Course Overview
The Hazardous Materials Incident Response (HAZIR) course gives learners the practical skills to safely respond to incidents involving dangerous goods and hazardous substances as part of an emergency response team. It covers how to don and operate specialist personal protective equipment, conduct incident reconnaissance, identify hazardous materials, contain the substance and make the scene safe, and initiate emergency decontamination procedures.
Hazardous Materials Incident Response is a specialist emergency response capability required across high-risk industries, where trained emergency response team members are required to safely manage incidents involving dangerous goods and hazardous substances using specialist personal protective equipment in dynamic, high-consequence environments. The 1-day course delivered at ERGT Australia provides learners with the practical knowledge and hands-on experience required to respond to hazardous materials incidents as part of an emergency response team. Designed for existing emergency response team members with prior experience in breathing apparatus and fire control, this course focuses on donning and operating chemical splash suits with breathing apparatus and fully encapsulated gas suits, conducting incident reconnaissance and reporting, identifying hazardous materials, applying containment and scene safety procedures, and initiating emergency decontamination in accordance with workplace procedures.
Through a combination of facilitator-led learning and practical activities in a simulated work environment, learners will build the confidence and capability to respond to hazardous materials incidents, operate specialist personal protective equipment, and apply containment and decontamination procedures in line with industry best practice. Upon successful completion, learners will be ready to respond to hazardous materials incidents as part of a workplace emergency response team.
Key details
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the procedure for donning chemical a splash suit with BA and donning a fully encapsulated gas suit
- Conduct incident reconnaissance and report back to command
- Identify the hazardous materials
- Contain the hazardous materials and make the scene safe
- Initiate emergency decontamination
Prior Skills & Knowledge
Training standard prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites from the training standard for this course.
ERGT prior skills and knowledge
While there are no formal training standard prerequisites, it is essential that learners have previously completed training in the relevant skill areas, such as:
Breathing Apparatus
- MSMWHS216 Operate breathing apparatus, or
- PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit
Firefighting and Emergency Response
- PMAWHS213 Undertake fire control and emergency rescue
Evidence of prior certification in each area must be provided before course commencement.
Learners who have not yet completed training in these areas should contact ERGT Australia to identify the appropriate courses before enrolling in Hazardous Materials Incident Response.
What to expect
Learner Support:
Learner wellbeing for this course is supported through measures that recognise the physical, cognitive, and psychological demands of responding to hazardous materials incidents in a simulated high-risk environment. As the course involves wearing fully encapsulated gas suits and chemical splash suits with breathing apparatus, operating in conditions that simulate hazardous atmospheres, and responding to incident scenarios under restricted vision and movement, ERGT implements support strategies that prioritise learner safety, confidence and readiness. This ensures learners can safely participate in all practical components without compromising their wellbeing or safety.
Physical Wellbeing Support:
- Trainers continuously monitor learners for signs of fatigue, heat stress, dehydration or restricted movement while wearing specialist personal protective equipment, particularly fully encapsulated gas suits.
- Encapsulated suit and breathing apparatus fit, seal and comfort are checked before and throughout practical sessions, with trainer support for adjustment where required.
- Learners are encouraged to disclose any physical concerns (e.g. fatigue, minor injury, heat discomfort or difficulty moving in encapsulated PPE) so adjustments can be made to participation.
Psychological & Emotional Wellbeing Support:
- Trainers provide clear pre-activity briefings to prepare learners for full encapsulation, including what to expect when wearing a gas suit with restricted vision, restricted communication and reduced situational awareness.
- Learners experiencing discomfort or anxiety when wearing fully encapsulated PPE are supported through gradual exposure, additional guidance or alternative sequencing of activities where appropriate.
- Communication and check-in protocols are established before encapsulated suit use, allowing learners to signal concerns or request a break during practical activities.
- Post-activity debriefs are conducted to reinforce learning, address concerns and build confidence in safely operating in specialist personal protective equipment.
Cognitive Support for Safety-Critical Tasks:
- Structured delivery of hazardous materials hazards, identification methods, response strategies and decontamination procedures prior to practical application.
- Step-by-step demonstrations of specialist personal protective equipment use, including donning, fitting and post-use procedures for chemical splash suits, breathing apparatus and fully encapsulated gas suits.
- Use of visual aids, demonstrations and real equipment to reinforce understanding of safe hazardous materials response practices.
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