HazMat Awareness – Hazardous Materials Recognition, Safety, and Emergency Response
Study Guide
What is a hazardous material according to DOT? - correct answer ✔✔Any substance or material
that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to human health, safety, or the environment.
What is the most common way of describing WMDs? - correct answer ✔✔The acronym "CBRN"
- (chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons or materials.)
What is the difference between regulation and standard? - correct answer ✔✔Regulations are
mandates that are issued and forced by governmental bodies.
Standards are issued by nongovernmental entities and are generally consensus based.
Per NFPA 470, what is the difference between awareness level personnel and operations level
responders? - correct answer ✔✔A person with awareness level training is not considered to be
a responder.
A person with operations level training are tasked to respond to hazardous materials/WMD
incidents for the purpose of taking action to protect nearby persons, the environment, or
property from the effects of the release.
How do preplanning activities enable agencies to develop logical and appropriate response
procedures for anticipated incidents? - correct answer ✔✔The move toward interoperability
before an incident will make the actual response work run more smoothly.
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) - correct answer ✔✔An organization , office , or individual
responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard , or for approving equipment ,
materials , an installation , or a procedure . ( NFPA 470 )
, Awareness level personnel - correct answer ✔✔Personnel who , during the course of their
normal duties , could encounter an emergency involving hazardous materials / weapons of mass
destruction ( WMD ) and who are expected to recognize the presence of the hazardous
materials / WMD , protect themselves , call for trained personnel , and secure the scene . ( NFPA
470 )
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - correct answer ✔✔A collection of permanent rules
published in the Federal Register that represent broad areas of interest governed by federal
regulation and that are organized into 50 titles , which are updated annually .
defensive mode - correct answer ✔✔The mode of operation in which di rect contact with the
material or container is avoided and responders ' efforts focus on controlling or limit ing the
effects of the release .
Department of Transportation ( DOT ) - correct answer ✔✔The U.S. gov ernment agency that
publicizes and enforces rules and regulations that relate to the transportation of many
hazardous materials .
Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) - correct answer ✔✔Legislation
that requires a business that handles chemicals to report on those chemicals type , quantity ,
and storage methods to the fire depart ment and the local emergency planning committee .
Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) - correct answer ✔✔The U.S. federal agency that
ensures safe manufacturing , use , transportation , and disposal of hazardous substances .
Hazardous Material - correct answer ✔✔Matter ( solid , liquid , or gas ) or energy that when
released is capable of creating harm to people , the environment , and property , including
weapons of mass destruction ( WMD ) . ( NFPA 470 )
hazardous materials specialist - correct answer ✔✔Defined in the OSHA HAZWOPER regulation
only , a hazardous ma terials specialist who responds with , and provides sup port to , hazardous
Study Guide
What is a hazardous material according to DOT? - correct answer ✔✔Any substance or material
that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to human health, safety, or the environment.
What is the most common way of describing WMDs? - correct answer ✔✔The acronym "CBRN"
- (chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons or materials.)
What is the difference between regulation and standard? - correct answer ✔✔Regulations are
mandates that are issued and forced by governmental bodies.
Standards are issued by nongovernmental entities and are generally consensus based.
Per NFPA 470, what is the difference between awareness level personnel and operations level
responders? - correct answer ✔✔A person with awareness level training is not considered to be
a responder.
A person with operations level training are tasked to respond to hazardous materials/WMD
incidents for the purpose of taking action to protect nearby persons, the environment, or
property from the effects of the release.
How do preplanning activities enable agencies to develop logical and appropriate response
procedures for anticipated incidents? - correct answer ✔✔The move toward interoperability
before an incident will make the actual response work run more smoothly.
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) - correct answer ✔✔An organization , office , or individual
responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard , or for approving equipment ,
materials , an installation , or a procedure . ( NFPA 470 )
, Awareness level personnel - correct answer ✔✔Personnel who , during the course of their
normal duties , could encounter an emergency involving hazardous materials / weapons of mass
destruction ( WMD ) and who are expected to recognize the presence of the hazardous
materials / WMD , protect themselves , call for trained personnel , and secure the scene . ( NFPA
470 )
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) - correct answer ✔✔A collection of permanent rules
published in the Federal Register that represent broad areas of interest governed by federal
regulation and that are organized into 50 titles , which are updated annually .
defensive mode - correct answer ✔✔The mode of operation in which di rect contact with the
material or container is avoided and responders ' efforts focus on controlling or limit ing the
effects of the release .
Department of Transportation ( DOT ) - correct answer ✔✔The U.S. gov ernment agency that
publicizes and enforces rules and regulations that relate to the transportation of many
hazardous materials .
Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) - correct answer ✔✔Legislation
that requires a business that handles chemicals to report on those chemicals type , quantity ,
and storage methods to the fire depart ment and the local emergency planning committee .
Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) - correct answer ✔✔The U.S. federal agency that
ensures safe manufacturing , use , transportation , and disposal of hazardous substances .
Hazardous Material - correct answer ✔✔Matter ( solid , liquid , or gas ) or energy that when
released is capable of creating harm to people , the environment , and property , including
weapons of mass destruction ( WMD ) . ( NFPA 470 )
hazardous materials specialist - correct answer ✔✔Defined in the OSHA HAZWOPER regulation
only , a hazardous ma terials specialist who responds with , and provides sup port to , hazardous
