Employee Training
Employees need to know about the site hazards to which they may be exposed, how to recognize the hazards, and how to control their exposure.
The best way for them to learn is through a combination of classroom instruction, site-specific information, and supervised fieldwork.
Employees who work at the site must have appropriate training before they begin their work. You can send your employees to an offsite trainer, but you are responsible for ensuring that they can apply their training to the conditions at the site. What employees need to know:
- names of those responsible for employee safety and health at the site
- site's hazards
- how to use personal protective equipment to control exposure
- how to minimize exposure risks
- medical surveillance requirements
- procedures for decontaminating clothing and minimizing exposure to hazardous substances
- procedures for responding to emergencies
- procedures for working in confined spaces
- procedures for containing leaks and spills of hazardous substances
Employees whose jobs put them at higher risk of exposure need more training than those who do lower-risk jobs. Click on the link below to review initial and refresher training requirements.
Initial and Refresher Training Requirements
| Employee Category | Initial Training | Refresher Training |
|---|---|---|
| General site workers who remove hazardous substances or engage in activities that may expose them to hazardous substances. | 40 hours of off-site instruction and 3 days of field experience | 8 hours of annual refresher training |
| Workers on site occasionally who have specific tasks and are unlikely to be exposed above OSHA permissible exposure levels. | 24 hours of off-site instruction and 1 day of field experience | 8 hours of annual refresher training |
| Workers regularly on site in areas where exposures are below exposure limits, respirators are not required, and emergencies are not likely. | 24 hours of off-site instruction and 1 day of field experience | 8 hours of annual refresher training |
| On-site managers and supervisors who are directly responsible for or who supervise workers engaged in hazardous waste operations. | 40 hours of off-site instruction and 3 days of field experience | 8 hours of annual refresher training |
Employees with 24 hours of off-site instruction who become general site workers, or who are required to wear respirators, must have additional training that totals 40 hours of off-site instruction and three days of field experience.
Employees who have completed their training and field experience must receive a written certificate; they cannot begin work at the site without one.
Employees who have work experience or training that meets HAZWOPER initial training requirements must be given appropriate site-specific training and have appropriate supervised field experience at the new site.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. How much HAZWOPER training must managers, supervisors and general site workers performing cleanup operations have before the start of work?
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