Hazardous Waste Operations HAZWOPER

Upon completion of this chapter the student should be able to  

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Because EPA regulations deal with environmental quality, the discussion in this chapter is limited to the rules regarding hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER). 

Nevertheless, situations have arisen in areas of disputed or confused jmisdiction where either EPA and OSHA have insisted that the hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER) rules must be followed. In such situations, operators must imderstand the limits of each agencys jurisdiction and be prepared to support the position that is legally correct and most advantageous to the operation in question. 

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)... 

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. In response to an EPA mandate in SARA, Ha2ardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) regulations were issued. These address emergency responders, training of those working at Superfund sites, and cleanup operations. 

Hazardous Waste Operations And Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)—29 CER 1910.120... 

HAZWOPER applies only where exposure to hazardous substanees or to health and safety hazards resulting from a hazardous waste operation is likely (see Eigure 2-1). This ean be determined by analysis of exposure monitoring data, hazard eharaeterization, hazard analysis, or exposure assessment [1]. Some of the speeifle examples of work aetivi-ties and situations will be eovered later. 

Safety hazards are treated in the same manner. For example, workers who work in trenches in clean areas of the site would be covered by the OSHA Excavation and Trenching Standard, Subpart P, 29 CFR 1926. Workers who work in trenches in contaminated areas would fall under both Subpart P and HAZWOPER. Workers who do not work in trenches fall under HAZWOPER only when working in contaminated areas and would not be covered by either standard when working solely in clean areas, provided they are not exposed to safety hazards resulting from hazardous waste operations. 

If the area and eorridor ean be maintained free of safety hazards arising from the hazardous waste operation, the work probably would not fall under the requirements. In this ease, the area and eorridor would eonstitute a temporary support zone. Beeause the work involves eleetri-eal utilities, it would fall under the most proteetive standard of praetiee, sueh as OSHA s Eleetrieal Standard or the National Eleetrie Code (NEC). Also, there may be other requirements that apply. Administrative eontrols sueh as HAZWOPER-trained eseorts are used to make eertain that the utility workers are not exposed to any hazards from the operation. The proeedures to be followed are doeumented in the site-speeifie HASP [1]. 

Hazardous waste operations often include tasks and activities that are conducted on a periodic basis, are of very short duration, are transient in nature, or otherwise pose little hazard. Developing a brief HASP template (e.g., fill in the blank ), a permit, or a checklist system that includes essential HAZWOPER-type information may suffice for these types of operations. 

OSHA s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) legislation protects workers who respond to emergencies, such as serious spills, involving hazardous materials. It also covers those employed in cleanup operations at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and at EPA-licensed waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. 

RCRA cleanup activities and hazardous waste operations at generator facilities and TSDFs may need to comply with HAZWOPER regulations... 

The mission of the OSHA is to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of employees in the workplace.25 OSHA accomplishes these goals through several regulatory requirements including the hazard communication standard (HCS) and the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Worker Protection Standard (HAZWOPER). 

A third type of emergency response plan required for implementation in selected (covered) facilities is OSHA s 29 CFR 1910.120 (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response—HAZWOPER) for releases of hazardous materials. Unless the facility operator can demonstrate that the operation does not involve employee exposure or the reasonable possibility for employee exposure to safety or health hazards, the following operations are covered ... 

The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER), 29 CFR Part 1910.120, applies to five distinct groups of employers and their employees. This includes any employees who are exposed or potentially exposed to hazardous substances—including hazardous waste—and who are engaged in one of the following operations as specified by 1910.120 ... 

Hazwoper OSHA s safety standard for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (U.S. 29 CFR 1910.120)... 

When establishing a hazardous materials response team, OSHA s regulation for hazardous waste operations and emergency response operations and emergency response, also called HAZWOPER, must be followed. Under Title 29 CFR 1910.120, OSHA includes hazardous waste operations and emergency response, which have separate training requirements. 

HAZWOPER Hazardous waste operators TSGA Toxic Substances Gontrol Act... 

In addition to federal regulations, additional state, county, and local regulations may also apply. In no way should the above discussion on governmental regulation be considered inclusive and the reader is referred to other sources, particularly those found in the Code of Federal Regulations available on the Internet, These include 29 CFR 1910,120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Respiratory Standards are found in 29 CFR 1910,134, and 42 CFR 84 is the location of the new NIOSH CBRN standards, and a fisting of NIOSH-approved CBRN equipment,... 

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