What You Need to Know About OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations And Emergency Response

Highly hazardous materials, widely used in modernThe OSHA standard concerning worker exposure
industry, are an ever present source of potentialto hazardous materials deals with hazards that
danger during transportation, storage and use. Aworkers may be exposed to in the workplace,
number of government departments andand is not only oriented differently but is more
agencies such as the Department ofbroad-based than that of the DOT (which is more
Transportation (DOT), the Environmentalconcerned with Hazmat Transportation). It is
Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Productinteresting to note that even though the 1910.120
Safety Commission (CPSC) and the OccupationalHAZWOPER is an OSHA standard, it does not use
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), eachthe OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29
have a role to play in ensuring health and safetyCFR 1910.1200) for hazardous chemicals. In fact
enforcement in the US. The DOT regulatesthe definition derives from the EPA's
transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat).Comprehensive Environmental Response,
The CPSC oversees hazardous materials thatCompensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, also
may go into consumer and household goods, whileknown as Superfund).
the EPA regulates hazardous materials that areThe HAZWOPER definition, in addition to the
likely to negatively impact the environment.CERCLA listed hazardous substances, also includes:
OSHA is charged with the regulation of hazardouscertain biological and disease-causing agents, the
chemicals, to ensure safety in the workplace.DOT defined hazardous materials, as well as
Hazardous materials are regulated via the Processhazardous waste.
Safety Management (PSM) 29 CFR 1910.119The CERCLA Standard incorporates exhaustive
standard. The agency also regulates hazardousguidelines on issues relevant to the safe handling
waste clean-up operations as well as emergenciesof hazardous materials. It requires detailed written
arising from hazmat related incidents throughsafety and health programs for employees
OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.120.involved in hazardous waste operations. It
This Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergencyprovides examples of risks that would be
Response Standard, known in short asrelevant, such as situations that are injury
HAZWOPER, became effective on March 6, 1990.threatening, immediate danger to life and health
The HAZWOPER 1910.120 standard encompasses:(IDLH), and danger to life and health (IDLH). It also
- Clean-up operations required by a governmentalprovides examples of threats to environments,
body, conducted at uncontrolled hazardous wasteoxygen deficient situations etc.
sitesAnother important aspect of the OSHA standard
- Corrective actions involving clean-up operationsis training. The HAZWOPER standard, which deals
at sites covered by the Resource Conservationwith hazardous waste operations and emergency
and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)response situations, necessarily requires a certain
- Voluntary clean-up operations at sites recognizedlevel of skill on the part of employees. OSHA
by the government as uncontrolled hazardousmandated training courses may range from 4 to
waste sites40 hours depending upon the nature of the
- Operations involving hazardous wastes that arehazards being dealt with. After the initial training,
conducted at treatment, storage and disposalOSHA also requires follow-up / refresher training.
(TSD) facilities pursuant to RCRA regulationsFortunately, there are a number of commercial
- Emergency response operations involvingorganizations which provide OSHA training
substantial threats involving hazardous substances,programs, to ensure compliance to OSHA
without regard to the physical location of thesestandards.
threats