MEMBERSHIP

OVERVIEW
The Aiken County HAZMAT Team is a division of the Aiken County Emergency Services Department. Although it is not a part the county Fire Service organizational structure, the HAZMAT Team works closely with the surrounding fire departments and Emergency Medical Services. The unique mission and specialization of the Team makes it just as appropriate to be a separate entity as a typical hazmat team under fire services.

QUALIFICATIONS
The Team is a volunteer unit composed of a wide assortment of personnel - a fortunate attribute for the Team's function. Members include professional firefighters, EMTs, Industrial Hygienists, Environmental Engineers, Radiological Technicians, Emergency Preparedness and Hazardous Materials Instructors, industry specialists, and many others. Each individual's talents, experiences, and training enables the HAZMAT Team to complete its mission.

There are no experience requirements to join the Team. However, either prior to joining or prior to becoming a fully functional Team member, each individual must have successfully completed training equivalent to OSHA 1910.120 "Technician" level.

Members are required to have an annual medical examination, at the County's expense, as mandated by OSHA. The physical demands of a HAZMAT response in a Level A, or fully encapsulated suit, are often beyond the capability of many individuals. To verify endurance, all members undergo a strenuous "Stress Test" to check the fitness of their cardiovascular system. From this perspective, the Team is constantly recruiting county residents which are physically and psychologically capable to meet the challenges of wearing restrictive chemical protective equipment in toxic environments.