Hazardous Materials Awareness Level

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, taking no further action. Topics include an understanding of what hazardous substances are, how to recognize and identify them in an emergency, their associated risks, and an understanding of potential outcomes during an incident. Students will develop an understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual in the employer's emergency response plan, including site security, site control, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook, as well as the ability to determine the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center.