Massachusetts Environmental Health Association-Training and Resources

Hazmat resources (training and resources)

TRAINING: Hazmat Resources

The MEHA Model Hazardous Materials Regulation, and Inspection Training Toolkit for Local Health Departments (including the CSB Safety Video: Blast Wave in Danvers, MA) are available here.

TRAINING: IS-5.a An Introduction to Hazardous Materials

This Independent Study course is intended to provide a general introduction to hazardous materials that can serve as a foundation for more specific studies in the future. The course has five Units which are outlined below. No prior knowledge of the subject is required or assumed. At the end of the course, the participant should be able to:

• Explain the roles of Federal, State, Tribal and local governments in reducing hazardous materials risks through Health and Environmental Regulations;
• Discuss the two major hazardous materials identification systems used within the United States;
• Identify possible terrorist’s targets of opportunities in the use of toxic industrial chemicals (TIC) as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD);
• Identify locations where hazardous materials are commonly found and how to determine their potential health effects;
• Describe basic terms that pertain to exposures to hazardous materials;
• Read and interpret a materials safety data sheet (MSDS);
• Explain how hazardous materials enter the body and contaminate the environment;
• Describe what communities can do to increase their emergency preparedness to respond to hazardous materials incidents; and
• Identify steps individuals and communities can take to protect themselves during a hazardous materials release.

Click here to visit training site (external link to ... http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS5.asp).

TRAINING: IS-340 Hazardous Materials Prevention

IS-340 is a Hazardous Materials Prevention and Planning Course. Hazardous materials pose a continuing and growing emergency risk for local jurisdictions across the nation. The effectiveness of local response to hazardous materials emergencies depends upon the skill and expertise of local responders, and the quality of local response plans and training. The Emergency Management Institute EMI) has designed this course to assist States, Tribes and local communities to better prepare for and respond to hazardous materials incidents (HMI).

Hazardous materials plan development is a difficult and challenging job that requires a high level of skill and knowledge from planners charged with these responsibilities. Due to local funding shortages and frequent staff turnover at the state and local levels in the planning arena, and because of the complexity of hazardous materials planning requirements, there continues to exist a significant performance problem and training requirement for hazardous materials planning. This course will provide you the assistance and confidence needed to effectively plan for and respond to HMI, through sound emergency planning and with the highest level of safety for response personnel within your jurisdiction.

Click here to visit training site (external link to ... http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is340.asp).

RESOURCES:

Who do I call to report an oil spill or other environmental emergency that poses a sudden threat to public health?

•For emergencies and other sudden threats to public health, such as: