OSHA requires personnel who work on hazardous waste sites to be trained in the safety aspects of working in and around such sites including
- knowing their rights under OSHA,
- how to understand and follow safety plans, and
- how to use personal protective equipment correctly.
The 24 hour HAZWOPER training program, also known as the HAZWOPER General Training program, is for regular and occasional workers whose jobs involve the investigation and remediation of waste sites such as
- RCRA corrective action sites,
- voluntary cleanups sites, and
- hazardous waste sites including Superfund sites
but who are NOT EXPECTED to be exposed to hazards in excess of permissible limits.
The 24 hour HAZWOPER training program, available in English and Spanish, meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 paragraphs (b) through (o) for hazardous waste site workers who are unlikely to be exposed to permissible or published exposure limits during their work.
The program is recommended for
- environmental contractors and consultants,
- regulatory agency personnel, and
- private-sector project managers and workers
who need to enter or work around hazardous waste sites.
Please note that the 24 Hour HAZWOPER program does not meet the requirements of the hazardous material technician program, which is for emergency response as specified under 29 CFR 1910.120 paragraph (q). For training material suitable for hazardous material technicians please see the HAZWOPER Emergency Response: HAZMAT Technician package. This package is also available in English and Spanish.