BLR’s
Safety Training Presentations
HAZWOPER: Awareness Level
29 CFR 1910.120(q)
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Headline Stories
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Ammonia Evacuates Industrial Site
Acid Spill Sends Workers to Hospital
Fuel Spill Contaminate River
Natural Gas Pipeline Ruptures
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HAZWOPER Goals
 HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
 Awareness Level response
 Quiz
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What Is HAZWOPER?
 Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response Required for facilities
storing and using hazardous chemicals
 Defines emergency
response procedures
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HAZWOPER Basics
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Even a small spill can be dangerous
Fires, explosions, and contamination can result
Only trained workers clean spills
Everyone must understand potential
spill hazards and their role in an emergency
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Spill Prevention
 Understand chemical hazards
 Follow safe storage and handling procedures
 Read and follow the instructions on labels and
material safety data sheets
 Don’t use chemicals in unlabeled containers
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Spill Prevention (cont.)
 Inspect chemical
containers for damage
or leaks
 Don’t handle or open
chemical containers
without PPE
 Don’t leave
containers open
 Report potential hazards
to your supervisor
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Emergency Response Plan
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Pre-emergency planning and training
Emergency recognition
Evacuation procedures
Emergency alerting and response
PPE and emergency equipment
Decontamination and medical treatment
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Levels of Training
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First responder: awareness level
First responder: operations level
Hazardous materials technician
Hazardous materials specialist
Incident commander
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Hazardous Substance?
 Includes pure
or mixed
chemicals
and hazardous
wastes
 Potential health
hazards
 Could damage
the environment
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Recognize Chemical Substances
 Danger, caution, warning signs
 NFPA or HMIS labels
 DOT placards
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Types of Chemicals
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Flammable or explosive
Reactive
Corrosive
Toxic
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Dangers of a Release
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Flammable liquids or gases
Toxic cloud
Reaction with nearby chemicals
Irritants
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Chemical Exposure
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Skin or eye contact
Inhalation
Swallowing
Avoid contact and evacuate immediately
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HAZWOPER Goals
 HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
 Awareness level response
 Quiz
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Awareness Level Role
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Recognize a chemical release
Determine chemical’s identity
Self-protection and protection of others
Know how to get assistance
Secure the area
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Recognizing a Chemical Release
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Dripping or pool of liquid
Unusual smell
Unusual sound
Loss of pressure or flow
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Non-Hazardous Spills
 Incidental or small
 Handled by the employees in immediate area
 Get help if you’re unsure
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Identifying the Chemical
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Where is it coming from?
Is the container labeled?
Is it a liquid, gas, or solid?
What does it smell like?
What color is it?
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Protect Yourself and Others
 Report the release to others in the immediate area
 Retreat to a safe distance, place of refuge, or
evacuation assembly area
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Reporting the Spill
 Contact the emergency response coordinator
 Provide information:
–Location of release
–Identity and quantity
of spilled material
–Evacuation status
 Ask for instructions
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Secure the Area
 Keep people a safe distance from the spill
 Use caution tape, rope, cones, etc.
 Stand guard of the controlled area
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Response Personnel
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Analyze the incident
Use proper PPE and equipment
Contain the spill
Stop the leak
Clean up the spill
Decontaminate
Report the incident
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HAZWOPER Goals
 HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
 Awareness Level response
 Quiz
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Summary
 HAZWOPER is for facilities storing
or using hazardous chemicals
 Practice spill prevention techniques
 Recognize the chemicals used at your
facility and know their hazards
 Awareness Level personnel must:
–Recognize a spill or release
–Know how to initiate a response
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Quiz
1. Describe one way to recognize a chemical release at your
facility:______________________________________.
2. The most likely chemical exposure during
a release is by inhalation.
True or False
3. How do you report the spill or release to employees in
the immediate area? ____________________________.
4. Information provided to the emergency response
coordinator includes_ ___________________________.
5. Awareness Level personnel are trained to
contain or control a spill.
True or False
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Quiz (cont.)
6. Where is the evacuation assembly area?
____________________________________________.
7. If the released substance is flammable,
ignition sources should be removed.
True or False
8. The best way to identify a hazardous chemical is by
____________________________________________.
9. Spill prevention can be achieved through
proper storage and handling.
True or False
10. Anyone can clean up small spills as long
as he or she is wearing gloves.
True or False
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Quiz Answers
1. Dripping or pool of liquid, unusual smell or sound,
drop in pressure or volume
2. True
3. Yell or signal an alarm.
4. Location of release, identity and quantity of spill, or
evacuation status.
5. False. Operations Level (one level above Awareness
Level) personnel are trained to control and contain a spill
in a defensive manner.
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Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. The evacuation assembly area is specific to each facility.
7. True. Remove ignition sources by turning off equipment,
forklifts, etc.
8. Identify a hazardous chemical by looking at its labels,
signs, or placards.
9. True. Following proper storage and handling procedures
definitely helps prevent spills.
10. False. Small spills of hazardous chemicals can be very
dangerous. If not trained, or unsure, about a small
spill—call for help.
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