514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

Chapter 36: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

This chapter on Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) outlines the essential procedures and qualifications required for safely managing hazardous waste and responding to emergencies.

Worker in full PPE handling hazardous drum container

This chapter outlines the essential procedures and qualifications required for safely managing hazardous waste and responding to emergencies

It emphasizes the importance of training for workers entering contaminated zones, ensuring they understand the hazards and the necessary precautions for decontamination and safety.

Key responsibilities are assigned to specific roles, including the Site Safety and Health Manager and the Contractor Safety and Health Manager, to develop and oversee the implementation of the Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP).

The SSHP also addresses the identification of hazards, the evaluation of risks, and the establishment of controls to protect workers, alongside detailed emergency response and contingency procedures to manage potential incidents effectively.

36-1. References.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 36-1.

36-1. References.

a.  ANSI/ASSP Z490.1, Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health and Environmental Training (https://webstore.ansi.org/)  (36-1.a)

b.  EM 385-1-97, Explosives – Safety and Health Requirements Manual (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Manuals/) (36-1.b)

c.  EP 415-1-266, Construction – Resident Engineer Management Guide for Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Projects (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Pamphlets/) (36-1.c)

d.  ER 200-2-3, Environmental Compliance Policies (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Regulations/) (36-1.d)

e.  ER 385-1-40, Occupational Health Program (https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer-Regulations/) (36-1.e)

f.  ER 385-1-92, Safety and Occupational Health Requirements for Environmental
Cleanup Projects
(https://www.publications.usace.army.mil/USACE-Publications/Engineer- Regulations/) (36-1.f)

g.  29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency Action Plans (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR- 2020-title29-vol5/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol5- sec1910-38.pdf)  (36-1.g)

h.  29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title29-vol5/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol5- sec1910-120.pdf)  (36-1.h)

i.  29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title29-vol6/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol6- sec1910-1200.pdf)  (36-1.i)

j.  29 CFR 1926.35, Employee Emergency Action Plan (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title29-vol8/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol8- sec1926-35.pdf)  (36-1.j)

k.  29 CFR 1926.65, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title29-vol8/pdf/CFR-2020-title29-vol8- sec1926-65.pdf)  (36-1.k)

36-2. Definitions.

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 36-2.

36-2. Definitions.

a.  Contamination Reduction Zone (CRZ).  The CRZ is an area on the project where personnel and equipment are decontaminated when exiting the exclusion zone (EZ) in route to the support zone.  There is potential for contamination to be present in this area that can potentially expose personnel to hazardous substances and health hazards. (36-2.a)

b.  Emergency Response.  Emergency response or responding to emergencies means a response effort by employees from outside the immediate release area or by other designated responders (that is, mutual-aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. Responses to incidental releases of hazardous substances where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel are not considered to be emergency responses within the scope of this chapter. Responses to releases of hazardous substances where there is no potential safety or health hazard (that is, fire, explosion, or chemical exposure) are not considered to be emergency responses within the scope of this chapter.  (36-2.b)

c.  Environmental Cleanup and Investigation Projects.  Environmental Cleanup and Investigation Projects are sites and activities specified in 29 CFR 1910.120(a)(1) or 29 CFR 1926.65(a)(1) and involve operations where hazardous substances are investigated, removed, contained, incinerated, treated, neutralized, cleaned-up, or in
any other manner processed or handled with the goal of making the site safer for people or the environment. (36-2.c)

d.  Exclusion Zone (EZ).  The EZ is an area known or suspected to be contaminated.  This is an area where site characterization activities and contamination removal activities will take place.  Work conducted in this area may have the potential to expose personnel to occupational health hazards from contamination.  (36-2.d)

e.  General Site Workers.  General site workers are engaged directly in the hazardous substance investigation and/or removal and remediation activities.  General site workers conduct investigation or cleanup activities in the EZ or CRZ and have the potential to be exposed to contamination while performing work activities.  (36-2.e)

f.  Health Hazard.  Health hazard means a chemical or a pathogen where acute or chronic health effects may occur in exposed employees.  It also includes stress due to temperature extremes and other physical agents.  The term health hazard includes chemicals that are classified according to 29 CFR 1910.1200, as posing one of the following hazardous effects: acute toxicity (any route of exposure); skin corrosion or irritation; serious eye damage or eye irritation; respiratory or skin sensitization; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure); aspiration toxicity; or simple asphyxiant.  (36-2.f)

g.  Hazardous Substance.  Hazardous substance means any substance designated or listed as hazardous substance or hazardous waste as defined in 29 CFR
1910.120(a)(3) or 29 CFR 1926.65(a)(3), where exposure to which results or may result in adverse effects on the health or safety of employees during the performance of their duties. (36-2.g)

h.  Other Site Workers.  Other site workers are those regularly onsite who work in areas which have been monitored and fully characterized indicating that exposures are under permissible exposure limits and published OELs where respirators are not necessary, and the characterization indicates that there are no health hazards or the possibility of an emergency developing.  (36-2.h)

i.  Post Emergency Response.   The portion of an emergency response performed after the immediate threat of a release has been stabilized or eliminated and clean-up of the site has begun. If post emergency response is performed by an employer's own employees who were part of the initial emergency response, it is considered to be part of the initial response and not post emergency response.  However, if a group of an employer's own employees, separate from the group providing initial response, performs the clean-up operation, then the separate group of employees would be considered to be performing post-emergency response and subject to 29 CFR
1910.120(q)(11) or 29 CFR 1926.65(q)(11).  (36-2.i)

j.  Supervisors.  Supervisors are individuals that provide onsite management and are directly responsible for employees engaged in hazardous waste cleanup and investigation operations.  (36-2.j)

k.  Support Zone.  The support zone is an area that is not and will not become contaminated because of investigation or cleanup activities.  This is an area that borders the CRZ and where administrative and other support personnel remain to regulate and oversee the activities happening in the other work zones and the operation at large.  This area is not anticipated to be contaminated and does not have the potential cause exposure to support zone personnel from contamination in the CRZ or EZ.  (36-2.k)