Hazardous Material Training
Hazardous Material
Awareness Level
Personnel are trained to identify the potential hazards of hazardous materials and isolate or evacuate the area as necessary. Almost every company has Hazardous Materials in their facility. It could be concentrated industrial cleaner, or the sulfuric acid in the forklift batteries. OSHA requires all employers to provide Hazard Communication training for new employees and additional training when new hazards enter the work force.
If there is a potential for exposures to hazardous materials, those workers must receive Hazard Material Awareness training under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.120 also known as HazWOpER or Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.
Workers trained to the Awareness Level can use labels, placards and markings to identify the potential hazards of chemicals. HazWOpER Awareness training also requires workers to have a basic understanding of how to isolate the area of a chemical spill and how to contact their immediate supervisor.
Many industries combined their HazCom and HazMat Awareness training as part of a comprehensive program for new employee orientations. The training time is based on the chemical hazards at the facility. HazMat Solutions provides a customized 8-hour training program for the specific hazardous materials at a facility which includes the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals
Who Needs This Training?
Per OSHA Regulations
29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(ii)
First Responder Awareness Level trained personnel are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release. They are trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release and isolate the area from other employees.
At this level, no further action beyond notifying the proper authorities of the release can be taken. First Responders at the Awareness Level shall have sufficient training or have sufficient experience to demonstrate competency consistent with the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(i).
Class Topics
- Recognition and identification of hazardous materials by labels, placards, pictograms and container shape and type
- Isolation, evacuation, and restriction of access to the affected area
- The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency
- Protection of self and other employees, including the use of basic personal protective equipment
- Know their role in the employer’s Emergency Response Plan including site security and control and the use of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook
- Realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the supervisor or communication center
Case Study: HazMat Awareness Level
A food processing facility in Ohio trained by HazMat Solutions had two concentrated cleaning chemicals accidentally mix in the production area drains. The resulting vapor from an organic peroxide and a corrosive cleaner resulted in an irritating vapor which First Responders recognized and organized a quick evacuation, ventilation and identification of the chemicals without any injuries or lost production.
“HazMat Solutions has been our go to training source for incident response for the last 20 years. These guys are the experts in the field and perform training at the highest level.”