HAZWOPER

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Online Training

40-HOUR HAZWOPER

40-HOUR HAZWOPER

Get trained on how to safely handle hazardous waste with our 40-Hour course.

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24-HOUR HAZWOPER

24-HOUR HAZWOPER

Comply with OSHA regulations and find out how to safely handle hazardous waste.

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8-HOUR HAZWOPER

8-HOUR HAZWOPER

Take our 8-hour refresher course to meet your annual training requirements.

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HAZWOPER training is mandatory and saves lives. OSHA issued the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards, 29 CFR 1910.120 and 29 CFR 1926.65, to protect workers and enable them to handle hazardous substances safely and effectively. The HAZWOPER standard for the construction industry (29 CFR 1926.65) is identical to general industry one (29 CFR 1910.120).

The HAZWOPER standard applies to employers and employees performing the following general categories of work operations:

  • Hazardous waste site cleanup operations
  • Operations involving hazardous waste that are conducted at treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities, and
  • Emergency response operations involving hazardous substance releases.

The HAZWOPER standard provides employers, emergency response workers, and other workers potentially exposed to hazardous substances information and training criteria to improve workplace safety and health, and reduce workplace injuries and illnesses that could occur from exposures to hazardous substances.

As per OSHA standard, every person who enters a site that potentially has hazardous substances or atmosphere present has to complete training, based on their role and level of exposure:

General site employees (e.g., equipment operators, general laborers, etc.):

Employees occasionally on site for a limited task (e.g., groundwater monitoring, land surveying, etc.) with minimal exposure

Employees regularly on site who are not exposed to health hazards

Frequently Asked Questions

All HAZWOPER questions answered in one place

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Who needs HAZWOPER training?

A training program is required under the safety and health program and is also part of the site Health & Safety Program (HASP). This training must be provided to all employees who will work on the site such as equipment operators, general laborers, and supervisors or managers who may have exposure to hazardous substances.

Before performing any work on a hazardous waste site, the employer must provide its employees with initial training based on the tasks and operations that employees will perform and the exposures they are anticipated to experience.

Training makes employees aware of the potential hazards they may encounter and provides the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work with minimal risk to their own, and other employees’, safety and health. Both supervisors and employees must be trained to recognize hazards and to prevent them; to select, care for, and use respirators properly, as well as other types of PPE; to understand engineering controls and their use; to use proper decontamination procedures; to understand the emergency response plan, medical surveillance requirements, confined space entry procedures, spill containment program, and any appropriate work practices. Employees also must know the names of personnel and their alternates responsible for site safety and health. Site personnel who are expected to respond to emergency situations at the site must receive additional training in how to respond to anticipated emergencies (e.g., fires/explosions, hazardous spills, etc.).

What worker training should I take?

Below is the training requirements for workers, as per the OSHA 1910.120(e)(3) rule:

General site employees (e.g., equipment operators, general laborers, etc.):

  • 40 hour Initial training (HAZWOPER 40)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

Employees occasionally on site for a limited task (e.g., groundwater monitoring, land surveying, etc.) with minimal exposure

  • 24 hours initial training (HAZWOPER 24)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

Employees regularly on site who are not exposed to health hazards

  • 24 hours initial training (HAZWOPER 24)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

What Supervisor & Manager training should I take?

For Supervisors/Managers, the training requirements per the OSHA 1910.120(e)(4) rule is as follows:

Supervisors of general site employees (e.g., equipment operators, general laborers, etc.)

  • 40 hours initial training (HAZWOPER 40)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

Supervisors of employees occasionally on site for a limited task (e.g., groundwater monitoring, land surveying, etc.) with minimal exposure

  • 24 hours initial training (HAZWOPER 24)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

Supervisors of employees regularly on site who are not exposed to health hazards

  • 24 hours initial training (HAZWOPER 24)
  • 8 hours annual refresher (HAZWOPER 8 HOUR REFRESHER)

In addition to the above minimum training requirements, both Workers and Supervisors/Managers require additional site based training provided by their employer. For additional details please refer to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(e)(3) and 1910.120(e)(4).

How often do I need HAZWOPER 8 Hour Refresher training?

If you are required to complete the 40 hour HAZWOPER training or 24 hour HAZWOPER training, you must take the 8 hour HAZWOPER Refresher training course annually as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120.

Workers and Supervisors must complete 8 hours of HAZWOPER Refresher training within 12 months of the date of their previous HAZWOPER training. Employees who fail to complete the refresher training on time may need to repeat their initial training.