1910.120(q)(6)(iii): Hazardous Materials Technician Training
Hazardous materials technicians are responders who approach a release to plug, patch or stop it. Employers must make sure they receive at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and certify competency in areas including the emergency response plan, field instruments, the Incident Command System, specialized PPE, hazard assessment, containment, decontamination, termination and basic chemical terms.
Key takeaways
- 1910.120(q)(6)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 26 times in the last 3 years, in 26 inspections, with $74,880 in current penalties.
- Most citations: VA (5), IL (3), OH (3).
- Related part: 1910.120(q) Emergency response to hazardous substance releases (405 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii) ("Hazardous materials technician") is one requirement inside 1910.120 Hazardous waste operations and emergency response, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 9 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(iii) Hazardous materials technician. Hazardous materials technicians are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for the purpose of stopping the release. They assume a more aggressive role than a first responder at the operations level in that they will approach the point of release in order to plug, patch or otherwise stop the release of a hazardous substance. Hazardous materials technicians shall have received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and in addition have competency in the following areas and the employer shall so certify: 26 citations
(A) Know how to implement the employer's emergency response plan.
(B) Know the classification, identification and verification of known and unknown materials by using field survey instruments and equipment.
(C) Be able to function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System.
(D) Know how to select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials technician. Open (q)(6)(iii)(d) 1 citations
(E) Understand hazard and risk assessment techniques.
(F) Be able to perform advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available with the unit.
(G) Understand and implement decontamination procedures.
(H) Understand termination procedures.
(I) Understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.120.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: VA (5), IL (3), OH (3), TX (3), CT (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| BWC TERMINALS, LLC | HOUSTON, TX | $16,550 |
| WOODLAND PULP, LLC | BAILEYVILLE, ME | $16,550 |
| DUBOIS CHEMICALS, INC | SHARONVILLE, OH | $9,678 |
| UNITED PARCEL SERVICE | MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ | $7,093 |
| THE MENNEL MILLING COMPANY OF VIRGINIA | ROANOKE, VA | $7,042 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.120(q)(6)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of CPL 02-02-073 as it pertains to emergency response training for firefighters. (2008-11-07)
- Use of a "hybrid" course to meet training requirements for both a general site worker and a hazardous materials technician under HAZWOPER. (2008-04-28)
- Requirements for annual refresher training under OSHA's HAZWOPER standard. (2007-07-25)
- Requirements for emergency response and planning under the Process Safety Management Standard. (2003-06-24)
- Training requirements for emergency and post-emergency response to marine-based oil spills. (1993-04-16)
- Training and HAZWOPER. (1991-12-30)
- Application of 1910.120 to home heating oil. (1991-10-11)
- Training requirements for employees in food storage facility where ammonia is used solely as a refrigerant. (1991-05-10)
- First responders, training, hazardous materials technician, etc. (1990-11-09)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.120(q) Emergency response to hazardous substance releases 405 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6) Training 143 citations
- 1910.120(q)(8) Refresher training 115 citations
- 1910.120(q)(8)(i) 112 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(i) First responder awareness level 75 citations
- 1910.120(q)(1) Emergency response plan 67 citations
- 1910.120(q)(2) Elements of an emergency response plan 34 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3) Procedures for handling emergency response 33 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(i)(A) 21 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) 14 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(ii) First responder operations level 14 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3)(iii) 7 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What does a hazmat technician do?
Responds to releases or potential releases to stop the release, approaching the point of release to plug, patch or otherwise stop it.
How much training is required?
At least 24 hours equal to the first responder operations level, plus competency in listed areas.
Who certifies competency?
The employer must certify it.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.120 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.