HAZWOPER Training Online

What is HAZWOPER training?

HAZWOPER stands for, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. Individuals receive certification upon completion of 24-hour or 40-hour HAZWOPER training.

OSHA HAZWOPER training was designed to reduce the risk of exposure for workers who clean up, treat, store, and dispose of hazardous material. 

Who Needs Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training?

Enacted by OSHA in 1990, HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, and its certification is covered under OSHA standard 29 CFR Part 1910.120. It was designed to keep workers safe during response operations. If you are a chemical response worker, HAZWOPER standard requires that you are trained to perform all your job duties without putting yourself or your coworkers in danger.

OSHAcampus® has all the online safety training courses you need to meet your compliance requirements and get to work fast!

How Do I Get HAZWOPER Certification Training?

To earn your HAZWOPER certification, you must enroll in an OSHA-compliant HAZWOPER training course that matches the level of exposure and risk associated with your job duties. The most common courses are the 40-hour, 24-hour, and 8-hour refresher courses.

You can complete these courses online or in person through an OSHA-authorized provider, such as OSHAcampus® by 360training. After completing the required coursework and passing the final exam, you will receive a certificate of completion as your OSHA HAZWOPER training certification. 

Which Jobs Require HAZWOPER Training?

OSHA specifies HAZWOPER certification requirements for the following job profiles (and their supervisors):

• Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) Personnel: Individuals who handle hazardous waste during treatment, storage, and disposal. This occurs at facilities regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
• Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site Operators: Indviduals involved in characterization, cleanup, and remediation at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. These can be stabilized emergency sites OR older sites where potential contamination has been discovered. These operations include:
  • Cleanup required by a governmental body
  • Voluntary cleanup at sites recognized by a governmental body
  • Corrective actions involving cleanup at sites covered by RCRA
• Emergency Responders: Individuals in charge of containing, controlling, and stabilizing an emergency involving hazardous materials. They may be working at the site of an accidental release of hazardous substances or at a site with a serious threat of accidental release. Examples include:
  • Local fire departments who might have to respond to chemical fires or overturned HazMat trucks
  • Facility workers dealing with an uncontrolled leak or spill
  • Railroad emergency response teams presented with a ruptured tank car

But Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training can also reduce the dangers to workers in any of the following hazardous working conditions:

• High concentrations of toxic substances, in any context
• Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) environments
• Conditions that pose the risk of a fire or explosion
• Oxygen-deficient atmospheres

HAZWOPER construction training is designed to address these exact hazards, and they can occur outside of regulated HAZWOPER jobs.

Additionally, if you've never taken HAZWOPER before, or if your training has seriously lapsed, you need to take one of two initial courses. The course you need is dictated by your potential exposure.

What Are OSHA’s HAZWOPER Training Requirements?

OSHA HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) standard requires workers and supervisors involved in hazardous waste operations or emergency response to undergo specific training.

The training requirements depend on the worker's role:

• 40-hour HAZWOPER Training: Required for workers who perform activities at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
• 24-hour HAZWOPER Training: This training is for workers with occasional site access who do not participate in actual clean-up operations.
• 8-hour Annual Refresher Training: Required annually for workers who have completed the 40-hour or 24-hour training.

The training must cover topics such as site characterization, hazard recognition, toxicology, decontamination, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency procedures.

Does HAZWOPER Training Cover GHS Hazard Communication?

As of 2013, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was modified to align with the United Nations (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). 

The new requirements include standards classifying health, physical, and environmental hazards. Plus, the GHS stipulates exactly what information you need to include on the labels for hazardous chemicals and safety data sheets.

To help you better understand the changes, as well as the new training requirements, OSHA requires that you complete GHS Hazard Communication training. And since these new requirements apply for anyone handling hazardous waste, our OSHA HAZWOPER courses include a module that reviews the GHS Hazard Communication.

How Does Taking Online HAZWOPER Training Work?

All our online HAZWOPER courses can be taken from the convenience of your home. Not only do our courses allow you to fulfill requirements at home, but they are also self-paced, meaning they can be completed whenever you want within a year of your purchase.

Workers need the 40-hour HAZWOPER training course if they are at the highest risk.  

Workers who will have minimal contact with hazardous materials need the 24-hour HAZWOPER course.   

Everyone needs an annual 8-Hour Annual refresher training. We also offer OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 courses. Find your course now!

How Long Does HAZWOPER Training Take?

The number in each HAZWOPER training refers to the total number of hours of instruction.

However, the actual duration of the course can vary depending on factors such as your schedule and the time you dedicate to completing the material.

• 40-hour HAZWOPER Training: Typically takes about five days to complete. It can be taken online at your own pace, but OSHA requires that it be finished within six months.
• 24-hour HAZWOPER Training: Usually takes three days to complete.
• 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Training: This takes approximately one day to complete and must be renewed annually. 

How Many Questions Is the HAZWOPER Exam?

The number of questions on the HAZWOPER final exam can vary depending on the training provider, but it typically includes around 50 to 100 questions. The exam is designed to assess your understanding of the course material, including safety procedures, hazard identification, and emergency response. To pass the exam and receive your certification, you generally need to score at least 70%.

How Long Is HAZWOPER Training Good For?

HAZWOPER training is valid for 12 months, but the good news is that the annual refresher is only 8 hours long.

If your anniversary comes and goes without completing your refresher training, OSHA leaves the decision of whether you need to retake the initial course in your employer’s hands. If the employer thinks the lapsed employee has the necessary skills to do their job safely, they can take refresher training. If not, they should repeat the course. This decision cannot be made by an employee or trainer.