose of the Hazardous Materials First Responder is to provide the needed skills, expertise, and knowledge with an improved capability to respond to hazardous material events in a safe and competent manner within the typical resource and capability limitations at the training and certification levels within ones' department and operating procedures or guidelines. There are generally four levels of responders for hazardous materials and/or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) incidents. Operation responders are typically trained in such HAZMAT/CBRNE defensive techniques as absorption, damming and diking, diverting, retention, vapor dispersion, and suppression. Depending on the type of HMRT and its location, some HAZMAT technicians may have a more substantial level of CBRNE training than others. Some HAZMAT technician training is as little as 24 hours, while there are some courses offered for as much as 80 hours.
