HazWOpER Refresher
Dusting Off the Cobwebs, and
Restoring Function to the Grey Matter,
Since “The Valley of the Drums” and
Creation of the HazWOpER Standard!
Hazard Control
Hazard Control
Housekeeping
 Emergencies
 Phones
 Facility Layout
 Breaks
 Meals
 Participation
 Rules
Hazard Control
To get our collective juices flowing
(It’s for your Own Good!)
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
Before We Begin - Fundamentals
Certain truths must be
revealed & discussed
before considering
work on/near a
hazwoper site
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
Before We Begin - Fundamentals
Philosophical
1) Work Shouldn’t Hurt!
2) Accidents Don’t Happen!
3) Everyone is Responsible!
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
Before We Begin - Fundamentals
What Takes Us “Out of
the Game?
 Falls
 Electrical Contact
 Struck-By
 Caught In or Between
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
Before We Begin - Fundamentals
Critical Control
Apply the 7 Ps:
Proper Prior Planning
Prevents Pitifully Poor
Performance
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
Before We Begin - Fundamentals
Regulatory
 General Duty Clause
 General Training
Standard
 Topic-Specific Training
Hazard Control
Hazard Control
First Responder Awareness Level
 First Responders (Awareness Level):
workers likely to witness/discover
hazardous substance release AND who
trained to initiate emergency response
sequence by notifying proper
authorities of the release
 They take no further action beyond
notifying the authorities of the release
First Responder Awareness Level
 ~8 hours of training
 Similar to OSHA Hazcom (1910.1200)
 First Responders (Awareness Level)
shall have sufficient training OR have
had sufficient experience to
objectively demonstrate competency
First Responder Operations Level
 First Responders (Operations Level) are
workers who respond to
releases/potential releases of
hazardous substances as part of initial
response to the site for purpose of
protecting nearby persons,
environment, property from effects of
the release
First Responder Operations Level
 Trained to respond in
defensive fashion
without actually trying
to stop the release
 Function: contain
release from a safe
distance, keep it from
spreading, and to
prevent exposures
First Responder Operations Level
 First Responders (Operational level)
shall receive ≥8 hours of training OR
have sufficient experience to
objectively demonstrate competency
 Courses are 16-24 hours with 24
being common
Hazmat Technician Level
 Hazmat Technicians respond to
releases/potential releases to stop
the release
 They assume a more aggressive role
than Operations, approaching the point
of release to plug, patch or otherwise
stop the release
Hazmat Technician Level
 Technicians receive
minimum 24 hours
training equal to
Operations level
AND have
competency in
assigned tasks
for each incident
Hazmat Specialist Level
 Hazmat
Specialists
respond with
and provide
support to
Hazmat
Technicians
Hazmat Specialist Level
 Duties parallel
Hazmat Technician

but require more
directed or specific
knowledge of
various substances
upon which they
they may encounter
Hazmat Specialist Level
 Act as Site Liaison with Federal, State,
Local, other government authorities
regarding site activities
 Receive at least 24 hours of
Technician-level training
Incident Command Level
 Incident Commanders assume control
of the incident scene beyond the First
Responder Awareness Level

and shall receive at least 24 hours of
training equal to the First Responder
Operations Level.

They also need competency in Incident
Command systems & requirements
Hazard Control:
INTRODUCTION
Hazardous waste sites
& environments pose
S&H concerns which
could result in serious
injury/death
Hazard Control
Hazard Control:
INTRODUCTION
Additional hazards created by
 Heavy equipment
 PPE reducing movement,
hearing & vision
 Unpredictability
of the site
 Other employers
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Safety hazards that may
exist at hazardous waste sites
 Holes or ditches

