OSHA HAZWOPER and Emergency Response Classes for Hazmat Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Findlay, Ohio, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) October 16, 2011 --

The Department of Transportation's 'Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the federal agency charged with keeping track of 'hazmat' accidents. PHMSA reported recently that 2009 saw over 360 “serious incidents”, including 22 hospitalizations and 4 fatalities. But that number is a significant decline from 2008, when the total was nearly 430 incidents of the same classification, and fatalities fell from a 2008 count of 9. Despite the higher number of incidents and greater loss of life in 2008, however, less of those accidents resulted in hospitalization that year than the following: Only 17 people were kept at the hospital from the 2008 hazmat accident list.

There are many possible reasons for declines in the number of workplace hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents, but many point to implementation of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard, commonly known as HAZWOPER, as a primary catalyst. OSHA implemented HAZWOPER in 1990, though the genesis of the standard dates back to an effort to clear hazardous materials from military bases after World War II.

In a nutshell, HAZWOPER standards spell out the requirements that hazardous waste site workers must comply with in order to be employed in or even have access to operations engaged in cleaning up government-controlled waste sites. This includes requirements for response to emergencies such as spills or explosions. Any business that handles, transports or remediates hazardous waste shows safety compliance by meeting the applicable HAZWOPER standards.

Compliance with HAZWOPER standards is accomplished through training that explains the standards, generally accepted means for compliance, and tactics that constitute an effective response to emergencies. The University of Findlay (Ohio) All Hazards Training Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and well-equipped institutions in the country for Emergency Response and HAZWOPER training.

Findlay All Hazards is a national leader in HAZWOPER training, providing a 40-hour HAZWOPER training course and certification, along with other specialized certification training and refresher courses, including the 9 HAZWOPER specializations defined by OSHA. Findlay offers simulations and hazardous spill mockups like overturned tanker trucks or railcars to make their training classes particularly compelling and effective.

For example, at the 'Emergency Response Training Center', students perform emergency response drills, in full PPE, on simulated hazardous waste incident mockups likea leaking railcar or pipe rack, or perhaps an unauthorized waster disposal area.Findlay also maintains a state-of-the-art indoor facility with setups for teaching decontamination procedures, confined space entry and rescue and personal protective equipment donning and use.

As popular as these locations are, however, many Findlay All Hazards clients choose to work with the nearly 25-year old training institution because of the mobility of Findlay’s training team. HAZWOPER courses can be conducted at a customer’s location, with exercises that range from tabletop demonstrations to full-scale drills.

The importance of having the appropriate Emergency Response and HAZWOPER training certificates cannot be overstated. It's not just essential to maintaining safety when it comes to hazardous materials activities - without it you don't even get on site to get the job started. Findlay All Hazards HAZWOPER training offerings are a valuable resource that help promote safety in this complex, important industry.

More information can be found online at http://emergency-response-hazwoper-training.findlay.edu

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