HAZWOPER: Awareness Level
29 CFR 1910.120(q)
Headline Stories
◼ Ammonia Evacuates Industrial Site
◼ Acid Spill Sends Workers to Hospital
◼ Fuel Spill Contaminate River
◼ Natural Gas Pipeline Ruptures
HAZWOPER Goals
◼ HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
◼ Awareness Level response
◼ Quiz
What Is HAZWOPER?
◼ Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response Required for facilities
storing and using hazardous chemicals
◼ Defines emergency
response procedures
HAZWOPER Basics
◼ Even a small spill can be dangerous
◼ Fires, explosions, and contamination can result
◼ Only trained workers clean spills
◼ Everyone must understand potential
spill hazards and their role in an emergency
Spill Prevention
◼ Understand chemical hazards
◼ Follow safe storage and handling procedures
◼ Read and follow the instructions on labels and
material safety data sheets
◼ Don’t use chemicals in unlabeled containers
Spill Prevention (cont.)
◼ Inspect chemical
containers for damage
or leaks
◼ Don’t handle or open
chemical containers
without PPE
◼ Don’t leave
containers open
◼ Report potential hazards
to your supervisor
Emergency Response Plan
◼ Pre-emergency planning and training
◼ Emergency recognition
◼ Evacuation procedures
◼ Emergency alerting and response
◼ PPE and emergency equipment
◼ Decontamination and medical treatment
Levels of Training
◼ First responder: awareness level
◼ First responder: operations level
◼ Hazardous materials technician
◼ Hazardous materials specialist
◼ Incident commander
Hazardous Substance?
◼ Includes pure
or mixed
chemicals
and hazardous
wastes
◼ Potential health
hazards
◼ Could damage
the environment
Recognize Chemical Substances
◼ Danger, caution, warning signs
◼ NFPA or HMIS labels
◼ DOT placards
Types of Chemicals
◼ Flammable or explosive
◼ Reactive
◼ Corrosive
◼ Toxic
Dangers of a Release
◼ Flammable liquids or gases
◼ Toxic cloud
◼ Reaction with nearby chemicals
◼ Irritants
Chemical Exposure
◼ Skin or eye contact
◼ Inhalation
◼ Swallowing
◼ Avoid contact and evacuate immediately
HAZWOPER Goals
◼ HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
◼ Awareness level response
◼ Quiz
Awareness Level Role
◼ Recognize a chemical release
◼ Determine chemical’s identity
◼ Self-protection and protection of others
◼ Know how to get assistance
◼ Secure the area
Recognizing a Chemical Release
◼ Dripping or pool of liquid
◼ Unusual smell
◼ Unusual sound
◼ Loss of pressure or flow
Non-Hazardous Spills
◼ Incidental or small
◼ Handled by the employees in immediate area
◼ Get help if you’re unsure
Identifying the Chemical
◼ Where is it coming from?
◼ Is the container labeled?
◼ Is it a liquid, gas, or solid?
◼ What does it smell like?
◼ What color is it?
Protect Yourself and Others
◼ Report the release to others in the immediate area
◼ Retreat to a safe distance, place of refuge, or
evacuation assembly area
Reporting the Spill
◼ Contact the emergency response coordinator
◼ Provide information:
–Location of release
–Identity and quantity
of spilled material
–Evacuation status
◼ Ask for instructions
Secure the Area
◼ Keep people a safe distance from the spill
◼ Use caution tape, rope, cones, etc.
◼ Stand guard of the controlled area
Response Personnel
◼ Analyze the incident
◼ Use proper PPE and equipment
◼ Contain the spill
◼ Stop the leak
◼ Clean up the spill
◼ Decontaminate
◼ Report the incident
HAZWOPER Goals
◼ HAZWOPER and hazardous substances
◼ Awareness Level response
◼ Quiz
Summary
◼ HAZWOPER is for facilities storing
or using hazardous chemicals
◼ Practice spill prevention techniques
◼ Recognize the chemicals used at your
facility and know their hazards
◼ Awareness Level personnel must:
–Recognize a spill or release
–Know how to initiate a response
Quiz
1. Describe one way to recognize a chemical release at your
facility:______________________________________.
2. The most likely chemical exposure during
a release is by inhalation. True or False
3. How do you report the spill or release to employees in
the immediate area? ____________________________.
4. Information provided to the emergency response
coordinator includes_ ___________________________.
5. Awareness Level personnel are trained to
contain or control a spill. True or False
Quiz (cont.)
6. Where is the evacuation assembly area?
____________________________________________.
7. If the released substance is flammable,
ignition sources should be removed. True or False
8. The best way to identify a hazardous chemical is by
____________________________________________.
9. Spill prevention can be achieved through
proper storage and handling. True or False
10. Anyone can clean up small spills as long
as he or she is wearing gloves. True or False
Quiz Answers
1. Dripping or pool of liquid, unusual smell or sound,
drop in pressure or volume
2. True
3. Yell or signal an alarm.
4. Location of release, identity and quantity of spill, or
evacuation status.
5. False. Operations Level (one level above Awareness
Level) personnel are trained to control and contain a spill
in a defensive manner.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. The evacuation assembly area is specific to each facility.
7. True. Remove ignition sources by turning off equipment,
forklifts, etc.
8. Identify a hazardous chemical by looking at its labels,
signs, or placards.
9. True. Following proper storage and handling procedures
definitely helps prevent spills.
10. False. Small spills of hazardous chemicals can be very
dangerous. If not trained, or unsure, about a small
spill—call for help.
