HAZWOPER Training Requirements Video: Part 1

In this video, I ask Dave to explain what HAZWOPER is, to go over who is covered by this regulation, and to give a brief overview of the training requirements for different groups of employees and managers.

Hi Dave, let’s start with the basics. What is HAZWOPER?
DG: HAZWOPER stands for hazardous waste operations and emergency response. OSHA’ final rule on HAZWOPER is 29 CFR 1910.120 and it covers chemical operations including:

• Cleanup at hazardous waste sites
• Corrective actions at hazardous waste sites regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or “RCRA”
• Hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
• Emergency response to releases of hazardous substances
• State and local government employees engaged in hazardous waste operations in states that are not covered under OSHA rules

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HH: OK, so who is covered by the HAZWOPER regulations?
DG: Both private and public sector employers who have employees that are engaged in hazardous waste operations and emergency response activities.
HH: All right, so now let’s get into training requirements. Who exactly must be trained?
DG: Basically, all employees working on-site that are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances, health hazards, or safety hazards must be trained. Also, workers who are regularly on-site where there are no health hazard have to receive some training, as well as workers visiting the site occasionally, such as a groundwater monitors or surveyors. And people who respond to emergencies at a site.
Employees CANNOT participate in or supervise field activities until they have been trained to a level required by their job function.

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HH: Wow, OK, so does every employee receive the same training?
DG: No, not necessarily. The reg further defines what kind of training each kind of employee must receive. There are four basic categories:
1. General site workers exposed to health hazards. Equipment operators, general laborers, and supervisory personnel engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities that potentially expose workers to hazardous substances and health hazards are required to receive a minimum of 40 hours of initial instruction off-site (e.g., classroom and hands-on for PPE) and a minimum of 3 days’ actual field experience under the direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor.
2. General site workers not exposed to health hazards. Workers regularly on-site where there are no health hazards, no requirements for respirators, and no possible emergencies must receive at least 24 hours of training off-site and 1 day of supervised field experience.
3. Occasional site workers. Workers visiting the site occasionally (e.g., groundwater monitor or surveyor) need only 24 hours of off-site training and 1 day of supervised field experience.
4. Emergency response personnel must be trained to the level of their functions on the site, so their level of training will depend on what types of exposures they might be exposed to depending on their level of response to emergencies.
HH: What about managers and supervisors?
DG: On-site managers and supervisors must have the same amount of training as the workers they supervise (i.e., an on-site manager with general site workers under his supervision must have 40 hours of off-site and 3 days of on-site training) and at least 8 additional hours of specialized training at the time of job assignment on such topics as the employer’s safety and health program, PPE, spill containment program, and health monitoring program.
HH: Is refresher training required for HAZWOPER?
DG: Yes, general site workers and on-site managers and supervisors must take 8 hours of refresher training annually that reviews the topics covered in the initial training and any critique of incidents that have occurred in the past year that can serve as examples of related work.
HH: Thanks, Dave.
In our next video, I’ll ask Dave about the topics that must be covered during HAZWOPER training, how to provide proof of training, and also the training requirements for the trainers.
To see part 2 of this HAZWOPER interview and for future videos from Training Daily Advisor, please subscribe to BLR’s You Tube channel at youtube.com/BLRinc.