hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and PPE to be
used.
4. The details of the Hazard Communication Program developed by the employer, including
an explanation of the labeling system and the MSDS, and how the employees can obtain and use
the appropriate hazard information.
C. Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response.
1. Title 29 CFR, section 1910.120, requires that employers develop and implement a written
safety and health program. As part of this program, employers are required to inform and train
employees. Training must make workers aware of the potential hazards they may encounter and
provide the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work with minimal risk to their
safety and health. Training must also inform workers of the procedures to follow in case of an
emergency. The standard covers three primary groups of workers:
a. Employees engaged in mandatory or voluntary clean-ups at uncontrolled hazardous waste
sites, including corrective actions at Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities.
b. Employees engaged in routine and emergency hazardous waste operations at TSD facilities
regulated under RCRA.
c. Employees engaged in emergency response operations for releases of, or substantial threats
of releases of, hazardous substances without regard to location.
2. Training must be completed before an employee is permitted to take part in an actual
emergency operation or incident. Only those employees who have been appropriately trained
may perform hazardous waste operations or emergency response
3. Training areas covered on 29 CFR 1910.120 are very detailed covering such areas as what
the training should include, initial training, management and supervisor training, trainer
qualifications, certification required, emergency response requirements, refresher training, and
equivalent training. DoD activities will as a minimum comply with the requirements of this
section. Service/Agency training requirements may be more stringent and will be followed as
directed by policy.
4. Specific attention is directed to the training requirement for employees engaged in
emergency response operations for releases of, or substantial threats of releases of, hazardous
substances without regard to location. Training shall be based on the duties and function to be
performed by each responder of an emergency response organization. Employees who
participate, or are expected to participate, in emergency response, shall be given training in
accordance with requirements in 29 CFR 1910.120 under one of the following levels:
a. First Responder, awareness level
b. First Responder, operation level
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