To protect HAZMAT workers, OSHA has issued the HAZWOPER regulation. According to this, employees must train on a number of specific levels according to their involvement with hazardous waste materials to ensure their safety and health.
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HAZWOPER training course is divided into 8 hour annual refresher course, 40 Hour Course, 24 Hour Course, first responder operations level and first responder awareness level.
The 8 hour annual refresher course is for workers at hazardous waste sites and it meets the requirements in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120. This annual refresher course has been designed for general site workers who deals with hazardous waste or who are exposed (or potentially exposed) to hazardous substances or health hazards. The topics under 8 hour annual refresher course includes HAZWOPER regulations, safety and health plans, hazardous chemicals, medical surveillance, personal protective equipment, safety hazards, air monitoring, decontamination, site control, and respiratory equipment.
For employees visiting an uncontrolled hazardous waste operation, the HAZWOPER 24 Hour course has been mandated by the Government. The 24 hour HAZWOPER course covers a broad issue that pertains to the hazard recognition at workplace. This course has been developed by OSHA to protect the workers with extensive regulations to ensure their safety and health at hazardous sites. Apart from identifying different types of hazards, this course also trains the workers with precautions and protective measures to reduce or eliminate hazards at the worksites.
40 hour HAZWOPER Training is designed for workers involved in clean-up operations, emergency response operations, voluntary clean-up operations, and storage, disposal, or treatment of uncontrolled hazardous waste sites or hazardous substances. This 40 hour HAZWOPER training topics covers under the 29 CFR 1910.120. The topics under this 40hr HAZWOPER include elimination of hazardous chemicals, protection against hazardous chemicals, workers and environments safety and OSHA regulations.
The first responder awareness level training is for those who are likely to witness or notice a hazardous materials release and on time initiate a response sequence by notifying the authorities. Topics in the first responder awareness level training covers the topics addressed in 29 CFR 1910. 120 and they include recognizing and identifying the presence of hazardous materials in worksite or emergency, defining hazardous materials, potential outcomes of hazardous materials, use of basic information resources, and the role of individual in an emergency situation. The first responder awareness level training will help responders to recognize the presence of hazardous materials, segregate the scene and call for appropriate assistance.
