Information presented in the program includes:
- Handling the press during HAZMAT incidents
- Preventing misinformation
- The employee's role
Description:
MARCOM's "Dealing With the Media in Emergency Situations" HAZWOPER Videotape Program assists facilities in complying with the employee training requirements of OSHA's HAZWOPER regulation (29 CFR 1910.120), and instructs employees on the proper ways of interacting with the media during an emergency situation. Hazardous materials and waste are part of many work situations, and can be found on many types of job sites. OSHA feels that it is so important for employees to know how to recognize these potentially dangerous substances (as well as how to handle and dispose of them properly) they have mandated that anyone working with these materials receive comprehensive training in this area. In 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to regulate the handling of hazardous waste "from cradle to grave". Since then other regulations have followed, including OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.120, also known as HAZWOPER. As part of these regulations, there are varying requirements for employee training, depending on an employee's specific level of involvement with hazardous materials. Areas covered in the program include establishing a relationship with the media before a crisis occurs, the duties and responsibilities of the Public Information Officer (PIO), early response to the media during an incident, insuring the safety of the media, unauthorized communication with the media, the consequences of rumors and misinformation, and more. The Videotape Program comes with a comprehensive Leader's Guide, reproducible Scheduling & Attendance Form, Employee Quiz, Training Log and Training Certificate. This program can be used as the basis for approximately two hours of classroom training.
