40-Hour HAZWOPER Training: Why do you Need It?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires every person engaged in the disposal, treatment, storage, and clean-up of hazardous wastes to adhere to its HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) standards. To ensure compliance, it’s important to provide your workers with specific training courses that suit their job type and experience, such as the 40-hour HAZWOPER program. What is the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training? The HAZWOPER regulations of OSHA are in Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.120. Under HAZWOPER are three broad areas of training identified by three sections of the regulation:

• General site clean-up – Section (e)
• RCRA treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) – Section (p)
• Emergency response – Section (q)

Section (e) is divided into other courses such as the 40-hour, 24-hour, 8-hour supervisor training, and 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training. These courses provide training and information to enhance workplace health and safety and reduce workplace illnesses and injuries caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The 40-hour HAZWOPER training certification covers 40 hours of workplace health and safety topics. The provisions for the course are in 29 CFR 1910.120(e), and the goal of the course is to educate workers on subjects like choosing and using appropriate PPE, and hazardous chemicals and their properties. Who needs the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training? OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training is for general site workers. Anyone working at a facility or site with prevalent exposure to hazardous materials should consider training, including workers engaged in restoring and cleaning up work sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Any general onsite worker and management can benefit from it, including the HAZWOPER refresher training. Benefits of the 40-hour HAZWOPER online training course The 40-hour HAZWOPER training provides in-depth knowledge of decontamination methods, site characterization, and emergency response strategies. It also encompasses knowledge and skills on container handling, safe work practices, and radiological hazards. The various courses under Section (e) of the regulations state that every employee must obtain a level of training appropriate for their responsibilities and job type. Here are more benefits that employees and management can experience upon completing the course:

• Safety – The course equips you with essential knowledge on hazardous substances and how to minimize or prevent injuries, fatalities, and illnesses caused by exposure to toxic substances.
• Compliance – Managers, supervisors, and workers can comply with OSHA standards and regulations and avoid penalties.
• Federal safety awareness – Workers can be aware of different federal safety requirements and health regulations to reduce the possibility of critical mistakes and errors.
• Savings – Costs related to injuries and worker turnover can be reduced when workers know how to handle hazardous wastes effectively and safely.

Where to sign up Impact Safety offers a 40-hour HAZWOPER technician training program as mandated by OSHA. Our course is for workers involved in clean-up operations, emergency response, voluntary clean-up, and treatment, disposal, or storage of dangerous substances and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The training is spread through a five-day course to prepare and train you to identify potential safety concerns and take offensive and definitive measures to contain hazardous waste on job sites. You will also encounter hands-on scenarios to help you develop the skills for a safe and quick response to situations and accidents involving hazardous materials. Impact Safety will provide certification upon successful completion of the course. It’s valid for a year, but our 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training should help you renew your certification while ensuring up-to-date skills and knowledge in dealing with hazardous waste and materials in your job sites.