New 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Now Available!
To help managers and personnel meet OSHA’s annual HAZWOPER re-training requirement, Lion Technology this week launched the 8-hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course for workers who perform cleanup duties at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
When you work with hazardous materials or hazardous waste, not many terms are thrown around as often as “HAZWOPER.”
Short for OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard and found at 29 CFR 1900.120, HAZWOPER is designed to protect three distinct sets of employees:
What Is an “Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site”?
Under HAZWOPER, an uncontrolled hazardous waste site can mean:
What Kind of Training Does HAZWOPER Require?
General site workers who operate equipment, perform general labor, or supervise personnel at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites must complete 40 hours of initial training on the HAZWOPER safety requirements. In addition to the initial 40-hour HAZWOPER training, these employees must complete three days of actual field work under direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor.
Once the initial HAZWOPER training is done, employees must complete annual refresher training.
In addition to providing a refresher overview of the HAZWOPER Standard at 29 CFR 1910.120 and who it covers, the new 8-hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course covers key HAZWOPER topics like:
When you work with hazardous materials or hazardous waste, not many terms are thrown around as often as “HAZWOPER.”
Short for OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard and found at 29 CFR 1900.120, HAZWOPER is designed to protect three distinct sets of employees:
- Employees who perform government required or voluntary cleanup work at “uncontrolled hazardous waste sites”;
- Employees who respond to emergency releases of hazardous substances in the workplace, in transportation, or anywhere else; and
- Employees who work at Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs)
What Is an “Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site”?
Under HAZWOPER, an uncontrolled hazardous waste site can mean:
- US EPA Superfund sites,
- Sites on US EPA’s National Priorities Site List (NPL),
- Sites recommended for EPA’s NPL,
- State or local priority sites,
- Sites covered by RCRA, and
- Government-identified sites where an initial investigation must be conducted to ascertain whether hazardous substances are present.
What Kind of Training Does HAZWOPER Require?
General site workers who operate equipment, perform general labor, or supervise personnel at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites must complete 40 hours of initial training on the HAZWOPER safety requirements. In addition to the initial 40-hour HAZWOPER training, these employees must complete three days of actual field work under direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor.
Once the initial HAZWOPER training is done, employees must complete annual refresher training.
In addition to providing a refresher overview of the HAZWOPER Standard at 29 CFR 1910.120 and who it covers, the new 8-hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course covers key HAZWOPER topics like:
- Site characterization and work plans,
- Risk evaluation and communication before site entry,
- Identifying and controlling hazards,
- Methods for monitoring employees,
- Medical surveillance requirements,
- Selecting and fitting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
- Rules for confined spaces and handling drums,
- Decontaminating equipment and PPE, and
- Standards for temporary workplaces.
Not every employee who needs HAZWOPER training is ready or expected to respond to an emergency situation.
OSHA defines “emergency response” as: A response effort by employees from outside the immediate release area or by other designated responders to an occurrence which results or is likely to result in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. [29 CFR 19100.120(a)(3)]
Important Note: Incidental releases where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled by employees or maintenance personnel in the area are not considered emergency response situations within the HAZWOPER Standard.
Employees who do respond to emergency releases must have additional training under HAZWOPER on emergency response techniques and how to safely respond to these types of release situations.
What About TSDFs?
Because storing, treating, and disposing of hazardous waste is the primary business for treatment storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs), employees who work at these facilities must be trained to comply with OSHA’s HAZWOPER Standard.
New! 8-Hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher at Lion.com
Stay HAZWOPER ready with the new, interactive 8-hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course. Designed for personnel who perform post-emergency cleanup work at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, the new course is an effective, convenient way to meet OSHA training mandates. Sign up now to start a free 6-month Lion Membership and get fast answers to your questions, critical rule updates, exclusive resources and content, and discounts on select Lion training products.
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