NCJ Number
148002
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 38-44
Date Published
1994
Length
7 pages
Annotation
While 100 percent of the law enforcement agencies responding to a survey on the need for hazardous materials training recognized that such training is imperative, only 79 percent of the departments said they train all officers in hazardous materials handling.
Abstract
While 67 percent of the department had some sort of written policy on how to handle hazardous materials situations, some were so general as to be of little practical help. Initial responder training for police officers should cover hazardous conditions identification, reporting, personnel evacuation, and self-protection techniques; it should last two to four hours, with annual refreshers. Many officers carry guidebooks in their patrol vehicles to assist them in emergencies. There is a need for local, State, or national control centers which can facilitate communications between officers and hazardous materials specialists. In some cases, police agencies have coordinated their efforts with the local fire department.