Hazard Controls for HAZWOPER
How will hazards and employee exposure be controlled at the site? You can control HAZWOPER hazards most effectively using the "Hierarchy of Controls" (HOC)
The HOC prioritizes control methods into a number of categories: elimination, substitution, engineering, warnings, work practice controls, and PPE.
Open the link below to review a discussion on the various HOC control methods.
- Elimination/Substitution: The most effective control measure involves eliminating the hazard or substituting it with a less hazardous substance or process. This could involve finding alternative chemicals or using safer technologies to eliminate or reduce exposure to the hazardous materials.
- Engineering Controls: These controls involve modifying the work environment or processes to minimize exposure to hazards. Examples include installing ventilation systems, enclosures, or barriers to contain hazardous substances and prevent their release into the air or surrounding areas.
- Work Practice/Administrative Controls: These controls focus on implementing work practices and policies to reduce exposure to hazards. This includes developing and implementing standard operating procedures, training programs, and safe work practices. Administrative controls also involve proper signage, labeling, and communication systems to inform workers about potential hazards.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): For clean-up operations, PPE is used in conjunction with the other control measures. It includes items like gloves, goggles, respirators, protective clothing, and other equipment designed to protect workers from specific hazards. Proper selection, use, and maintenance of PPE are crucial to ensuring its effectiveness. If employees use personal protective equipment (which includes respirators) during hazardous-waste operations, your written program must ensure the following:
- Equipment is selected to protect employees against site-specific hazards.
- Employees maintain and store the equipment properly.
- Employees understand the equipment's limitations.
- Equipment is decontaminated and disposed of properly.
- Employees are trained to use, wear, and inspect equipment.
- Equipment fits employees who use it.
- Emergency Response Planning: While not a control measure in the traditional sense, emergency response planning is an essential component of the hierarchy. It involves developing and implementing plans and procedures to effectively respond to emergencies, including spills, leaks, fires, and other hazardous incidents.
Safe-work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) are less effective but can be combined with engineering controls to protect employees.
Air Monitoring
Air monitoring can tell you the concentration of air contaminants in areas where employees may be exposed to hazardous substances. Monitoring is required during initial site entry and during clean up.
- Personal sampling/monitoring tests exposures of individual employees by sampling the air in their breathing zones.
- Area sampling/monitoring tests the air for contaminants in specific locations or areas. It is used to estimate exposures affecting groups of employees.
The employer must establish a monitoring policy that applies to conditions at the site.
- Briefly describe what you are monitoring for, the monitoring equipment that you will use, and how often you will monitor.
- Specify the concentrations of airborne contaminants at which you will reevaluate the effectiveness of the site's engineering controls, safe work practices, and PPE.
When and How to Monitor
At initial entry and when an employer suspects hazardous conditions or hazardous atmosphere, monitor the air to identify any condition immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) and hazardous exposure levels.
After the cleanup phase of a hazardous waste operation begins, use personal sampling to monitor employees likely to have the highest exposures to hazardous substances.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Once the cleanup phase of a hazardous waste operation has begun, how should employees with potentially high exposure levels be monitored?
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