B. Emergency Response Teams.
1. Title 29 CFR, section 1910.120, outlines the legal requirements for ensuring that
reasonably comprehensive protection is provided for all employees engaged in hazardous waste
operations and emergency response. Title 29 CFR further states that HAZMAT teams will be
employed to plug, patch, or otherwise temporarily control or stop leaks from containers holding
hazardous substances or health hazards. For purposes of this section, the term "HAZMAT team"
will be used to describe the organizational unit designated to respond to spill emergencies;
however, the terms "emergency response team" or "spill response team" are equally acceptable
designations.
2. The requirement that a HAZMAT team be available to respond to accidental spills or
releases of hazardous materials may be satisfied either by designating and training employees or
by arranging for the services of HAZMAT teams established and maintained by other agencies.
If the team is composed of facility employees, the Commander is responsible for ensuring that
team members are physically examined, provided with personal protective equipment, and
trained in accordance with the specific requirements of Title 29 CFR, section 1910.120.
Employees assigned to the HAZMAT team should be those who, through their experience and
regularly assigned duties, are best qualified, equipped, and trained to respond to emergencies
involving hazardous materials.
3. If local circumstances preclude the use of employees as HAZMAT team members, team
requirements may be satisfied by any of the following:
a. Formal, written agreements with state and local governments to provide HAZMAT teams
on an "as required" basis.
b. Interagency or Interservice Support Agreements with Federal agencies or military
departments.
c. Local contract arrangements to retain the services of qualified and licensed commercial
HAZMAT teams.
d. Emergency response personnel representing the manufacturer or supplier of the hazardous
materials involved in the incident.
e. Industry emergency response mutual-aid representatives that respond to emergencies
involving specific materials (e.g., CHLOREP of the Chlorine Institute for emergencies involving
chlorine).
C. Dissemination of the Facility Contingency Plan.
1. The appropriateness of the initial response to an emergency will depend, in large part, on
the work force's degree of awareness. Title 29 CFR requires the commander to ensure that
employees are informed of hazards that may be present in the workplace. This requirement is
7-8
