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Is OSHA 40 and HAZWOPER 40 The Same Thing?
What is Considered a Hazardous Substance?
Who Needs HAZWOPER 40 Hour Training
What is a Hazard Communication Plan?
Is OSHA 40 and HAZWOPER 40 The Same Thing?
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the interchangeable terms OSHA 40 and HAZWOPER 40, so let’s clarify this. The term “OSHA 40” is used as another way of saying HAZWOPER 40. They are, in fact, the same thing.
Throughout this article we will be going further into detail about what HAZWOPER 40 is and how the term OSHA 40 differs from OSHA 10 and 30. We will also be diving into the OSHA Requirements surrounding the HAZWOPER 40-hour safety training course.
What is HAZWOPER 40?
The HAZWOPER 40 hour training course is the initial training needed for workers who could or will be exposed to hazardous substances.
The purpose of this course is to help prevent and minimize the possibility of employee injury and illness that may result from potential exposure to hazardous substances.
HAZWOPER 24 & 8 Hour
The HAZWOPER 24 hour training is meant for the workers who will only occasionally come in contact with dangerous substances. It is also meant for people who will be operating at contaminated sites without exposure to dangerous substances.
The HAZWOPER 8 hour refresher course must be taken annually by those who have completed a 24 or 40 hour course. This training will cover much of the same material in a condensed form, with little or no hands-on training required.
What is Considered a Hazardous Substance?
A hazardous substance is considered as any substance that poses a threat to human health and the environment. Some common examples of hazardous substances includes chemicals such as:
- Carcinogens
- Irritants
- Corrosives
- Toxic agents
- Sensitizers
Chemical-Related Health Hazards
There are numerous distinct health risks to watch out for when working with or around chemicals at work. The majority of chemical-related health risks fall into one of the two groups listed below.
Chemical health hazards are any hazards that come from the composition of the chemicals themselves.
Physicochemical hazards are physical or chemical properties of the substance, mixture, or article that pose other-than-health risks to workers. Physicochemical hazards would consist of hazards such as:
- Chemical explosions and fire
- Corrosion
- Chemical reactions
Who Needs HAZWOPER 40 Hour Training
OSHA states that the 40 hour HAZWOPER training course is specifically designed for managers, people who work with hazardous materials on a regular basis, or individuals who are exposed to hazardous substances that exceed the recommended exposure limits. This could include any employee who is involved in hazardous chemical and waste operations such as:
- Clean up
- Emergency response
- Storage
- Disposal
- Treatment of hazardous substances
- Uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
OSHA 40 vs OSHA 10 and 30
It is important to understand that despite the similar terms, OSHA 40 does not exist in the same sense that OSHA 10 and 30 do. While OSHA 40 is just another term for the 40 hour HAZWOPER training, OSHA 10 and 30 are the names of the courses that are a part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program.
OSHA 10 is a 10 hour course that teaches basic safety and health information to entry-level employees in construction and general industry.
OSHA 30 is a 30 hour safety course that covers a larger variety of safety subjects as well as in-depth and industry-specific training. This one is intended to be taken by supervisors and workers with safety and health responsibilities in the workplace.
What is a Hazard Communication Plan?
A hazard communication plan is a written program that details policies for labeling chemical storing containers, using safety data sheets for dangerous compounds, and personnel safety training.
The purpose of hazard communication, often known as HazCom, is to ensure that workers are aware of the potentially harmful substances and equipment that are used in the workplace.
Employers are responsible for developing and implementing a hazard communication program for their employees.
Safety Data Sheets
The best source for hazard communication when it comes to thorough details about the chemicals in your workplace are Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
SDSs are an essential part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS is a set of global standards for the secure manufacture, transportation, handling, application, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.
SDSs help to identify the product and describe any physical or environmental hazards of the chemical. They include a list of safety precautions you can follow while handling, storing, or moving the substance.
Additionally, safety data sheets offer instructions on how to handle various emergencies as well as how to perform basic first aid. Every SDS uses the same 16-section structure:
- Identification
- Hazard identification
- Information on ingredients
- First aid measures
- Firefighting measures
- Accidental release measures
- Handling and storing
- Exposure controls and PPE
- Physical and chemical properties
- Stability and reactivity
- Toxicological information
- Ecological information
- Disposal considerations
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information
OSHA Requirements For 40 Hour HAZWOPER Training
Employers are required to provide their employees with a hazard-free work environment. If they cannot eliminate hazards from the workplace, employers must provide their employees with the equipment, knowledge, and means to stay safe while working. The best way to do this is by providing their workers with proper safety training.
HAZWOPER 40 Training Topics
OSHA requires that every safety training must teach employees how to recognize, eliminate, and control hazards that they may encounter on the job. Aside from that, the OSHA 40 hour HAZWOPER training is required to cover topics such as:
- Employees rights and responsibilities
- Operation site characterization
- Site monitoring
- Hazard recognition
- Toxicology
- Hazard Communication (HazCom)
- Material Handling
- Illumination and sanitation
- Confined spaces
- Excavation
- Fall protection
- Lockout and tagout
- Hazardous locations
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Decontamination procedures
- Medical surveillance
- Fire prevention
- Emergency procedures
- Walking working surface
Our Online HAZWOPER Training
While a 40-hour long training course may seem grueling and overbearing, we design all of our training courses to be entertaining and engaging, which helps employees retain the information for a longer period of time. Fortunately, we provide a 40-hour HAZWOPER Safety Training Course with a variety of options here at Hard Hat Training. Among these choices are:
- Online training
- Onsite training
- Training kits
- Train The Trainer courses
More About The Course
This training course is incredibly detailed and available, and it complies with OSHA. Our online course contains a practical evaluation and checklist to direct teachers in their hands-on training previous to the experience in the field because HAZWOPER training requires practical application.