Failed excavations
 Falling objects
 Sharp/jagged objects
Hazard Control
Safety hazards that may
exist at hazardous waste sites
 Slippery surfaces
 Steep grades
 Uneven terrain
 Unstable surfaces
Hazard Control
What electrical hazards
can pose danger to workers?
 Overhead electrical lines
 Fallen electrical wires
 Buried cables
 Electrical equipment (use lowvoltage equipment with ground-fault
interrupters and watertight, corrosionresistant connecting cords)
Hazard Control
What electrical hazards
can pose danger to workers?
 Lighting
 Weather conditions
 Capacitors

retain a charge
Hazard Control
How do hazardous energy control
(HEC) procedures protect workers?
Before servicing &
maintenance of
equipment, OSHA
requires control
procedures to ensure
“Zero Energy State!”
Hazard Control
How do hazardous energy control
(HEC) procedures protect workers?
Lockout device (lock, chain, valve, etc.)
Prevents flow of energy to prevent
1) unexpected start-up of equipment,
and 2) unintended
release of energy
Hazard Control
How do hazardous energy control
(HEC) procedures protect workers?
Tagout
Tag the power source
Administrative control,
not engineering control
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Requirements under HEC
 Establish a program
 Utilize procedures for affixing
appropriate lockout/tagout devices
to power sources
 Otherwise disable
equipment/machine to prevent
unexpected start-up of equipment,
or release of stored energy
Hazard Control
Effects of Noise
Noise = Unwanted Sound
 Heavy equipment creates
harmful noise levels
Hazard Control
Unit of Measure for Sound
Sound intensity = decibels (dB)
Examples
 Ticking watch = 20 dB (barely audible)
 Jet engine = 130 to 160 dB (painful)
Hazard Control
Implement a Hearing
Conservation Program?
OSHA says
A Hearing Conservation Program is
required when noise levels ≥8 hour
time-weighted average (TWA) sound
level of 85dBA
Hazard Control
Implement a Hearing
Conservation Program?
Engineering & administrative controls
must be used if workers are subject to
noise >8-hour TWA of 90 dBA
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Minimize noise
 Noise monitoring
 Audiometric testing
 Engineering controls (e.g.,
design or retrofit; isolate
exposure from workers;
acoustical materials)
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Minimize noise
 Administrative controls (rotate
employees, operate offending equipment
w/minimum staffing)
 PPE (plugs; caps; muffs)
 Training
Hazard Control
Eye/Face Protection
Reasonable probability of injury from
 Flying objects
 Glare
 Liquids
 Injurious radiation
 Combination of these hazards
Hazard Control
Eye/Face Protection
Reasonable probability of injury from
 Glasses – “big chunks”
 Goggles – “small chunks”

Also mist, vapor, aerosol
 Shield – see “goggles”
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Eye/Face Protection
When projectiles exist,
workers must use eye
protection that provides
side protection
Refer to ANSI Z87.1, et al
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Requirements of eye and face PPE?
Must be
 Distinctly marked to facilitate
identification of the manufacturer
 Capable of being disinfected
and easily cleaned
Hazard Control
Requirements for prescription
glasses & contact lens wearers?
Prescription lens wearers need
 Eye protection incorporating
prescription in its design, or
 Eye protection worn over
prescription lenses w/o disturbing proper
position/integrity/function of either
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Requirements for prescription
glasses & contact lens wearers?
The use of contact lenses should
 Be considered carefully
 Comply with the site-specific HASP*
*HASP: Health & Safety Plan
Hazard Control
Eye/face/body flushing
When chemical hazards are present
 Eye wash stations - readily
available & accessible
 Water/flushing solutions to prevent particles from further
injuring eyes
Hazard Control
When is head protection required?
Can
 An object strike the head?
 The head strike an object?
 The head contact an energized
electrical conductor?
Hazard Control
When is head protection required?
 Head protection must meet all
safety requirements (ANSI Z89.1)
 Hair must be restrained to prevent
snagging on surrounding objects
Hazard Control
When is protective footwear
required?
Where potential hazards are present from
 Falling/rolling objects
 Objects may pierce the sole
 Chemical exposure
 Electrical shock
 Wet floors
Hazard Control
Recommended types of footwear
 Safety toe shoes (hard toe)
 Treated shoes
 Rubber boots or plastic
shoe covers
 Insulated shoes
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Hand protection
When there are hazards from
 Skin absorption
 Cuts, abrasions, punctures
 Chemical or thermal burns
 Harmful temperature extremes
Hazard Control
Hand protection
Employers must
require workers to use
appropriate hand
protection meeting all
safety requirements
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Hand protection
Select gloves on the basis of
 Material being handled
 Hazard involved
Hazard Control
Hand protection
Norfoil laminate resists
permeation and breakthrough
by variety of toxic/hazardous
chemicals
Butyl provides highest
resistance to gas/water vapors;
frequently used for ketones
(M.E.K., Acetone) and esters
(Amyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate)
Hazard Control
Hand protection
Viton is highly resistant to
permeation by chlorinated &
aromatic solvents
Nitrile protects against wide
variety of solvents, harsh
chemicals, fats & petroleum
products; provides excellent
resistance to cuts, snags,
punctures & abrasions
Hazard Control
Hand protection
Kevlar protects against
cuts, slashes, and abrasion
Stainless steel mesh
protects against cuts and
lacerations
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Hand protection
Check before using
 In good condition
 Free of holes, punctures, tears
When removing
 Keep contaminated surface
from contacting skin
Hazard Control
Hand protection
Consider
 Color of contaminant v. color of glove

