Hazardous Material Responder

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Receives direction from the HAZMAT Coordinator, as appointed by the Local Emergency Planning Committee. 
2. Responds to chemical emergencies occurring in Dodge County as the result of a spill, leak, release, fire, uncontrolled reaction, abandoned receptacles, and/or mishandling of material(s) as requested by the local Incident Commander through Sheriff’s Office Communications Division.
3. Reports to scene/staging area, determined by the Incident Commander or Hazmat Coordinator.
4. Coordinates efforts with other agencies to mitigate the situation.
5. Employs the use of the Incident Command System (ICS) as defined by the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
6. Assists Incident Commander and HAZMAT Coordinator in assessing hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions and rapidly identifies the immediate hazards that may affect the public, response personnel, and the environment including: contamination, weather observations, referencing of materials, hazmat control zones, evacuation, air sampling, containment, and Incident Action Plan (IAP).
7. Utilizes proper personal protective equipment in accordance to incident level criteria.
8. Follows contamination control procedures to minimize the transfer of hazardous substances from the scene by establishing control zones and decontaminating people and equipment.
9. Implements Incident Action Plan (IAP) by providing support to the Incident Commander or designee in one or more of the following roles: Team Coordinator (HazMat Group Supervisor), Team Leaders, HAZMAT Safety Officer, and/or Team member.
   1. HAZMAT Coordinator / Assistant Coordinator (HazMat Group Supervisor):
      1. Reports to Incident Commander. 
      2. Organizes, assigns, and is responsible for the overall HAZMAT operations during deployments.
      3. Provides incident documentation. 
      4. Recommends equipment needs and budget requests.
      5. Maintains equipment, inventory and record keeping including: equipment manuals, inventory records, warranty data, safety inspection records, replacement needs, and equipment acquisition.
      6. Maintains a safety inspection record of the HAZMAT Team vehicle.

1. 1. Technician Team Leader/Operations Team Leader:
      1. Reports to HAZMAT Coordinator/ Assistant Coordinator (Group Supervisor). 
      2. Assumes the duties of the HAZMAT Coordinator in his/her absence. 
      3. Assists in coordinating trainings, assists with apparatus inspections and assists with maintaining all equipment.

1. 1. HAZMAT Safety Officer:
      1. Assists incident command and the HAZMAT team to assure a safe response and to ensure proper mitigation. 
      2. Monitors and assesses HAZMAT operations for safety compliance.  Mitigates unsafe situations and develops measures to assure personnel safety, which may include: recommending levels of protection, monitoring safety conditions, implementing on-site safety and health plan, and monitoring physical health of the team members during operations.  
      3. Provides safety briefs and enforces safe working practices during training sessions. 
      4. Authorizes to stop operations or activities due to unsafe or unstable conditions.

1. 1. Team Members:
      1. Reports to appropriate Team Leader.
      2. Performs duties, as assigned, to an entry team to assist with assessing degree of hazard, identifying products, identifying containment needs, and performing necessary actions to mitigate the incident as identified in the Incident Action Plan.
      3. Performs duties, as assigned, to a rescue team remaining on standby outside the contaminated area and in an emergency, assists the entry team. 
      4. Performs duties, as assigned, as reference or recorder, and in providing information and documentation to formulate the action plan. 
      5. Performs duties, as assigned, by the Operations Team Leader to ensure proper decontamination procedures are followed to prevent the transmigration of contaminants.
      6. Performs duties, as assigned to the Decontamination Team to set up and operate the decontamination line for decontaminating personnel and equipment leaving the contaminated area. 

• 10. Maintains confidentiality during and after deployments.
• 11. Attends training, meetings and conferences and maintains current knowledge of methods and procedures through professional literature, publications, internet, 
• etc.
• 12. Follows all industry standard safety practices and regulations.  
• 13. Regular attendance and punctuality required.
• 14. Other duties as assigned.

  REQUIRED JOB COMPETENCIES 

  • Knowledge of National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command.
  • Knowledge of hazardous materials/contaminations classifications and their effects.
  • Knowledge of decontamination methods and procedures.
  • Knowledge of Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA)
  • Knowledge of State and Federal regulations including: CFR 29, CFR 40, and CFR 49, and Wisconsin Statue 323.
  • Ability to effectively use the Emergency Response Guide (ERG).
  • Ability to utilize communication system including radios and standard hand signals.
  • Ability to determine the potential for contact with hazardous materials.
  • Ability to gather facts and data and draw logical conclusions from such data.
  • Ability to prepare accurate records and reports in accordance with State and County regulations.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective relations and working relationships with local, State, and Federal response agencies.
  • Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving directions, control, and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and interact effectively with co-workers and the general public.

  PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • This work requires the exertion of lifting and carrying objects up to 50 pounds of force without assistance; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
  • Must stand, sit and walk for long periods and at times on uneven terrain.
  • Work has standard vision requirements for near and far vision.
  • Must have good hand-eye coordination.
  • Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
  • Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
  • Work is generally in a moderately noisy setting.
  • Employee may be required occasionally to report to emergency incidents in the field 24/7 in all-weather type and hazardous environments.
  • Work is in extreme working conditions including exposure to hazardous materials and various environmental factors/weather conditions, including while wearing personal protective equipment. Works in extreme temperatures (both high and low).
  • The physical demand level for this job is medium to heavy.

  Dodge County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

• Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.     

  If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page: Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants