Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

Management

Introduction to HAZWOPER

• HAZardous Waste OPerations and Emergency Response

• Promulgated in 1989 (29 CFR 1910.120)

• Developed in response to cleanup work resulting from CERCLA– SARA Title I required OSHA to develop

standards for cleanup employees

Requirements

• Health and Safety Plan (HASP)

• Training:– General site workers: 40-hour & 3-day on-site– Supervisors: 40-hour & 3-day on-site plus 8

hours specialized training in site-specific plans and programs

– Limited access workers or “safe” sites: 24-hour & 1-day on-site

– All: 8-hour annual refresher training

On-site Training Involves...• Names of personnel and alternates responsible for site

safety and health; • Safety, health and other hazards present on the site; • Use of personal protective equipment; • Work practices by which the employee can minimize risks

from hazards; • Safe use of engineering controls and equipment on the site; • Medical surveillance requirements, including recognition

of symptoms and signs which might indicate overexposure to hazards; and

• The contents of paragraphs (G) through (J) of the site safety and health plan set forth in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section.

Medical Surveillance Program• All employees who are or may be exposed to hazardous

substances or health hazards at or above the permissible exposure limits or, if there is no permissible exposure limit, above the published exposure levels for these substances, without regard to the use of respirators, for 30 days or more a year;

• All employees who wear a respirator for 30 days or more a year or as required by 1910.134;

• All employees who are injured, become ill or develop signs or symptoms due to possible overexposure involving hazardous substances or health hazards from an emergency response or hazardous waste operation; and

• Members of HAZMAT teams

Medical Exams - when

• Prior to assignment;

• At least once every twelve months for each employee covered unless the attending physician believes a longer interval (not greater than biennially) is appropriate;

• At termination of employment or reassignment to an area where the employee would not be covered if the employee has not had an examination within the last six months;

Medical Exams - when (cont’d)

• As soon as possible upon notification by an employee that the employee has developed signs or symptoms indicating possible overexposure to hazardous substances or health hazards, or that the employee has been injured or exposed above the permissible exposure limits or published exposure levels in an emergency situation;

• At more frequent times, if the examining physician determines that an increased frequency of examination is medically necessary.

Medical Exams - what

• Medical examinations include

– A medical and work history (or updated history if one is in the employee's file)

– Special emphasis on symptoms related to the handling of hazardous substances and health hazards

– Evaluate fitness for duty including the ability to wear any required PPE under conditions that may be expected at the work site.

HAZMAT Teams

• First Responder– Awareness– Operations Level

• Hazardous Materials– Technician– Specialist

• Senior Emergency Response Official

Site Operations

• Site Control

• Roles and Responsibilities

• Personal Protective Equipment

Site Control

Why?– 29 CFR 1910.120 (OSHA)– Purpose to reduce public exposure to chemical,

physical, biological, and safety hazards– Must be site-specific

Site Control

• Understand the site as best you can– Maps

• roads

• terrain

• waterways

– Engineering drawings• drains

• storage areas

– People• first hand knowledge

– Essential to site control– Serves as source of information

--Access and evacuation routes--Areas requiring special PPE--As topographic features, climactic

conditions, drainage, location of landmarks

– Maps are changeable throughout course of site operations, influenced by accidents, changes in site activities, emergencies, unanticipated hazards, etc.

Site Maps

– Importance to worker safety– Major steps:

-- Roadway construction-- Arranging traffic flow patterns-- Eliminate physical hazards as possible-- Install skid-resistance devices as needed-- Construct operation pads for mobile facilities-- Construct loading docks, processing and staging

areas, and decon areas-- Provide illumination as needed-- Install electrical equipment and connections as

needed

Site Preparation

– Constructed to ensure that . . .• Personnel are protected against hazards specific to

where they are working

• Contamination is confined to designated areas

• Personnel can be located and evacuated in an emergency

Site Work Zones

Site Work Zones

• Exclusion Zone– The contaminated area

• Contamination Reduction Zone (CRZ)– Area for decontamination

• Support Zone– Uncontaminated area– Workers here NOT exposed to hazards

-- Site of contamination, so location of actual clean-up processes

-- Perimeter (“hot line”) established by visual survey

location of hazardous substances, leachate, spills

evaluation of initial survey indicating possible combustibles / radiations

evaluation of soil / water samples

determination of safe distances from fires, etc.

physical area needed for operations

climatic conditions

-- Hot line is changeable

Exclusion Zone

-- Purpose

-- Design Decon of equipment, personnel, samples

Emergency response

Equipment re-supply

Sample packaging for on-site and off-site testing

Drainage and containment of water, etc., used for decon

Temporary rest areas

Contamination Reduction Zone

• Will contain . . .

– Command post

– Medical station

– Worker rest areas

– Equipment and supply centers

– Administration facilities

– Field laboratory

Support Zone

Boundaries

• Hot line– Outer boundary of exclusion zone

• Contamination Reduction Corridor– Passageway between Exclusion Zone and

Support Zone– Decon done in this corridor

• Contamination Control– Boundary between Support Zone and CRZ

Roles and Responsibilities• Responders (buddy system)

• Backup (buddy system)

• Decontamination

• Research

• Communications

• Public Relations

• Security

• Site commander/manager

• Medical

• Site Safety

Personal Protective Equipment

• Levels of protection: A, B, C, or D

• Chosen based upon nature of hazard

Level D

• No respiratory protection

• Limited skin protection

• Must not exceed PELs, O2 > 19.5%

• Typical:– Disposable coveralls over work clothes– Work gloves– Chemical-resistant boots or shoes– Safety glasses/goggles– Hard hat

Level C

• Limited respiratory and skin protection

• When contaminants and concentrations known, and AP respirator can remove

• Typical:– Full-face air-purifying respirator– Chemical resistant clothing (e.g. bunny suit)– Inner and outer chem-resistant gloves– Chemical-resistant boots– Hard hat

Level B

• Highest respiratory but limited skin protection

• Minimum level for unknown sites

• Only when dermal hazards unlikely

• Typical:– SCBA (pressure demand)– Chem resistant clothing (e.g. bunny suit)– Inner and outer chem-resistant gloves– Chemical-resistant boots– Hard hat

Level A

• Highest level of protection

• When likelihood of dermal hazards

• Typical:– SCBA (pressure demand)– Fully-encapsulating, chem-resist suit– Disposal coveralls inside– Inner and outer chem-resistant gloves– Chemical-resistant boots– Hard hat