Remove chemical from glove (consider
breakthrough time)
When removing gloves
 Keep contaminated surface from
contacting skin
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level A – greatest level of skin,
respiratory, eye protection
 Pos. press., full face SCBA, or pos.
press. SAR w/escape SCBA

NIOSH approved
 Totally-encapsulating chemicalprotective suit
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level A – greatest level of skin,
respiratory, eye protection
 Coveralls
 Long underwear
 Gloves, outer, chemical-resistant
 Gloves, inner, chemical-resistant
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level A – greatest level of skin,
respiratory, eye protection
 Boots, chemical-resistant, hard
toe and shank
 Hard hat (under suit)
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level A – greatest level of skin,
respiratory, eye protection
 Disposable protective suit,
gloves & boots

if manufacturer permits, may be worn
over fully-encapsulating suit
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level B - Highest level of respiratory
protection necessary, but lesser level
of skin protection needed
 Pos. press., full-face SCBA, or pos.
press. SAR w/escape SCBA

NIOSH approved
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level B - Highest level of respiratory
protection necessary, but lesser level
of skin protection needed
 Hooded chemical-resistant clothing
(overalls & long-sleeved jacket;
coveralls; one or two-piece chemicalsplash suit; disposable chemicalresistant overalls).
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level B - Highest level of respiratory
protection necessary, but lesser level
of skin protection needed
 Coveralls
 Gloves, outer, chemical-resistant.
 Gloves, inner, chemical-resistant.
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level B - Highest level of respiratory
protection necessary, but lesser level
of skin protection needed
 Boots, outer, chemical-resistant steel
toe and shank.
 Boot-covers, outer, chemical-resistant
(disposable)
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level B - Highest level of respiratory
protection necessary, but lesser level
of skin protection needed
 Hard hat
 Face shield
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level C equipment
 Full-face or half-mask, APR

NIOSH approved
 Hooded chemical-resistant clothing
(overalls; two-piece chemical-splash
suit; disposable chemical-resistant
overalls)
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level C equipment
 Coveralls
 Gloves, outer, chemical-resistant.
 Gloves, inner, chemical-resistant.
 Boots (outer), chemical-resistant hard
toe and shank
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level C equipment
 Boot covers, outer, chemicalresistant (disposable)
 Hard hat
 Escape mask
 Face shield
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level D - A work uniform affording
minimal protection: used for
nuisance contamination only
 Coveralls
 Gloves
 Boots/shoes, chemical-resistant
hard toe and shank
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level D - A work uniform affording
minimal protection: used for
nuisance contamination only
 Boots, outer, chemical-resistant
(disposable)
 Safety glasses or chemical splash
goggles
Hazard Control
Dress for Success
 Level D - A work uniform affording
minimal protection: used for
nuisance contamination only
 Hard hat
 Escape mask
 Face shield
Hazard Control
:
Update on Recent Developments
Hazard Control
Review/
Q&A
Hazard Control
With Gratitude to the IETTC for their
Contributions to this Learning Experience
International Environmental Technology and Training Center
“Working safely with hazardous materials”
Vincent J. Giblin, General President
1293 Airport Road, Beaver, WV 25813
Phone: (304) 253-8674 - Fax: (304) 253-7758
E-mail: hazmat@iuoeiettc.org
Material was produced under a grant
from the OSHA, U.S. It does not
necessarily reflect the views or policies
of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does mention of trade names,
commercial products, or organizations
imply endorsement by OSHA or any
department of the U.S. Government.
Hazard Control
Exam
Hazard Control
Course
Evaluation
Hazard Control
END
COURSE
Hazard Control