Haz Mat/WMD Training Survey

May 7, 2012

The InterAgency Board (IAB) Training and Exercise SubGroup is conducting a Haz Mat/WMD Training Survey to determine emergency service needs for annual Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) competency testing/refresher training. The goal of this survey is to understand current Haz Mat/WMD competency testing/refresher training needs, which will help determine how best to provide this service.
 
The NFPA recently published the Third Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey. This survey included several questions pertaining to hazardous materials emergency response training. Among the findings was the fire service’s lack of success in meeting current Haz Mat training requirements. Although fire departments nationwide have improved hazardous material response training since the last survey in 2005, only 35 percent have formally trained all their personnel involved. These findings are a cause for concern, especially when one considers that federally mandated training requirements have been in effect since 1989 [i.e. OSHA 1910.120 and EPA reference].
 
For the purposes of this survey, the IAB Training & Exercise SubGroup is making the assumption that all levels of hazardous materials response training (Operations, Mission Specific, and Technician) will be treated as one, even though we realize that there are progressive levels of training and certification. The IAB thanks you in advance for your participation. The survey is multiple choice and should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
 
Please click on the following link to access the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HazMat_WMD_TrainingSurvey
 
About the InterAgencyBoard
The IAB is a voluntary collaborative panel of emergency preparedness and response practitioners from a wide array of professional disciplines that represent all levels of government and the voluntary sector. The IAB provides a structured forum for the exchange of ideas among operational, technical, and support organizations to improve national preparedness and promote interoperability and compatibility among local, state, and federal response communities. Learn more at https://iab.gov/.