Hazardous Materials Course

Hanover Park Fire Department hosted  Hazardous Materials Technician “A” And Technician "B" courses in March of 2010.  The course is a combined 80-hour certification program instructed by the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute.  Seventeen Hanover Park firefighters completed the rigorous training along with firefighters from numerous Chicago area departments. What made the training extra special was the addition of 5 members of the Hong Kong Fire Services Division.  Far from home, these experienced fire officers spent 3 weeks at the Hanover Park Fire Department learning Hazardous Materials mitigation as well as Hazardous Materials Incident Command. 

Topics of instruction included:

• Hazardous Materials Laws and Regulations
• Response Components
• Chemical and Physical Properties
• Chemical Recognition and Identification
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Toxicology
• Monitoring
• Container Behavior
• Site Safety
• Incident Management
• Decontamination
• Terrorism and criminal activities utilizing chemical agents

Upon graduation from this program, the Hanover Park Fire Department now has 25 certified Hazardous Material Technicians B.  All other department personnel are trained to the Hazardous Materials Operations level.