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HAZWOPER Online Training Requirements

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training requirements were set in 1990 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in consultation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

You must determine if your company falls under the OSHA HAZWOPER standard or if you are subject to any of the 27 OSHA Plan States, which are state-level regulatory agencies that implement and enforce HAZWOPER regulatory programs. State-level programs often exceed federal regulations.

OSHA & State HAZWOPER Requirements

OSHA HAZWOPER training requirements protect workers at three different levels:

General site workers at contaminated sites

Emergency responders

People who work at hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.

HAZWOPER Requirements

Within these three categories are various job functions and training requirements.

NET offers HAZWOPER certification for the different job functions in each of these levels. Our online training courses are OSHAacceptedand were reviewed by an OSHA official who helped draft the first HAZWOPER regulations.

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Emergency Responders

You can find the minimum HAZWOPER training hours and required competencies for first responders under 29 CFR 1910.120 (q)(6)(ii). Training that is relevant to the required competencies counts toward the minimum time requirement, even if the training is provided as a separate course. For example, training on HAZWOPER Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will be used during patient decontamination activities may be applied toward the 8-hour minimum first responder operations level training requirement,regardless of whether the training is conducted as part of a specific HAZWOPER training course or as part of another training program.

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General Site Workers at Contaminated Sites

This is the largest number of people required to have HAZWOPER training. These contaminated sites are placed on the National Priority List (NPL) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are scheduled for clean-up. The responsible party as identified in the EPA regulations, usually the site owner or past occupant, must pay for the clean-up cost.

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Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSD)

Workers involved in hazardous waste operations must take a 24-hour HAZWOPER training and an associated 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher. This work typically consists of managing and handling Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous wastes.

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HAZWOPER Training Requirements by Job Function

Operation Initial Training Annual Refresher Training Citation 29 CFR 1910.120
Site Clean Up Operations
Site Worker 40-hours with three days of field experience Register Now 8-hours Register Now (e)(3)(i)
Occasional Site Worker 24-hours with one day of field experience Register Now 8-hours Register Now  
Manager or Supervisor 40-hours with three days of field experience 8 hours of supervisor training Register Now 8-hours Register Now  
TSD Facilities
Site Worker 24-hours Register Now 8-hours Register Now (p)(7)(i)
Emergency Response
First Responder Awareness Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now (q)(6)(i) & (q)(8)
First Responder Operations 8-Hours Register Now Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now (q)(6)(ii) &(q)(8)
HAZMAT Technician 24-hours Register Now Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now (q)(6)(iii) &(q)(8)
HAZMAT Specialist Technician Level Competencies Register Now Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now (q)(6)(iv) &(q)(8)
Incident Commander 24 hours equal to first responder operations Competencies Register Now Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now (q)(6)(v) &(q)(8)
Site Clean Up Operations
Site Worker
Initial Training 40-hours with three days of field experience Register Now
Annual Refresher Training 8-hours Register Now
Occasional Site Worker
Initial Training 24-hours with one day of field experience Register Now
Annual Refresher Training 8-hours Register Now
Manager or Supervisor
Initial Training 40-hours with three days of field experience 8 hours of supervisor training Register Now
Annual Refresher Training 8-hours Register Now
TSD Facilities
Site Worker
Initial Training 24-hours Register Now
Annual Refresher Training 8-hours Register Now
Emergency Response
First Responder Awareness
Initial Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now
Annual Refresher Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now
First Responder Operations
Initial Training 8-Hours Register Now
Annual Refresher Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now
HAZMAT Technician
Initial Training 24-hours Register Now
Annual Refresher Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now
HAZMAT Specialist
Initial Training Technician Level Competencies Register Now
Annual Refresher Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now
Incident Commander
Initial Training 24 hours equal to first responder operations Competencies Register Now
Annual Refresher Training Competency-based; no hourly requirement Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the training sequence for Emergency Response Workers?

The required training for Emergency Response Workers is HAZWOPER First Responder Operations (FRO) Annual Refresher, HAZMAT Specialist 29 CFR, and 8 Hour HAZWOPER Incident Command. The Emergency Responder training sequence also includes any needed HAZWOPER annual refreshers depending on the time frame.

2. What are the training requirements for General Site Workers at contaminated sites?

General site workers will be required to complete either the 40-hour or 24- hour HAZWOPER course. Once that is completed, the next step is to complete any site-specific training that is directed by the employer. Finally, each year, workers must complete the 8 hour HAZWOPER refresher annually. The course was developed to meet annual HAZWOPER refresher requirements (re-certification) for workers conducting clean up operations at contaminated sites.

3. What training is required for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities?

Any RCRA TSDF workers must complete the 24-hour HAZWOPER course and then perform any required site- specific training that is administered by the employer. Once that is completed, an 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher on an annual basis will be required to maintain the HAZWOPER certificate.

4. Who needs the 40-hour HAZWOPER Training?

Any personnel involved in the cleanup and restoration of contaminated sites must have the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 40-Hour HAZWOPER Training (HAZWOPER 40) certification. There are 3 levels to the 40-hour HAZWOPER training so understanding the requirements is crucial.

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