HAZWOPER training actually stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. What this means is that it encompasses a number of different hazardous waste operations and different emergency response training methods.
The standard for HAZWOPER training was set by OSHA,
or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a publication called "Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response." This publication holds a wealth of information about the differing safety requirements that employers and other sub-contractors will need to know if they are to work in the public sector, particularly involving clean ups and emergency response.
HAZWOPER training encompasses five key areas. These are:
-Clean up processes that are required by government bodies. This may mean state, local, or Federal and involves different substances that are deemed hazardous at uncontrolled waste sites. Information on this can be found via the EPA's National Priorities List, but also on state priority sites, as well as different sites that are recommended within those lists. These are the result of initial investigations of sites that have been identified by governmental agencies and are conducted well before any presence or lack of hazardous substances has been confirmed.
-HAZWOPER training will also include those corrective actions to be taken. The standards for this have been set by the Resource and Recovery Act of 1976.
-Any voluntary clean up efforts at sites that have been recognized by any governmental bodies. Again, this is going to include not only local, state, but also federal and other organizations that have deemed them uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
-This will also contain information on the varying operations that include disposal, treatment and storage of hazardous waste. These standards will be compliant not only with the RCRA, but the EPA and other regulations as well.
-HAZWOPER training also works with emergency response operations. This is in respect to releases or threats of releases of hazardous waste and other substances that don't have regard for location.
This training will help those involved also to identify exactly what is to be deemed hazardous and what is not. Hazardous waste is typically waste or combination of wastes that are defined within the OSHA, EPA and other regulatory guidelines.
More recently, HAZWOPER training has taken on a more international definition in respect to various US Military base clean up operations. In other cases, it may refer to the US NATO allies, but this holds especially true when a US firm is involved in these cleanups overseas. Though OSHA standards will not apply in these cases, many of the countries that utilize US HAZWOPER efforts are beginning to apply similar standards.
This highly specialized training is an area that continues to grow, both domestically and abroad. As more and more technologies create the need for such clean up efforts, the demand for technicians with this training has grown exponentially. Because it does have a multi level training process, this is an intensive area where critical learning skills are key. Those who do engage in this highly specialized form of training can expect at least 40 hours of training, potentially more in order to complete courses. These will cover 18 points that will encompass prevention of exposure, fire, chemical and other issues as they arise, but also preventative measures.
