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HAZWOPER Training Requirements – All you Need to Know

HAZWOPER Training Requirements – All you Need to Know
If you've ever looked for a job as a workers before, then you've probably come across the term HAZWOPER. If you have no idea what this is, then you should know that HAZWOPER basically stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response and was created by OSHA. It is a standard that provides trainings and other requirements, which are aimed at those employees and employers who deal with specific types of waste at the workplace.

The HAZWOPER safety trainings are basically meant for employers and employees who work directly or indirectly with hazardous substances.

However, the level of training that is required by workers depend entirely upon which area they work in. There are 9 basic levels if HAZWOPER trainings, and each of these levels have their own methods and unique programs. OSHA pre-sets the required training duration for each of these.

1.General Workers: For workers working in the general industry, 40 hours of initial training are requires, followed by a 3 day hands-on training and then an additional 8 hour annual refresher training course.

2.Workers working under acceptable hazard levels: These workers are required to take an initial training of 24 hours and then a day of hands-on training. They should then complete the annual 8 hour refresher course.

3.Managers & Supervisors: These have to undergo the same levels of trainings as their workers, and an extra 8 hours as well.

4.Workers involved in Treatment, storage and disposal facilities: These workers who handle hazardous wastes must first undergo a 24 hour training course and then should
follow it up with an 8 hour refresher course each year.

5.First Responder Awareness Level: Workers are required to show their competence in their respective duties, and this training is sufficient to bring about competence.

6.First Responder Operations Level: This is almost the same as the awareness level, but it requires an extra 8 hours of training.

7.Technicians working with Hazardous Materials: These workers are required to undergo a 24 hour training and whatever additional course is required to train the worker.

8.Specialists working with Hazardous Materials: These specialists are required to undergo a technician level training as well as an additional training course in other necessary subjects.

9.Incident Commanders: These commanders are required to first undergo the 24 hours of training, and then additional trainings afterwards.

Although hands-on training is generally required, many of the courses can be taken online.

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