The goal of the department is to preform the following tasks safely in a hazardous materials situation. Each member of the team is competent in the hazardous materials technician skill and is be able to:

Analyze a hazardous materials incident to determine the magnitude of the problem in terms of outcomes by completing the following tasks:

Survey the hazardous materials incident to identify special containers involved, to identify or classify unknown materials, and to verify the presence and concentrations of hazardous materials through the use of monitoring equipment
Collect and interpret hazard and response information from printed resources, technical resources, computer data bases, and monitoring equipment
Determine the extent of damage to containers
Predict the likely behavior of released materials and their containers when multiple materials are involved
Estimate the size of an endangered area using computer modeling, monitoring equipment, or specialists in this field

Plan a response within the capabilities of available personnel, personal protective equipment, and control equipment by completing the following tasks:

Identify the response objectives for hazardous materials incidents
Identify the potential action options available by response objective
Select the personal protective equipment required for a given action option
Select the appropriate decontamination procedures
Develop a plan of action, including safety considerations, consistent with the local emergency response plan and the organization?s standard operating procedures, and within the capability of the available personnel, personal protective equipment, and control equipment

Implement the planned response to favorably change the outcomes consistent with the organization?s standard operating procedures and safety considerations by completing the following tasks:

Perform the duties of an assigned hazardous materials branch position within the local incident management system (IMS)
Don, work in, and doff appropriate personal protective clothing, including, but not limited to, both liquid splash and vapor-protective clothing with appropriate respiratory protection
Perform the control functions identified in the plan of action

Evaluate the progress of the planned response by evaluating the effectiveness of the control functions

Terminate the incident by completing the following tasks:

Assist in the incident debriefing
Assist in the incident critique
Provide reports and documentation of the incident