Tank Car Specialist PER-290 (9/29-10/03)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Tank Car Specialist course is specifically designed as an intensive hazardous materials emergency response training for the specialist level and will bring the hazardous materials technician to the highest recognized level of training identified by Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a focus on freight rail incidents potentially involving flammable and combustible liquids and other hazardous materials transported by rail.

Participants will receive comprehensive training well beyond that of traditional hazardous materials technician training. The classroom information will be bolstered with hands-on scenarios that take place on the more than 50 rail tank cars present at SERTC's facility as well as 5 full-scale derailments. This ensures that participants not only know the necessary information but also how to apply it during a real-world incident.

The classroom portion includes information on railroad nomenclature, railcar designs, specialty features unique to the railroad, product transfer, containment methods, plugging and patching to including use of special containment devices and flaring operations. The course also covers rail vehicle threat and vulnerability assessments including actions and responses to any toxic or industrial hazardous materials release (e.g., flammable/combustible liquid rail transportation emergencies and WMD attacks on railcars).

The practical portion is split into 3 areas, each building towards the next. First is the SERTC high bay which contains protective housings, valves, interior cutaways of appurtenances and rail cars, emergency devices, and other props to give participants an understanding of the inner workings of rail cars and their components. Second is the transfer yard where participants learn how the various components on a railcar are actually used during transfers and flaring of liquids and gases under "normal" conditions. The final practical areas are the 5 full-scale derailments where participants will utilize all of the skills and knowledge gained to respond to a realistic emergency with full ICS staffing, appropriate PPE, and other emergency equipment.

Training Dates: 09/29/2025 - 10/03/2025

Training Location:

Security & Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC)

45825 Colorado 96
Pueblo, CO 81006

Prerequisites:

IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command
IS - 200 for Single Resources and Initial Action (Any Version)

Registration: Please register for this course through the ACADIS Portal.

Registration Deadline: 07/31/2025