HAZWOPER Hazardous Materials Incident Commander Initial

Duration	16 Hours  (24-hour expanded course also available — see Additional Course Options)
Delivery Format	Instructor-led classroom  |  Case studies, tabletop exercises, and decision-making scenarios
Regulation	OSHA HAZWOPER 29 CFR 1910.120(q); California Title 8 CCR §5192(q)
Prerequisite	Recommended — First Responder Operations-level training; ICS-100 or equivalent ICS training
Completion	Course review activities and a passing score on the written exam
Target Audience	Personnel who may assume or support Incident Commander responsibilities during hazardous materials emergency response, including transition from the initial First Responder on scene
Accreditation	CSTI-Accredited Course — fees apply

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This NATEC course is developed to align with CSTI Hazardous Materials Incident Commander curriculum concepts, OSHA HAZWOPER emergency response requirements under 29 CFR 1910.120(q), and California Title 8 CCR §5192(q).

This 16-hour HAZWOPER Hazardous Materials Incident Commander Initial course is designed for personnel who may assume or support command responsibilities during hazardous materials emergency response incidents, including situations where command may transition from the initial First Responder on scene.

The course provides participants with command-level training tools used to manage hazardous materials emergency response operations. The course focuses on hazard assessment, risk management, legal and regulatory considerations, protective actions, site safety, incident command responsibilities, response coordination, documentation, and incident termination.

Instruction may include classroom discussion, class activities, case studies, tabletop exercises, decision-making scenarios, course review, and a written exam. The course is intended to support the participant’s ability to make informed command-level decisions during hazardous materials incidents while working within the employer’s emergency response plan, assigned role, available resources, and applicable response procedures.

PREREQUISITES

Participants should have prior hazardous materials response training appropriate to their assigned role. Recommended prerequisites include:

• First Responder Operations-level training
• ICS-100 or equivalent basic Incident Command System training

Completion of this course, together with appropriate prerequisite training and employer evaluation, may support the training requirements for personnel assigned Incident Commander responsibilities under the employer’s emergency response plan.

TRAINING SCOPE NOTICE

Important: Additional training, employer authorization, PPE, equipment, and written procedures may be required before employees perform duties beyond the scope of this Incident Commander Initial course.

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REGULATIONS / REFERENCES DISCUSSED IN TRAINING

• OSHA HAZWOPER — 29 CFR 1910.120(q)
• California Title 8 CCR §5192(q)
• Incident Command System concepts
• Employer emergency response plans and procedures, when provided
• Applicable hazardous materials emergency response guidance and site-specific procedures, when provided

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this training, participants should be able to:

1	Describe the general role and responsibilities of the Hazardous Materials Incident Commander.
2	Explain command-level responsibilities during hazardous materials emergency response operations.
3	Identify HAZWOPER regulatory considerations related to emergency response.
4	Describe hazard assessment considerations during hazardous materials incidents.
5	Explain how risk management supports command-level decision-making.
6	Identify protective action options for responders, the public, property, and the environment.
7	Describe site safety considerations during hazardous materials emergency response operations.
8	Explain how Incident Command System concepts support hazardous materials incident management.
9	Describe coordination considerations when working with responders, supervisors, technical resources, and outside agencies.
10	Identify documentation, incident review, and termination considerations.
11	Participate in class activities, case studies, tabletop exercises, and decision-making scenarios.
12	Complete course review activities and a written exam.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the completion of this training, participants should be better prepared to:

• Support or assume command-level responsibilities consistent with their employer’s emergency response plan and assigned role.
• Assess hazardous materials incident conditions from a command-level perspective.
• Apply risk-based decision-making principles during hazardous materials incidents.
• Identify protective action options and site safety considerations.
• Coordinate response resources within an incident command structure.
• Recognize when additional technical resources, specialized responders, or outside agencies may be needed.
• Support documentation, incident review, and termination activities.
• Work within the limits of their training, PPE, equipment, employer authorization, emergency response plan, and response procedures.

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ADDITIONAL COURSE OPTIONS & ACCREDITATION

A 24-hour HAZWOPER Hazardous Materials Incident Commander course is also available for clients requiring expanded Incident Commander-level training.

NATEC offers a CSTI-Accredited Course. Fees apply.