You’re passionate about the work you do as a cleanup site operator. Or, perhaps you’re a disposal facility professional or an emergency responder. The problem is, you can’t say you fully understand the safety standards that govern your industry.

The solution? You’re now ready to boost your knowledge of the OSHA HAZPOWER Standard so that you can comply with them.

Good thinking.

Research shows that 13 tons of waste that is hazardous are produced every second. And this waste can cause significant harm to the environment and human health. If you don’t handle it properly, this can have massive long-term effects in the following areas:

• Treatment storage
• Hazardous waste site operation
• Emergency response incidents

That’s why we’ve compiled a guide on OSHA’s HAZPOWER Standard. HAZPOWER stands for “Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.”

Let’s get started!

What Is the OSHA HAZPOWER Standard?

OSHA established the HAZPOWER Standard in 1990. This was done to protect workers involved in chemical release emergencies.

This standard also covers how facilities should be cleaned up once emergency situations are resolved.

Through this standard, you can learn about unique safety requirements. In addition, you can master the training criteria you must practice when handling hazardous waste.

The standard covers any hazardous materials. It also includes hazardous waste. Biologic or disease-causing agents are additionally addressed in this standard.  

Examples of Situations That OSHA’s HAZPOWER Standard Covers

 The HAZWOPER Standard applies to workers who are exposed the following situations:

• Cleanup work being performed in natural disaster zones
• Cleanup work performed in devastated areas containing hazardous materials
• Remediation work involving unsafe and contaminated groundwater
• Work being performed at abandoned tank farms or hazardous waste drums
• Work being performed at landfills containing hazardous waste

Also, do you plan to do cleanup work at a military base or industrial site? These sites can easily feature environmental damage due to long-term hazardous waste mismanagement. In this situation, you would follow the HAZPOWER Standard, too.

The HAZPOWER Standard also exists for workers doing soil remediation work. This might involve soil contaminated with lead or asbestos.

What Are “Hazards” Based on the HAZPOWER Standard?

The hazards that the HAZPOWER Standard covers are mostly hazardous substance releases. Various situations may spark the types of hazardous waste emergencies that the standard covers.

• Environments whose atmosphere is oxygen deficient
• Risk of death or injury
• Situations that pose explosion and/or fire hazards

These situations also include circumstances involving high concentrations of toxic substances. In addition, the HAZPOWER Standard comes into play in a situation requiring immediate evacuation.

A 24 hour hazwoper training program can teach you the details of this OSHA standard. In this way, you can protect yourself when dealing hazardous waste. Likewise, you can safeguard others in hazardous waste disposal situations. 

Master OSHA HAZPOWER Standard with Confidence

Navigating the OSHA HAZPOWER Standard can no doubt be overwhelming. However, the more you study and review this standard, the more safely you can operate on the job. And this is where completing an OSHA HAZPOWER training program can be extremely helpful.

Consider the abovementioned rundown of OSHA’s HAZPOWER Standard as you study and work. With these standards in mind, you can remain OSHA compliant in the years ahead.

Also, if you enjoyed reading this article, check out the rest of our website for more great content.

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Nick Jones

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