During training exercises and incident operations,it is necessary to ensure that all safety measures are in place and proper procedures are being followed. This course provides training to perform risk assessment and implement a safety plan to ensure the welfare of all task force personnel under applicable safety standards and regulations.

• Course Enabling Objectives
  At the completion of this course the student will:
  
  • Describe the history of the US&R program
  • Describe the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System within FEMA,including the FEMA US&R Program Office and the US&R Advisory Organization
  • Describe the roles and responsibilities of the Task Force Safety Officer
  • Apply the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards that specifically apply to US&R Operations
  • Identify and categorize common hazards encountered during US&R activities
  • Investigate events resulting in injury and/or damage during task force operations
  • Identify different types of damaged structures,the hazards most common to damaged structures,and the methods that  have been used to mitigate them
  • Perform a risk assessment using the traditional,paper-based method of the Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM)
  • Mitigate identified risks to an acceptable level
  • Demonstrate the Task Force Safety Officer's role and responsibilities for functional interaction during an exercise
  • 32 hour course