OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER – RCRA TSD Operations Training

Module 1: Regulatory Overview

The first module of this OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER - RCRA TSD Operations Training course provides an overview of the laws and regulations that are applied by the federal government and how information is presented in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). It also describes the relevant OSHA and HAZWOPER standards that apply to TSDF operations, details the hazard communication required in such facilities, and the importance of the safety and health program to safeguard workers at the worksite or those exposed to hazardous waste.

• Lesson 1: Laws and Regulations
• Lesson 2: OSHA and the HAZWOPER Standard
• Lesson 3: Hazard Communication
• Lesson 4: Safety and Health Program

Module 2: Medical Surveillance and Toxicology

The second module of the OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER - RCRA TSD Operations Training course focuses on the medical surveillance program that must be developed in a TSD facility to monitor and maintain the good health of workers working with hazardous wastes. Three of the lessons also focus on toxicology explaining what it means and the impact on the human body and the health and safety of workers.

• Lesson 5: Medical Surveillance Program
• Lesson 6: Introduction to Toxicology
• Lesson 7: Chemicals and Target Organ Toxicity
• Lesson 8: Factors Influencing Toxicology

Module 3: Hazard Classification

This third module focuses on the prevalent hazards in a worksite where operations revolve around hazardous waste and other hazardous substances. Lessons explain what a job hazard analysis (JHA) is; and discuss the different hazards that workers may be exposed to at the hazardous waste site or when working in TSD facilities.

• Lesson 9: Job Hazard Analysis
• Lesson 10: Physical and Chemical Properties
• Lesson 11: Fire and Oxygen Deficiency
• Lesson 12: Physical, Biological, and Environmental Hazards
• Lesson 13: Bloodborne Pathogens
• Lesson 14: Corrosives
• Lesson 15: Solvents and Oxidizers
• Lesson 16: Reactive Materials and Explosives
• Lesson 17: Radiological Hazards

Module 4: Respiratory Protection

Module four of this OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER - RCRA TSD Operations Training course focuses on the importance of respiratory protection for workers exposed to hazardous materials and other dangerous substances in a hazardous waste worksite. Lessons provide in-depth details about respirators and respiratory protection as well as the need for respirator fit testing, training on the use of respirators, and the proper maintenance of respiratory equipment.

• Lesson 18: Introduction to Respiratory Protection
• Lesson 19: Types of Respirators
• Lesson 20: Respirator Selection Factors
• Lesson 21: Respirator Fit Testing
• Lesson 22: Training and Maintenance

Module 5: Personal Protective Equipment

Module five of this safety training course provides detailed guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) use in a hazardous waste worksite including direction on the use of PPE for the different parts of the body. The use of chemical protective clothing is also explained as pertaining to work operations in the TSD facility. The importance of the proper donning and doffing of PPE is also explained and an example is given.

• Lesson 23: Introduction to PPE
• Lesson 24: Chemical Protective Clothing
• Lesson 25: PPE for the Head, Eyes, Face, and Ears
• Lesson 26: PPE for the Hands and Feet
• Lesson 27: Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing
• Lesson 28: Monitoring and Medical Concerns of PPE
• Lesson 29: Donning and Doffing PPE
• Lesson 30: Inspection and Maintenance of PPE

Module 6: HAZWOPER Site Operations

This module is dedicated to explaining the process for analyzing, identifying, developing procedures, and documenting hazards that can exist in a new hazardous waste site. The module will also explain the elements of effective hazardous waste site control strategies that can be adopted, the use of air monitoring and other toxic atmosphere monitoring devices that may be used as well as the process for personal sampling.

• Lesson 31: Site Characterization
• Lesson 32: Site Control Strategy
• Lesson 33: Introduction to Air Monitoring
• Lesson 34: Direct Reading Instruments
• Lesson 35: Toxic Atmosphere Monitoring
• Lesson 36: Personal Sampling

Module 7: Material Sampling and Analysis

This module explains the importance of material sampling during the initial on-site characterization process and safe work practices that must be implemented when handling drums on a HAZWOPER site. Lessons will provide details on the elements of a field sampling plan and explain the concept of material sampling on a hazardous waste site while differentiating between environmental and hazardous waste sampling methods. How to safely open drums and transport hazardous waste drums while using the appropriate NFPA and/or the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s hazmat warning labels and placards will also be explained in the lessons.

