Glossary
HAZWOPER
Also: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
OSHA's standard at 29 CFR 1910.120 governing work at hazardous waste sites, treatment and disposal facilities, and emergency response.
HAZWOPER is OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard, codified at 29 CFR 1910.120 (general industry) and 29 CFR 1926.65 (construction). It covers three categories of work:
- Cleanup operations at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites (Superfund, RCRA corrective action, and similar).
- Operations at treatment, storage, and disposal facilities regulated under RCRA.
- Emergency response operations for releases of hazardous substances.
Training requirements depend on the role. General site workers need 40 hours of initial off-site training plus three days of supervised on-site experience. Workers on site occasionally for specific limited tasks need 24 hours plus one day of supervised experience. Supervisors need 8 hours of additional training. All trained personnel need 8 hours of refresher training annually.
The standard also requires a written site-specific health and safety plan (HASP), medical surveillance for exposed workers, decontamination procedures, and emergency response planning.