GBK has supported more than 50 International, Federal, state, and local response organizations to include: US Army National Guard Civilian Support Teams (CST); US Coast Guard; NATO; US Army; US Navy; US Air Force; and the Marine Corps. We have provided emergency response training and certification services for the Government of Kuwait, Military Academy at Westpoint, and national emergency response agencies in Iceland, Spain, Japan, Korea, Italy, and Germany. Over the last 15-years GBK has trained over 4,500 level III HAZMAT Technicians for the US Government alone.

GBK's emergency response training and certification experts hold certifications and approvals with the International Firefighter Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), USEPA External Provider Program, as well as number of other accrediting organizations to provide accredited training to both our public, and private-sector clients.

Navigating OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q); NFPA Recommended Practices 471 and 472; and FEMA's HMEP

Workers assigned to duties involving the emergency response to hazardous materials incidents must receive training. OSHA's HAZWOPER standard, as well as the National Fire Protection Association's recommended practices 471 and 472 have standardized tiered approaches to emergency responder competencies that are based on the responders' role in your organization's emergency response plan. GBK's experts assists our clients in identifying the appropriate competency requirement whether it be competencies for a First Responder at the Operational Level or a Private Sector Specialist Employee-A.

GBK designs, develops and delivers targeted, need-specific curriculum for the following competencies:

• First Responder at the Awareness Level (OSHA 1910.120(q)(6)(i)) and (NFPA 472 4.1)
• First Responder at the Operational Level (OSHA 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)) and (NFPA 472 5.1)l
• Hazardous Materials Technician - Standard (OSHA 1910.120(q)(6)(iii));(EPA 165.15) or (NFPA 472 6.1)
• Hazardous Materials Technician with a Tank Car Specialty (NFPA 472 11.1)
• Hazardous Materials Technician with a Cargo Tank Specialty (NFPA 472 12.1)
• Hazardous Materials Technician with an Intermodal Tank Specialty (NFPA 472 13.1)
• On-Scene Incident Commander (OSHA 1910.120(q)(6)(v)) and (NFPA 472 7.1)
• Hazardous Materials Branch Officer (NFPA 472 9.1)
• Hazardous Materials Branch Safety Officer (or Safety Officer at Hazardous Materials Incidents)
• Hazardous Materials Specialist (1910.120(q)(6)(iv)) with Private Sector Specialist Employee A (NFPA 472 8.4)
• Specialist Employee (OSHA 1910.120(q)(6)(iv) or Private Sector Specialist Employee B and C (NFPA 472 8.2/8.3)
• Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (FEMA)

Reference Project:

Level IV Hazardous Materials Specialist for Terrorist Incidents

Merck Pharmaceutical, Albany, GAGBK were commissioned by Merck to provide emergency response training at this facility because of the storage of 6,000 gallons of a highly toxic organophosphate chemical used in the manufacture of HIV/AIDS treatment drug AZT. This same chemical is also pre-cursor ingredient in the manufacture of VX, a deadly chemical nerve agent. GBK performed an in-depth risk assessment of the facility and identified the critical competencies required by response personnel to deal with a potential terrorist incident at the facility. A training course was then developed based upon these requirements and the established competency certification process.

Some milestones and deliverables included:

1. Completed facility risk assessment;
2. Identified critical competencies;
3. Developed curriculum based on risk assessment findings;
4. Selected equipment required by response personnel;
5. Completed a train-the-trainer course for appropriate facility personnel.