HAZWOPER 40

HAZWOPER 40 Health Hazards

MSDSs include descriptions of the health hazards posed by hazardous chemicals, including any medical conditions that are generally recognized as being aggravated by chemical exposure, along with the signs and symptoms of exposure.

Medical conditions

Acute health effects, such as burns or eye irritation, appear right after exposure. Chronic effects due to HAZWOPER 40 work, such as cancer or some skin conditions can result from exposure in the past or repeated exposure over time. Not all exposure symptoms show up right away. For that reason, exercising caution and using the appropriate PPE become even more important.

MSDSs may also contain information describing how the chemical may make existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or asthma, worse and how specific organs of the body may be affected. The symptoms of exposure vary almost as much as the types of substances with which an individual may come into contact. Not all exposure symptoms show up right away. For that reason, exercising caution and using the appropriate PPE become even more important.

Some of the more common symptoms of exposure include

Nausea

Vomiting

Dizziness

Rashes

Respiratory distress

Eye irritation

Disorientation

Double vision

Loss of consciousness

Headache

For a more in-depth review of how HAZWOPER 40 workers can become exposed to hazardous substances, see Hazardous Waste: Routes of Exposure.

General Consideration. The final standard, 29 CFR 1910.120, applies to all operations that require, or have the potential to require, emergency response operations involving exposure to hazardous substances.

HAZWOPER's provisions require facilities to consider both overall performance and specific elements when complying with the standard. HAZWOPER is referred to as a performance-oriented standard, which allows employers the flexibility to develop a safety and health program suitable for their particular facility. The standard offers work practice guidelines to protect employees from potential risks, but also has specific requirements. In evaluating compliance with 29 CFR 1910.120, Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHO's) shall consider both the specific requirements and whether the intent of the standard has been met.

The most important aspect of HAZWOPER 40 paragraph (q) is planning for emergencies through the development of an emergency response plan and/or an emergency action plan.

When reviewing an emergency response plan, the CSHO must evaluate the employer's ability to contain, control, and cleanup hazardous substance(s) if an emergency were to occur.

If a facility does not have an emergency response plan or an emergency action plan, the employer must prove that the chemicals and the quantities used in the facility will not develop into an emergency incident if released in a (reasonably predictable) worse-case scenario. In other words, if there is a potential for an emergency, the employer must plan for it, and if there is no potential then the employer does not fall within the scope of HAZWOPER. (See Appendix E of this instruction for guidance on releases that require an emergency response.) Although HAZWOPER 40 may not apply, incidental chemical releases are still covered by the Hazard Communication standard, 1910.1200 and 1926.59. Check what, if any, written procedures exist in the employer's written hazard communication program for handling incidental releases.

Paragraph (q) of HAZWOPER lists seven emergency responder categories, which include five principal training levels (first responder awareness level, first responder operations level, hazardous materials technician, hazardous materials specialists, and on-scene incident commander), skilled support personnel, and specialist employees. Employees responding to emergencies at different levels in the command structure are required by OSHA to have specific training that is intended to ensure that emergency responders are properly trained and equipped to perform their assigned tasks.

OSHA Instruction CPL 2.94, "OSHA Responses to Significant Events of Potentially Catastrophic Consequences," offers guidance and procedures that will apply to many inspections covered under this instruction. In order to avoid duplication, the significant sections of CPL 2.94 have not been reprinted in this instruction. Prior to inspection of any emergency response, or in a routine review of the emergency response provisions of HAZWOPER, compliance staff are advised to review both this instruction and CPL 2.94 to ensure the safety and health of CSHO's and employees and to provide consistent and uniform application of OSHA policy.

Other Links of Interest