• Lesson 37: Field Sampling Plan
• Lesson 38: Types of Material Sampling
• Lesson 39: Handling Drums
• Lesson 40: Opening Various Types of Drums
• Lesson 41: Drum Sampling and Characterization
• Lesson 42: Drum Transportation

Module 8: Confined Spaces and Excavations

This module outlines the safe work practices associated with work operations in and around excavations and confined spaces including OSHA’s criteria for defining a confined space and the four conditions that would lead to a confined space being designated as permit-required confined space. The lessons also summarize the key responsibilities of a confined spaces supervisor, attendant, and authorized entrant; and give examples of information contained in a confined space entry plan and the three types of air-quality tests that can be performed in a confined space before any worker entry. The lessons on excavations and trenching focus on understanding the responsibilities of a Competent Person on an excavation site, distinguishing between soil types, and the use of protective systems in excavated areas as recommended by OSH regulations.

• Lesson 43: Introduction to Confined Spaces
• Lesson 44: Confined Space Entry Plan
• Lesson 45: Entering a Confined Space
• Lesson 46: Confined Space hazards
• Lesson 47: Confined Space Rescue and Emergencies
• Lesson 48: Introduction to Excavations
• Lesson 49: Soil Classification and Protective Systems

Module 9: Decontamination and Site Emergencies

This ninth module of the course explains the importance of decontamination and the key elements of the emergency response plan for a hazardous waste worksite. Lessons describe what a Personnel Decontamination Station (PDS) is used for, give examples of common decontamination equipment used for decontaminating personnel and equipment, and differentiate between physical and chemical decontamination. Lessons also provide examples of worker-related and hazardous waste-related emergencies on a HAZWOPER worksite, review the elements of an OSHA-required Emergency Response Plan and the role of decontamination during an emergency, as well as the importance of appropriately documenting emergency incidents that occur in a hazardous waste TSD facility.

• Lesson 50: Introduction to Decontamination
• Lesson 51: Decontamination Facility Design
• Lesson 52: Decontamination Methods
• Lesson 53: Emergency Decontamination
• Lesson 54: Introduction to Site Emergencies
• Lesson 55: Site Emergencies Documentation

Module 10: EPA Cradle-to-Grave Program

This module describes the core elements of EPA’s cradle-to-grave program and the steps that must be followed to comply with regulations for the management of hazardous waste. Lessons focus on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and its purpose, describe the key elements of RCRA’s Subtitle C and Subtitle D regulations, and explain the EPA’s cradle-to-grave program for the management of hazardous waste. There is also information on the process by which waste generators can identify whether their waste is hazardous; the criteria for the classification of hazardous waste generators into three different categories, the requirements for the two types of hazardous waste storage units—containers and tanks, and summarizes the three different ways facilities can collect and manage their hazardous waste—SAAs, CAAs, and TSDFs, and the regulatory requirements for transporters of hazardous waste.

• Lesson 56: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
• Lesson 57: Hazardous Waste - An Overview
• Lesson 58: Hazardous Waste Generators
• Lesson 59: Hazardous Waste Storage
• Lesson 60: Hazardous Waste Transportation

Module 11: Regulations for Specific Wastes

This final module of the OSHA 24 Hour HAZWOPER - RCRA TSD Operations Training course describes the procedures for managing spills and emergencies at a hazardous waste site and the specific provisions for handling certain categories of hazardous waste. Lessons mainly cover the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), explains the term ‘release’ as specified under CERCLA, gives details on the equipment that SQGs and LQGs must maintain in case of emergencies, explains the Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) Program, and outlines the four categories of universal waste. Lessons also explain the different types of hazardous waste categories – laboratory waste, biohazard waste, used oil, etc. and the specialized management standards that must be adopted when handling such waste types and summarize the dangers of mixing and/or storing incompatible wastes.

• Lesson 61: Managing Spills and Emergencies
• Lesson 62: Regulations for Specific Wastes
• Lesson 63: LDR, Recycling, and Used Oil
• Lesson 64: Universal Waste

Final Examination