ous material situations, and to determine when it is necessary to call upon more experienced personnel to dispose of or otherwise contain hazardous materials.
Over the coming years, fire departments are facing both economic cutbacks and increased demands in terms of the range of services that they offer (Bruegman, 1993, p. 66). Many fire agencies are responsible for the disposal of hazardous material in their communities even when that material is not associated with a current conflagration. Regulations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) affect how hazardous materials are to be handled, and fire agencies must indicate compliance with these regulations if accreditation is sought.
Economic pressures are forcing a number of agencies to cross train police and fire fighting personnel, and a number of fire fighting agencies continue to maintain a high level of volunteers; in some agencies, the ratio of volunteer to paid employee is as high as five to one (Cheek, 1994, p. 12). This reliance on volunteers emphasizes the need for effective training for areas such as hazardous material handling since these individuals are not full-time fire fighters.
Situation Analysis--Opportunities and Threats
According to some studies, fire fighters have the single most dangerous job in the nation; these studies include those departments which handle hazardous materials (Erwin, 1995, p.ß10). This presents an attractive market opportunity for a company which seeks to market educational material on how to handle hazardous substances. In addition to keeping agencies in compliance with various federal and local regulations regarding hazardous materials, education also increases the likelihood that individuals will be able to perform their jobs in a manner which keeps them and the public safe. As hazardous materials become more common due to complex manufacturing techniques an...