OSHA-HAZWOPER FAQS

Introduction

Training for Hospitals under Department of Homeland Security and OSHA requires hospital personnel to be trained and demonstrate competency in the areas of hazardous materials operations that they may be directly or indirectly involved in. As a minimum, personnel who may come in contact with hazardous material must be able to recognize the possible hazards, identify the routes of exposure, select the correct level and type of PPE and perform basic decontamination procedures. In addition they must be able to perform assigned rules within the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System.

Can be delivered as an 8 - 16 - 32 hour program

• HEICS Training
• HAZMAT Identification
• Hazard / Risk Assessment
• Selection and Wearing of Chemical Protective Clothing
• Respiratory Protection and Selection
• Decontamination Protocols and Procedures for ambulatory, litter and wheelchair patients
• Hospital Emergency Incident Command System
• Hands-on exercises
• Full scale field exercise

For further info contact us by toll free phone or by e-mail. Training program is customized to meet the specific needs and emergency response requirements of each hospital system.

In a letter dated 10 March 1999, OSHA stated that all personnel in emergency rooms or emergency medical services, that may come in contact with contaminated patients must be trained in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) to properly select and wear PPE and perform decontamination procedures.

Hospitals are recognized by DHS as a major component of the emergency response/services community. They do not operate in isolation from other responders involved in a CBRNE event and are considered to be a key component of a larger emergency management program.

In addition, DHS has requested that Hospitals take steps to insure that their Hospital Incident Command System (HEICS) is fully compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by September 2006. Hospitals do not have to replace HEICS with NIMS. The new forthcoming HEICS IV needs to be NIMS compliant, not replaced by it.

This training program incorporates the DHS National Incident Management System into the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System as a compliant support element.

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) regulation was developed to ensure that anyone who has to work with, or may come in contact with any hazardous material or hazardous waste receives a standard training program. This was mandated by EPA under SARA Title III.

• First Responder Awareness (FRA)
• First Responder Operations (FRO)
• Healthcare Emergency Response Personnel
• Hospital Emergency Room
• Coordinators & Staff
• HEICS Compliance With NIMS andCBRNE Decon Protocols
• Train-The-Trainer Program

This integrated DHS/OSHA program requires personnel to be trained and demonstrate competency in the areas of hazardous materials and WMD response operations where they may be directly or indirectly involved in. It allows the employer to determine the exact type of training required by each person.

As a minimum, emergency responders (hospitals) must be trained in the Hospital Incident Command System and must be able to recognize the possible hazards, identify the routes of exposure, select the correct level and type of PPE and perform patient decontamination procedures.

Course Development and Delivery

• Each course is developed to meet the specific needs and requirements of your facility and personnel.
• Courses can be given on-site to your employees where they work. While this is an economical cost savings approach, it more importantly allows for realistic site specific training that your employees can apply & use.
• Train-The-Trainer Programs are also provided.