Final answer:
Hazardous Materials Technician (HMT) is responsible for specialized control, containment, and confinement of hazardous substances and requires higher training compared to awareness-level and operations-level personnel. Awareness-level members identify and isolate the hazard, whereas operations-level respondents contain the incident defensively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the Hazardous Materials Technician (HMT) is significantly different from the roles of awareness-level personnel and operations-level responders. HMTs assume greater responsibility and require a higher level of training to perform specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the entire perimeter of a hazardous substances incident. They must also understand the relevant laws and regulations, be able to implement the local emergency response plan, and operate advanced equipment specific to hazardous materials handling.
In contrast, awareness-level personnel are only expected to recognize the presence of hazardous materials, protect themselves, call for trained personnel, and secure the area. Operations-level responders are trained to respond defensively without actually trying to stop the release of hazardous substances. Their goal is to contain the release from a safe distance, prevent it from spreading, and prevent exposures.