Page 4 - HAZWOPR - Refresher Student Manual

Definitions

• Hazardous substance - Any substance to which exposure results or may result in adverse
effects on the health or safety of employees.
o Any substance defined under section 101(14) of CERCLA

o Any biologic agent and other disease causing agent

o Listed by the U.S. DOT (49 CFR 172.101)
o Hazardous waste

• Hazardous Waste - EPA defines hazardous waste as
by-products of society that can pose a substantial or
potential hazard to human health or the environment
when improperly managed. It possesses at least one
of four characteristics (ignitability, reactivity, toxicity,
or corrosiveness), or appears on special EPA lists.
• Hazardous Waste Operations - Any operation
conducted within the scope of the HAZWOPER
standard.

• Hazardous Materials Response (HAZMAT) Team - An organized group of employees,
designated by the employer, who are expected to perform work to handle and control actual or
potential leaks or spills of hazardous substances.

• Emergency Response - A response effort by employees from outside the immediate release
area or by other designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups, local fire departments, etc.)

• Incidental Release - Release of a hazardous substance that does not pose a significant safety
or health hazard to employees in the immediate vicinity or to the worker cleaning it up, nor does
it have the potential to become an emergency.

• Post Emergency Response - That 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.

Safety and Health Program

Employers shall develop and implement a written safety and health program for their employees
involved in hazardous waste operations.

Program shall incorporate:

o Organizational structure o Medical surveillance program

o Comprehensive work plan o Employer’s standard operating procedures
for safety and health
o Site-specific safety and health plan
o Any necessary interface between general
o Safety and health training program program and site-specific program

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