Curriculum developers at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness are putting the final touches on a long-anticipated Chemical Operations Support Specialist (COSS) course.
During chemical emergencies, routine decisions and operations for Federal, State, local, territorial, and tribal (FSLTT) response agencies become increasingly complex. These actions require chemical experts to safeguard the public and responders.
The five-day, 40-hour course is geared at safety officers, hazardous materials technicians, toxicologists, chemists, and other individuals with at least 5 years’ experience and training that goes beyond standard HAZMAT technician training. The course will provide them the skills to function as technical advisors to incident commanders and operations center officials during chemical emergencies.
The CDP is creating the course in partnership with FEMA’s CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) and the Department of Homeland Security’s CWMD (Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction) offices.
The developers say they anticipate the course to be launched as early as January.
Source: DHS