OSHA FACTSHEET HAZARD WASTE

1 Site communications, safe work practices, theuse of a buddy system, and identification ofthe nearest medical aid. Employee training for everyone working on ahazardous WASTE site. Medical surveillance of workers exposed at or above permissible exposure limits for haz-ardous substances, conducted (1) at least annually, (2) when a worker moves to a newworksite, (3) when a worker experiences expo-sure from unexpected or emergency releasesand (4) at the end of requirements include controls to reduceand monitor exposure levels of hazardous materi-als, an informational program describing anyexposure during operations and the inspection ofdrums and containers prior to removal or open-ing. Decontamination procedures and emergencyresponse plans (described under EmergencyResponse) must be in place before employeesbegin working in hazardous WASTE must also create safer environmentsby developing and implementing effective SitesIn addition to programs for safety and health,training, medical surveillance, decontamination,new technology and emergency response,employers at RCRA sites also need the following: A written HAZARD communication programmeeting the requirements of 29 CFR Procedures to effectively control and handledrums and ResponseEmployers must develop an emergency responseplan to handle possible on-site emergencies andcoordinate off-site response.

2 Rehearsed regularlyand reviewed/amended periodically, the planmust address: personnel roles; lines of authority,training and communications; emergency recog-nition and prevention; site security; evacuationOSHA s standards for general industry and theconstruction industry on hazardous WASTE opera-tions and emergency response (29 CFR 29 CFR ) cover all employees involved in: Clean-up operations of hazardous substances atuncontrolled hazardous WASTE sites required byFederal, state, local or other governments; Corrective actions involving clean-up proce-dures at sites covered by the ResourceConservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Voluntary clean-up operations at sites recog-nized as uncontrolled hazardous WASTE sites byFederal, state, local or other governments; Operations involving hazardous WASTE that areconducted at treatment, storage and disposalfacilities licensed under RCRA; Emergency response operations for hazardoussubstance releases or substantial threats are permitted if the employer candemonstrate that the operation does not involveemployee exposure or a reasonable possibility ofsuch exposure to and local government employees are covered by equivalent standards in the 26 stateswith OSHA-approved state plans and by theEnvironment Protection Agency s hazardous wastestandard in states without WASTE OperationsEach employer must have: A written, readily-accessible safety and healthprogram that identifies, evaluates and controlssafety and health hazards and provides foremergency response.

3 A preliminary site evaluation conducted by aqualified person to identify potential site haz-ards and to aid in the selection of appropriateemployee protection methods. A site control program to protect employeesagainst hazardous contamination. At a mini-mum it must have a site map, site work zones,FactSheetHazardous WASTE Operations andEmergency Responseroutes and procedures; decontamination proce-dures; emergency medical treatment; and emer-gency alerting procedures. Training is requiredbefore employees engage in hazardous wasteoperations and emergency RequirementsUncontrolled hazardous WASTE operations 40 hours of initial training; 3 days of actual fieldexperience for regular employees to be certified. 24 hours of initial training; 1 day of supervisedfield experience for employees visiting the siteoccasionally. 8 hours of additional WASTE management train-ing for supervisors and managers. 8 hours of annual refresher , storage and disposal facilities licensedunder RCRA 24 hours of training.

4 8 hours of annual refresher response operations at sites notRCRA licensed or at uncontrolled hazardouswaste site clean-ups1) First responders at the awareness level (wit-ness or discover a hazardous substance releaseand initiate the emergency response) mustdemonstrate competency in areas such as recog-nizing the presence of hazardous materials in anThis is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of FederalRegulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) , the risks involved and the role theyplay in their employer s plan. 2) First responders at the operations level (respond to prevent the spread, exposures to andthe further release of hazardous materials) musthave 8 hoursof training plus awareness level ) hazardous materials technicians(respond tostop the release) must have 24 hoursof trainingequal to the operations level and know how toimplement the employer s plan and carry ) hazardous materials specialists(require specificknowledge of the substances to be contained)must have 24 hoursof training equal to the tech-nical level and act as liaison with all ) On-scene incident commanders(assume con-trol of the scene)

5 Must have 24 hoursof trainingequal to the operations level and demonstratecompetence in implementing the incident com-mand system, the employer s plan and the stateand local emergency response refresher training is required for each levelof further information about hazardous wasteoperations and emergency response, please visitOSHA s hazardous WASTE page at Department of (800) 321-OSHAT hink Safety!For more complete information.