PURPOSE
The purpose of this program is to
identify emergency service personnel who demonstrate competency in the performance requirements necessary to perform the duties
of a Hazardous Materials Operations responder. The NFPA 1072- "Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous
Materials/WMD Incidents" identifies the minimum requirements for a person at the operations level of progression.
A person certified at an operations level will have demonstrated competency in the necessary knowledge and skills,
while working under direct supervision, to function safely and effectively as a member of a hazardous mitigation team.
CERTIFICATION
PROCESS
A person
submits a completed application to the Kentucky Fire Commission. The candidate shall remit the prescribed written
test sitting fee, attempt a written examination of 75 multiple choice, true/false or matching questions and participate
in a skills examination (50 for HMO Core). The candidate will be afforded the opportunity to utilize the ERG book during the
written exam as a reference guide. Candidate may use the provided ERG manual ONLY. Upon successful
completion of the written and skills exams, provide all documentation, fees are submitted and prerequisites are satisfied,
the candidate shall become eligible to recieve an accredited certification from the Kentucky Fire Commission.
KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY AREAS
TESTED
Mission-Specific hazardous
situations, including but not limited to: atmospheres, analyzing incidents, collect information, predict material/container
behaviors, implement a response, evaluate progress, states of matter, containers and their shapes, product classifications
and identifications, markings/labels, packaging and quantities, scope of impact of materials, scene control, action plans,
fire/vapor control, uses of protective equipment and limitations, preservation of evidence, decontamination, and the like.
PRE-REQUISITE Competencies
The
candidate shall show completion or shall complete the following pre-requisite competencies prior to accredited certification:
For Haz Mat Operations Core (NFPA
1072 Chapter 5):
Hazardous Materials/Awareness level (NFPA 1072 Chap 4) accredited certification.
For Haz Mat Operations- Product Control level (NFPA 1072 Chap 6.6):
Hazardous
Materials/Awareness level (NFPA 1072 Chap 4) accredited certification,
plus be tested on Haz Mat PPE and Haz Mat Ops Core.
Skills and knowledge of PPE (1072
Chap 6.2) and Core level (1072 Chap 5) is tested in conjuction with HMO-Product Control.
Certification to HMO Core IS NOT recommended for the firefighter as a stand alone certification.
HMO Core is designed
to evaluate and certify non-firefighting emergency personnel or to supplement HAZWOPER teams.
HMO- Product Control is required for Firefighter 1 (NFPA 1001) accredited certification.
