What Does HAZWOPER mean?
HAZWOPER is an acronym that stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, and training for it is covered under the OSHA standard of the same name.
What Is HAZWOPER?
The HAZWOPER standard mandates specific work policies, practices, and procedures that employers must follow to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances, as well as information and training criteria necessary to ensure the health and safety of workers during hazardous waste, emergency response, and cleanup operations that involve hazardous substances. The purpose of this standard is to reduce or prevent worker exposure to any hazardous substances that can have a serious health impact.
Where Does HAZWOPER Applies To?
OSHA names five groups of employers and employees that the HAZWOPER standard applies to:
- Cleanup operations required by a governmental body involving hazardous substances conducted at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
- Corrective actions involving cleanup operations at RCRA-covered sites
- Operations involving hazardous wastes at TSD facilities
- Operations that generate hazardous waste but are not TSD facilities
- Emergency response operations involving releases of hazardous substances
In general, employees require HAZWOPER training if they are exposed to any hazardous substances or chemical conditions to uncontrolled facilities, but there are also situations where employees working with hazardous waste in controlled environments don’t usually need to be trained.
The 40-hour Course!
HAZWOPER 40-hour is required for workers that perform activities that expose or potentially expose them to hazardous substances. This course is designed for workers who are involved in clean-up operations, voluntary clean-up operations, emergency response operations, and storage, disposal, or treatment of hazardous substances or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Topics include protection against hazardous chemicals, elimination of hazardous chemicals, safety of workers and the environment and OSHA regulations.
For more information, you can visit https://www.osha.com/courses/hazwoper-40-hour.html
