HAZWOPER TRAINING: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Our modern industrial society has developed a wide range of hazardous materials. These materials cause significant problems in storage and cleanup. Cleaning up hazardous materials has become a specialized construction field, where the workers need extra training and awareness to protect themselves and the environment.
The intent of the OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard (HAZWOPER) is the protection of workers who engage in emergency response operations during releases or threats of release of hazardous substances regardless of the location. Employees who may be exposed to or respond to hazardous material emergencies are required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to have specific HAZWOPER training. As a requirement for working in jobs that can expose workers to hazardous materials, HAZWOPER training has be created. The training helps workers recognize the hazardous materials and teaches them how to protect themselves. An initial 40 hour or 24 hour course of training, followed by refresher 8 hour courses each year maintains certification.
HAZWOPER training includes:
1. Reviewing the regulations and laws regarding hazardous materials
2. Learning the hazardous materials’ various characteristics
3. How to use respiratory protection, monitoring equipment and chemical protective clothing.
4. Introduction to the different facets of hazardous materials situations. Also Incident Command safety requirements, HAZWOPER Specialist and Technician requirements and decontamination procedures and hazmat countermeasures.
Levels and Personnel Trained
HAZWOPER training has various levels and should correspond to the potential hazard involved in the type of work.
•HAZWOPER 40-hour training is for individuals who are involved in the clean up of hazardous materials. The 40-hour course is also required for those dealing in storage or transportation of hazardous materials. HAZWOPER 40-hour course is also required for workers’ safety hazardous waste sites that are uncontrolled.
•HAZWOPER 24-hour training is designed for those who are not directly involved with uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. This would include crews involved in land surveying, ground water monitoring and geophysical surveying.
• HAZWOPER 8-hour training is designed for managers who are required to obtain 8 hours training in addition to the level of training of the workers they supervise, either the 24-hour or the 40-hour training.
For those working in the following areas, OSHA mandates the standard HAZWOPER training be completed:
• General site workers (such as supervisory personnel, general laborers and equipment operators) thatare involved in the removal of hazardous substances or other activities which could potentially expose those general workers to any hazardous substances.
• Operations crews working in facilities that are regulated by 40 CFR Parts 264 and 265 and pursuant to RCRA; or by agencies implementing RCRA regulations per U.S.E.P.A. agreement in disposing, treatment or storage of hazardous materials.
• Emergency response crews for releases or potential threats of release of hazardous substances,location of the hazard is not a consideration.
Serco stands ready to work with you and support your cleanup and containment needs. We also provide
professional and reliable design, fabrication and industrial construction services to meet your every
need. If you have questions about any of our services, give us a call at (806) 273-7614 or contact us by
email.
The intent of the OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard (HAZWOPER) is the protection of workers who engage in emergency response operations during releases or threats of release of hazardous substances regardless of the location. Employees who may be exposed to or respond to hazardous material emergencies are required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to have specific HAZWOPER training. As a requirement for working in jobs that can expose workers to hazardous materials, HAZWOPER training has be created. The training helps workers recognize the hazardous materials and teaches them how to protect themselves. An initial 40 hour or 24 hour course of training, followed by refresher 8 hour courses each year maintains certification.
HAZWOPER training includes:
1. Reviewing the regulations and laws regarding hazardous materials
2. Learning the hazardous materials’ various characteristics
3. How to use respiratory protection, monitoring equipment and chemical protective clothing.
4. Introduction to the different facets of hazardous materials situations. Also Incident Command safety requirements, HAZWOPER Specialist and Technician requirements and decontamination procedures and hazmat countermeasures.
Levels and Personnel Trained
HAZWOPER training has various levels and should correspond to the potential hazard involved in the type of work.
•HAZWOPER 40-hour training is for individuals who are involved in the clean up of hazardous materials. The 40-hour course is also required for those dealing in storage or transportation of hazardous materials. HAZWOPER 40-hour course is also required for workers’ safety hazardous waste sites that are uncontrolled.
•HAZWOPER 24-hour training is designed for those who are not directly involved with uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. This would include crews involved in land surveying, ground water monitoring and geophysical surveying.
• HAZWOPER 8-hour training is designed for managers who are required to obtain 8 hours training in addition to the level of training of the workers they supervise, either the 24-hour or the 40-hour training.
For those working in the following areas, OSHA mandates the standard HAZWOPER training be completed:
• General site workers (such as supervisory personnel, general laborers and equipment operators) thatare involved in the removal of hazardous substances or other activities which could potentially expose those general workers to any hazardous substances.
• Operations crews working in facilities that are regulated by 40 CFR Parts 264 and 265 and pursuant to RCRA; or by agencies implementing RCRA regulations per U.S.E.P.A. agreement in disposing, treatment or storage of hazardous materials.
• Emergency response crews for releases or potential threats of release of hazardous substances,location of the hazard is not a consideration.
Serco stands ready to work with you and support your cleanup and containment needs. We also provide
professional and reliable design, fabrication and industrial construction services to meet your every
need. If you have questions about any of our services, give us a call at (806) 273-7614 or contact us by
email.