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The OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.120 (q)(6)(I) defines First Responder Awareness Level as those employees, including fire, police, EMA, and EMS personnel who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. First responders at the awareness level shall have sufficient training or have sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the following:
1910,120(q)(6)(I)(A) - An understanding of what hazardous substances are, and the risks associated with them in an incident.
1910,120(q)(6)(I)(B) - An understanding of the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous substances are present.
1910,120(q)(6)(I)(C) - The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency.
1910,120(q)(6)(I)(D) - The ability to identify the hazardous substances, if possible.
1910,120(q)(6)(I)(E) - An understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual in the employer's emergency response plan including site security and control and the North American Emergency response Guidebook (NAERG).
Emergency responders may be trained at the First Responder Awareness Level. This would allow them to classify a release incident as one requiring an emergency response and alerting the proper authorities that there is a hazardous materials incident. No action shall be taken to protect nearby persons, property, or the environment from the effects of the release.
Emergency responders who participate in the initial emergency response activities for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, and the environment from the effects of the release shall be trained to the First Responder Operations Level.