24Hr HAZWOPER Training For Occasional Site Workers

Are you confused as to which type of HAZWOPER training your employees need to be in compliance?

If you answer yes to any of these questions then continue reading:

• Does your work area have hazardous waste materials?
• Does your job require an OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER Occasional Site Worker certificate?
• Do you occasionally work with or are in contact with hazardous wastes?

As we discussed in a recent blog post, employers are required to provide OSHA’s HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training for employees that work with or around hazardous waste. The HAZWOPER law was meant to be broad and to encompass personnel involved with hazardous materials and hazardous waste management.

What Is The Difference Between The 40 and 24Hr HAZWOPER Training?

The 40hr HAZWOPER training is required for general site workers (such as equipment operators, general laborers and supervisory personnel) engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities which expose or potentially expose workers to hazardous substances and health hazards.

The 24hr HAZWOPER training class fulfills the training requirement for certification for occasional site workers defined as workers on site only occasionally for a specific limited task (such as, but not limited to, ground water monitoring, land surveying, or geophysical surveying) and who are unlikely to be exposed over permissible exposure limits and published exposure limits.

These workers shall receive a minimum of 24 hours of instruction off the site, and the minimum of one day actual field experience under the direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor. (Source: Department of Labor)

Who Should Take This Class?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, the 24hr HAZWOPER course is the right course for you. The OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER course fulfills the training requirements for certification under 29 CFR, Part 1910.120 (e) as an Occasional Site Worker.

OSHA HAZWOPER 24 Hour training and certification is needed if you work in any of the following capacities:

• Someone who works at a hazardous waste cleanup site on an occasional basis like an engineer, project manager, or a surveyor
• Someone who regularly works with, or cleans up hazardous materials or wastes with exposures within “permissible” levels, writes hazardous waste labels and that do not require the use of respiratory protection

Why Do Classroom Training Programs Work Better Than Online Courses?

Not all HAZWOPER training is alike. At IDR Environmental, we believe that Classroom training is still the most effective training method because of the live, dynamic interactions between the students and the instructor. We believe that students will also:

• Retain the information much more easily
• Have the opportunity to ask questions
• Interact with others in their field
• Get Certified by Qualified Professional Instructors