NCJ Number
222113
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 77 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 16-20
Date Published
March 2008
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview of the recently revised National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Technical Standard 472: Professional Competencies of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents.
Abstract
This article details law enforcement and hazmat/WMD (weapons of mass destruction) emergency response in terms of training tools, awareness, operation on this, and first-responders with regard to the standards-development process. NFPA is a nonregulatory, voluntary, consensus-standards development organization accredited through the American National Standards Institute. NFPA standards are developed through over 200 technical committees, each comprised of representatives from manufacturing, research and testing, regulatory enforcement, users, and special experts. For example, the NFPA 472 Technical Committee has 33 members, including representatives from the FBI Hazardous Materials Response Unit, the National Tactical Officers Association, the National Bomb Squad Commanders, and the U.S. Capitol Police. Many of the standards-development organizations are working on issues relative to the emergency response to incidents involving hazardous materials and WMD. The National Institute of Justice has revitalized its Law Enforcement Personal Protective Equipment Technical Working Group and currently is collaborating with the National Fire Protection Association to improve protective clothing and equipment standards that directly impact law enforcement emergency responders. National standardized competencies ensure that officers receive training in the most current, widely accepted best practices in the hazmat/WMD arena. They also ensure that when operations-level enforcement officers and hazardous material technicians are on the scene, they speak the same language, conduct concurrent hazard and risk assessments, prioritize technical goals, and support each other in carrying them out. Uniformity between special operations disciplines that deploy the units outside the region proves critical in supporting the National Response Plan. 1 endnote