HAZWOPER Training for Contaminated Site Workers

The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard is an OSHA workplace health and safety standard found at 29 CFR Part 1910.120. HAZWOPER exists to protect employees in work environments that pose an elevated risk of exposure to “hazardous substances.”

The HAZWOPER Standard requires training and field experience for site workers and supervisors at "uncontrolled hazardous waste sites." OSHA mandates specific hours of training, training topics, and more for cleanup site employees in three distinct job roles.

In this guide, we detail what each role looks like, and the training required by OSHA.

Site Worker

The Role

General site workers involved in cleanup/remediation of hazardous substances face the risk of hazardous substance exposure from abandoned chemical containers or tanks, accidental spills, releases, and/or elevated toxins in the environment (air, soil, etc.).

Required Training

For a new employee, OSHA requires 40 hours of initial training. Lion recommends this 40 Hour Initial course. OSHA also requires these workers to complete a minimum of three days of supervised field experience before performing any work that could expose them to hazardous substances.

For employees trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends this 8 Hour Refresher for site workers in need of refresher training.

Occasional Site Worker

The Role

Occasional site workers come on site occasionally to perform tasks that may include groundwater monitoring, land surveying, painting, and others. Because they are unlikely to be exposed to hazardous substances at levels above permissible limits, occasional site workers require fewer hours of training and fewer days of field experience than general site workers.

Required Training

For a new employee, OSHA requires 24 hours of initial training. Lion recommends this 24 Hour Initial course. OSHA also requires these workers to complete a minimum of one day of supervised field experience before performing any work that could expose them to hazardous substances.

For employees trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends this 8 Hour Refresher for site workers in need of refresher training.

Manager/Supervisor

The Role

Employees who supervise or oversee others at a cleanup site (i.e., an “uncontrolled hazardous waste site”) must receive the same training as the site workers they supervise, plus instruction in targeted supervisor topics.

Required Training

For a new supervisor, OSHA requires 48 Hours of initial training. Lion recommends its 40 Hour Initial and 8 Hour Supervisor courses for new contaminated site managers/supervisors. OSHA also requires managers/supervisors to complete a minimum of three days of supervised field experience before performing any work that could expose them to hazardous substances.

For supervisors trained to this level, OSHA requires annual refresher training. Lion recommends its 8 Hour Refresher course for managers in need of an annual refresher.

Tags: contaminated site cleanup, HAZWOPER