Hazardous materials and waste are part of many work situations, and can be found on many types of job sites. OSHA feels that it is so important for employees to know how to recognize these potentially dangerous substances (as well as how to handle and dispose of them properly) they have mandated that anyone working with these substances receive comprehensive training in this area.
In 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to regulate the handling of hazardous waste "from cradle to grave". Since then other regulations have followed, including OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.120, also known as HAZWOPER. As part of these regulations, there are varying requirements for employee training, depending on an employee's specific level of involvement with hazardous materials.
The training program "Introduction to HAZWOPER Retraining"... part of the HAZWOPER Annual Retraining Series... reminds employees who deal with hazardous materials of the importance of identifying, evaluating and controlling chemical hazards. Areas covered in the program include: * Background of the HAZWOPER Regulations. * The Site Safety and Health Plan. * The Emergency Response Plan. * Site characterization and the site control program. * Systems of controls and standard operating procedures. * Personal protective equipment. * Exposure monitoring. * Decontamination and Medical Surveillance Programs.
