EDGARTOWN, MA – Emergency Film Group has announced the release of Hazmat/WMD Awareness, a video-based training program that provides at least four hours of training in the competencies for personnel at the Awareness Level. These competencies have been established by OSHA’s regulation, 29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response,” usually referred to as Hazwoper, and are further refined by the National Fire Protection Association standard 472 “Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents.”

Hazmat/WMD Awareness includes a 28-minute DVD or video as well as a Leader’s Guide with objectives, ideas for activities and exercises, pre- and post-seminar testing and a copy of the script for reference. Technical advisors for the program include two members of NFPA’s Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel.

The program trains those who may be first to discover a hazardous material release or terrorism incident, including police officers, fire fighters, EMS, security guards, highway workers and industrial personnel. These personnel are trained to protect themselves, survey the site from a safe location to attempt to identify the substances involved, initiate protective actions, and notify appropriate response organizations. The program addresses both fixed facility and transportation incidents, and portrays Awareness Level personnel initiating protective actions, using the Emergency Response Guidebook and Material Safety Data Sheets, and interacting with response personnel. The Leader’s Guide is set up to help relate the lessons taught in the video to the particular jurisdiction or facility.

Technical advisors include Chief Jerry Grey, formerly with the San Francisco Fire Department and currently President of HazTech Systems; Chris Herman, Emergency Response Specialist with BP Toledo; Greg Noll, Principal in the hazardous materials consulting firm Hildebrand & Noll Associates and formerly the Hazmat Coordinator for the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire Department; and Glen Rudner, Hazardous Materials Officer for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Both Grey and Noll are members of the NFPA 472 Committee.

Emergency Film Group uses leading professionals in emergency response and film production to create authoritative and accurate training programs for fire departments, hazmat teams, emergency management, police, EMS, the military and other emergency responders. Winner of more than 130 awards in national and international competitions, the company addresses such timely topics as terrorism response, homeland security, hazardous materials, incident command, protective clothing, and air monitoring.

For more information, or for a free color catalog describing all programs available from the Emergency Film Group, call 800 842-0999 or 508 627-8844, or e-mail info@efilmgroup.com. Program descriptions are available on-line by clicking the All Videos menu button.