This course is designed to bridge the gap between OSHA’s HazCom and Hazwoper requirements. If your employees must respond to minor spills of hazardous materials but do not require full “Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response” training than this course is for you.

If you need full Hazwoper training go visit our Hazwoper Page, Click Here

When writing an emergency response plan, identify spill-prone areas in your facility and customize a plan of action for each, based on the volume or nature of the chemicals stored there. Response to a 1 oz. laboratory spill will be much different from response to a break in the main feed line supplying a flammable material to a processing area.

Documenting possible scenarios and detailing the steps for effective response is a key to thorough planning, because it helps identify what resources are necessary. The time to find out you need a backhoe to create an earthen dam is not when the bottom fill valve of a tanker truck fails during offloading a bulk shipment.

Plans should also detail employee responsibilities. Rather than write particular names into the plan, it may be better to categorize employees – for example, “office staff,” “press operators”, etc. – so that you can facilitate training by employee type and not have to alter your plan every time someone changes positions or leaves your company.

With plans in place, you can determine the levels of training needed. It may not be practical or necessary to train everyone to a Hazwoper technician or specialist level.

Before planning levels of training, consider this: The HAZWOPER standard does allow the option to train all employees to evacuate the facility in the event of a spill and use outside resources for response and clean up.

A choice for this option must be well documented and should identify the outside resources, with contact information including phone numbers. It is also a good idea to have a letter or other documentation from the outside resource(s) stating their commitment and detailing their services.

When employees will handle emergency releases, OSHA requires the following levels of training, depending on the extent to which the employee will be involved with the response operation:

• (This course) First responder awareness level [29 CFR 1910.120 (q)(6)(i)] This level of training is a “baseline” training appropriate for anyone likely to encounter a hazardous materials spill at your facility. These employees need to know the dangers of chemicals stored at the facility, as well as who to contact so that those who have received more in-depth training can initiate the proper response.

• (Our 8-hour Spill Response course) First responder operations level [29 CFR 1910.120 (q)(6)(ii)] In addition to recognizing a spill and notifying others, employees trained to operations level can initiate basic spill control, containment or confinement measures, but will not actually be involved with stopping the flow of a release or with spill cleanup measures. These employees can also implement decontamination procedures.

• (24 or 40 hour Hazwoper training) Hazardous materials technicians [29 CFR1910.120 (q)(6)(iii)] have the skills of both awareness and operations level employees. They are also trained to safely respond to spill situations by stopping the flow of a spill and actually cleaning up any spilled materials. These employees receive a more in-depth training on chemical safety and selection of personal protective equipment, and are trained on how to function within the incident command system.

• (24 or 40 hour Hazwoper training with site specific course modification) Hazardous materials specialists [29 CFR 1910.120 (q)(6)(iv)] are employees who have specialized knowledge on certain hazardous materials. They support response technicians and act as a liaison with governing agencies. Knowledge of local and state emergency response plans is also an essential part of their training.

Part 1: Quick Review and Limitations

Part 2: Interesting Spill Response Stats

Part 3: Incident Reporting

Part 4: HazMat Recognition

Part 5: HazMat Referencing

Part 6: Site Control

Part 7: Respiratory Protection

Part 8: Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC)

Part 9: Heat Stress

Part 10: Gas Detection Basics

Part 11: Containment and Spill Management

Case Study 1

Case Study 2

Hazwoper refresher training is typically required every 12 months. Since our spill response training is not technically Hazwoper this course does not expire however retraining is recommended every 3 years due to changes in regulations, standards and technology.

8 hour (First responder operations level)