HAZWOPER - Understanding the Standard
Many materials used in industrial processes are potentially dangerous to our health and to the environment. With the increasing complexity and sophistication of modern industrial processes, the use hazardous materials, such as chemicals, solvents and rare metals, are also on the rise. The wastes produced by these industries are equally hazardous, if not more so. Improper handling of hazardous materials can have disastrous consequences. It is, therefore, vital that employees know how to recognize these potentially dangerous substances, how to handle them safely, and how to dispose of them correctly. To regulate the handling of hazardous waste, the EPA created the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 1976. In 1986, OSHA was tasked with the responsibility to protect employees who work with hazardous material and waste (HAZMAT workers). In response, OSHA created a regulatory standard known as the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard. The standard was formally adopted in 1990.