24 Hour HAZWOPER Training Facts

Posted by oshaprosusa on January 11th, 2022

Handling hazardous wastes or being exposed to them can endanger one’s life and working abilities. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed specific safety standards for people at an increased risk of danger from hazardous wastes, especially those required to provide emergency services in times of trouble.

It is the responsibility of an organization and employer to organize the required training program. Individuals can register themselves for the training program as well. Workers need to undergo the preliminary 24-hour HAZWOPER training before attempting to enter a hazardous site posing a risk to one’s health and life.

This training is for first-time workers who do not know the associated risks. This module consists of online training with an offline component involving field experience. The onsite training should be supervised by an experienced and trained individual, well-versed in the process. The HAZWOPER training completed within 24 hours is the minimum requirement for all persons working in a general site that includes removing hazardous wastes and being exposed to such substances during their jobs. All laborers, workers involved in the excavation of sites, and supervisory personnel are expected to take the training.  

Individuals identified as the target audience for the HAZWOPER 24-hour training program include the following types of workers:

People enter hazardous sites occasionally to complete a specific task. The tasks may be for a limited duration, with workers engaged in monitoring groundwater, geophysical surveys, and land surveys. Such workers may have minimal exposure to hazardous substances, with the permissible limits seldom being exceeded.

Workers who enter closely monitored sites regularly. Exposures within such sites are usually below the “Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).” This does not denote an emergency and poses minimal health hazards

Manager and supervisory staff at the sites. The increased responsibility on such staff members necessitates them to undergo an additional refresher training of 8 hours. The course needs to be completed before taking on the assignment. It focuses on the safety and health of permanent and associated employees, usage of personal protective equipment, spill containment, and knowledge of effective monitoring of health hazards.

Some of the points discussed during the programs are related to:

•  Identification of safety and health hazards at the site
•  How to check for radioactive wastes, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous substances
•  On the site
•  Training for proper usage, handling, wearing, removal, and/or storage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, face shields, totally encapsulating chemical protective suits, and others
•  Best work practices to minimize risks from hazards;
•  medical surveillance requirements comprising of symptom recognition and indications of overexposure to all known hazards
•  How to use engineering controls, machinery, and other related equipment safely
•  How to properly store the dangerous goods
•  Proper hazard monitoring
•  Monitoring all high-risk employees

The 24-hour training is preliminary, while the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training program provides a more in-depth analysis and information.