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666 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers VII
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Site Work Zones

Site work zones should be delineated on the site, and the flow of personnel among the zones should be controlled to reduce the accidental spread of hazardous substances by workers from the contaminated area to the clean area.

Site Work Zones

Establishing work zones will help ensure:

  • personnel are properly protected against the hazards present where they are working,
  • work activities and contamination are confined to the appropriate areas, and
  • personnel can be located and evacuated in an emergency.

Hazardous waste sites should be divided into as many different zones as needed to meet operational and safety objectives. For illustration, this course describes three frequently used zones:

  1. Exclusion or Hot Zone: the contaminated area
  2. Contamination Reduction Zone (CRZ): area where decontamination takes place
  3. Support Zone: uncontaminated area where workers should not be exposed to hazardous conditions

Establishing these three zones should be based on sampling and monitoring results and on an evaluation of potential routes and amount of contaminant dispersion in the event of a release. Movement of personnel and equipment among these zones should be minimized and restricted to specific Access Control Points to prevent cross-contamination from contaminated areas to clean areas.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-4. Which step of the site control process makes sure work activities and contamination are confined to the appropriate areas?