TRAINING

It stands to reason that individuals who specialize as “formal”, emergency Responders such as Fire-Rescue, Law Enforcement, Medical Service, etc. receive extensive training in their fields of expertise. They are the backbone of our responders/workers.

Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (Written Safety & Health Plans and Documents):
To be successful, such written work cannot accumulate dust. They must be used and reviewed continually. There are written safety policies, procedures, guidelines; standards and plans for practically any safety need conceivable. More such written work will come. This constant change and increased awareness on newly recognized dangers and hazards associated with exposure will likely prompt up-dated written works to guide responders/workers.

There are numerous guidelines and regulations, standards, etc. which drives responder safety training demands.

Examples:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (Code of Federal Regulations CFR-29)
Hazard Communications
Fall Protection, Etc.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Center for Disease Control (CDC) / National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH)

Living Documents: A document which may be continually edited and up-dated (U.S. Constitution). In addition for their ability to be continually up-dated that we keep these documents alive by bringing them to light. Incorporating them in established exercises and applied in disaster events. For example, respiratory protection requirements must be reviewed and implemented when responders are exposed to airborne contaminants

OSHA Outreach Training Program: (Disaster Site Workers) http://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/disaster/index.html

OSHA has published on its website a number of Safety and Health Guides that provide an overview of worker hazards related to various emergencies. They are useful as quick references and as the starting points for discussions of various types of emergencies in an all-hazards Disaster Site Worker Course.

Codes of Safe Work Practices:
The following OSHA guide provides an overview of worker hazards related to various emergencies. They were designed for use as a general handout during an emergency event, or as a training supplement for emergency preparation. Professionals are advised to seek more detailed information when planning for and responding to an emergency.
• Blister Agents
• Cold Stress
• Critical Incident Stress
• Earthquakes
• Extended/Unusual Work Shifts
• Floods
• Heat Stress
• Hurricanes and Tornados
• Nerve Agents
• Secondary Explosive Devices
• Structural Collapse
• Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs)
• Winter Storms
• Worker Protection: OSHA’S Role During Response To Catastrophic Incidents

The Disaster Site Worker Outreach Training Program is a training program for Disaster Site Workers who provide skilled support services, (e.g. utility, demolition, debris removal, or heavy equipment operation) or site clean-up services in response to natural and man-made disasters. Specifically, it is recognized that all workers at disaster sites need to be aware of the differences between disaster sites and regular construction or demolition worksites and be able to inspect, properly fit or put on (don) or take off (doff) air-purifying respirators. Also, the program will make management and labor aware that pre-incident training is essential for ensuring disaster site worker safety and health.

Through this program, individuals who complete a four day OSHA trainer course are authorized to teach the Disaster Site Worker Course #7600. Authorized trainers can receive OSHA course completion cards for their students.

The Disaster Site Worker Outreach Training Program is voluntary. OSHA does not require participation in this program.
The following is an outline of sources from which responders may receive needed training. http://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/disaster/assistance.html

Some Sources of Disaster Response Training Documents and Guidance:

Hazardous Waste, Emergency and Disaster Web Sites
• National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training: http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm

• Centers for Disease Control – Emergency Preparedness and Response: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

• DisasterHelp.gov.: http://www.disasterhelp.gov/ E-Government initiative focuses on providing information and services relating to four pillars of disaster management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency Training Resources: http://training.fema.gov/ Training and education resources available from U.S. Fire Administration, including course offerings. Resources targeted towards the fire service, its allied professions, and emergency management officials.

• Guidelines for Disaster Cleanup and Church. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

• Guidelines on the Deployment of Healthcare Disaster Volunteers at Hospitals.

• National Incident Management System (NIMS): http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/ Developed by the Secretary of Homeland Security at the request of the President, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) integrates effective practices in emergency response into a comprehensive national framework for incident management.

• National Response Framework: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/NRFRolloutBriefingNotes.pdf The National Response Framework is a guide for how our nation conducts all-hazard incident responses. It is focused primarily on response. It incorporates lessons learned from real world operations for natural disasters and other threats, such as the 2005 Hurricane Season, special events, and the London bombings, as well as from national, State and local exercises.

• OSHA e-Health and Safety Plan (HASP) Software: http://www.osha.gov/dep/etools/ehasp/index.html The electronic, interactive e-HASP Guide is intended to be used by health and safety professionals to provide “model” language that is acceptable to OSHA in preparing a site’s HASP.

• OSHA’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Page: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/index.html Links to Emergency Preparedness and Response materials for the workplace.

• OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Page: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardouswaste/index.html Guide to information regarding Safety and Health topics in Hazardous Waste Operations. It briefly covers emergency responses on hazardous waste sites.

• OSHA’s Incident Command System e-Tool: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/index.html Interactive web-based training tool on Incident Command System/Unified Command (ICS/UC) to manage emergency response incidents and multi-jurisdictional responses to oil spills or hazardous substance releases.

• OSHA’s page on Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes: http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html Fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and other resources on worker safety and health during hurricane clean up and recovery.

• OSHA’s Safety and Health Guides: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/index.html This guide provides an overview of worker hazards related to various emergencies. Designed for use as a general handout during an emergency event, or as a training supplement for emergency preparation.

• Respiratory Protection eTool: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/respiratory/index.html This advisor will help you comply with the OSHA respirator standard. It will instruct you on the proper selection of respiratory protection and the development of change schedules for gas/vapor cartridges.

• Training and Reference Materials – Respiratory Protection: http://www.osha.gov/dte/library/materials_library.html#respiratoryprotection Outreach training materials for the revised

• Volunteer Safety & Survival Reference. (Expanded version of “The Universal Survival Handbook” published in 1979 by David. Nuttle, Author). This reference seems more geared toward International Response Efforts inclusive of threats of armed conflict literal survival skills.

• Web-Based Tool for Hurricane Cleanup: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hurricane/index.html This Hazard Exposure and Risk Assessment Matrix provides practical information to employers so they can better assess risks and choose the appropriate control measures, work practices, personal protective equipment and training to protect their employees working in hurricane-impacted areas.

The California Department of Health Services, Occupational Health Branch, has identified gaps in worker health and safety during response to recent hazardous incidents:
• California DHS/OHB—Worker Health During Emergency Response: Opinions of Health and Safety Experts and California Workers: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/ohb/Documents/emergency_response.pdf [233 KB PDF, 37 pages]

The following site is a possible source of visuals for the #7600 course:
• FEMA Photo Library: http://www.photolibrary.fema.gov/photolibrary/index.jsp Please read the photo user agreement before using any of the photos on the FEMA library page.

ARC
FEMA Independent Studies
The New England Consortium: Emergency Responders Basic Health & Safety Course: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_a_e/emergency_responders_basic_health_safety_course.pdf

Extended, Unusual Work Shifts.
Baseline Awareness Level Training in the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER).