HAZWOPER Training Courses is now Accessible on Mobile



National Environmental Trainers, the industry leader in online environmental health and safety training (EHS) declare the overview of their newest product, the mobile accessible HAZWOPER training courses. Now, anyone that needs to take HAZWOPER training (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) can access these courses through mobile devices. National Environmental Trainers is the only provider of mobile OSHA services.

“We are very happy to be able to make available important Hazwoper training courses on mobile devices,” said Clay Bednarz, founder and owner of National Environmental Trainers. “We were the first company to acquaint with the first online Hazwoper courses back in 1996 and now we are breaking ground when it comes to proposing our product services on mobile devices.”

“We discern that the inclination toward mobile is on the rise and will continue to do so. Making our training courses suitably accessible on any mobile device was important in delivering our product services in a way that finest suits to our clients,” noted Bednarz. Product improvement is second nature to Bednarz and his team at National Environmental Trainers. In 2004 they distinguished hands-on training by introducing the HAZWOPER Hands-on Simulator®. The latest mobile accessible HAZWOPER training courses include the 8, 24, and 40 hour sessions and feature new content, spectacular graphics and more interactivity.

Full details at http://www.pr.com/press-release/633592

Another Bleach Spills of 2,000 Gallons in El Cajon




EL CAJON, Calif. — A harmful materials spill was reported Monday at an El Cajon pool supply company.


Around 5:30 a.m., workers at Abcana Industries revealed that a 4,000- gallon storage tank filled with bleach had been drained to half its volume, Heartland Fire and Rescue spokesman Sonny Saghera said. The 2,000 gallons of bleach went into a secondary containment area that also had a breech, and the chemical afterwards flowed into the storm drain and the company’s parking lot at 545 W. Bradley Ave., Saghera said. 


Heartland Fire and Rescue personnel were joined by San Diego County and city hazmat or hazwoper crews conducted at the scene around 7:20 a.m. to clean up the spill, which was restricted to people, Saghera said. An environmental crew was on scene to finish cleaning up the hazardous pool chemical, Saghera said. Some of the bleach did spill into the storm drain, although they don’t know how much. 


Full story at http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/07/06/2000-gallons-of-bleach-spill-into-storm-drain/

The costs reaches $62 million for California Oil Spill Cleanup


GOLETA, Calif. (AP) — The cleaning up cost of the oil spill that polluted beaches last May on California coast has grown to $62 million so far, the pipeline company said. The Costs are running at $3 million a day, and there is no schedule for when the cleanup will be completed, Plains All American Pipeline's on-scene coordinator, Patrick Hodgins, told The Associated Press. 
 
The company is responsibility for footing the bill after a pipeline break near Santa Barbara and enforced the closure of two state beaches and urged a fishing ban in the area. Hodgins said the pipeline operator is not concentrated on the money. "The main concern here is to get it cleaned up as quickly as possible," he said. About 76 percent of 97 miles of coastline — mostly sandy beaches — have been cleared of oil. Crews are using putty knives and other tools to scrape oil off rocks and cobble beaches — a labor-intensive process that's dictated by tidal conditions.

"The beaches are fairly clean," said Coast Guard Capt. Jennifer Williams, one of two federal response coordinators. "We're making progress on the shoreline cleanup." The May 19 oil spill occurred after an onshore pipeline operated by Texas-based Plains All American ruptured, leaking up to 101,000 gallons of crude.

Full story at http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jun/10/apnewsbreak-california-oil-spill-cleanup-costs-69/

Related stories:
http://www.independent.com/news/2015/jun/12/refugio-oil-spill-cleanup-costs-top-64-million/
http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/06/24/52656/santa-barbara-oil-spill-pipeline-firm-couldn-t-rea/
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/20/california-oil-spill-cleanup-continues-by-hand-shovels-brushes
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2015/06/17/Spill-cleanup-crews-decline-in-California/9521434542863/
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/28/california-oil-spill-expanded-production-venoco http://www.adn.com/event/20150309/care-and-rehabilitation-oiled-sea-otters

Definition of Hazardous Waste



"According to EPA: Hazardous waste is waste that is potentially harmful or dangerous to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be the thrown away commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of manufacturing processes." From http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard

The comprehensive definition of hazardous waste:

It is a solid, liquid or solid substance identified in 40 CFR 261 that is a "Characteristic Waste" with one or more of the following descriptions:

Flammable (liquid with a flashpoint less than 141oF, a spontaneously combustible solid, an ignitable compressed gas or an oxidizer), or;

Caustic (an aqueous solution with a pH below 2.0 or above 12.5) a liquid which corrodes steel at a rate of 0.25 inches per year, or;

Reactive (an unstable material, reacts with water, explosive, generates toxic gas or a cyanide or sulfide bearing waste), or;

Toxic (RCRA metals such as chromium, lead, silver, mercury, cadmium; or pesticides, organic solvents, chlorinated solvents); and

Is thrown away, has served its intended use or is a manufacturing by-product, and; That is not inland sewage, a household waste or a sample collected for testing.

The term hazardous waste is also defined under RCRA as solids, liquids, and gases that show certain characteristics or are specifically listed in the rules. Hazardous waste is controlled under a “cradle to grave” concept, meaning that the waste is tracked via written records from the time it becomes a waste, and that ownership remains with the generator forever. Therefore, the best method to reduce the risk of future remediation costs is to decrease the amount of hazardous waste being generated. It is important to consider the amounts and types of wastes that will be generated when a project is in the proposal stage in order to guarantee that a disposal method exists that is both legal and affordable—and to minimize the amount of waste generated.

Full story at http://www.ccri.edu/safety/hazard_waste_mgmt_training.html


Related Articles/Links:
https://esd.uga.edu/hazardous-materials
http://www.wecomply.com/ethics-training/243721-handling-hazardous-materials-compliance-training-courses-classes
http://www.mtu.edu/oshs/safety-programs/required/waste-disposal/
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/

The BoatUS Foundation offers Free Online Fuel Spill Training




ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As the summer boating season is in progress, harbors, boat yards and clubs are now on operation. These seasonal employees, sometimes high school, college students or part-timers are in charge for refueling hundreds of boats – but the question is? Do they have the training to avoid a fuel spill? With a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the BoatUS Foundation now provide these seasonal employees a serious learning tool, “Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff,” at BoatUS.org/spill-prevention. “It’s all about minimizing risk,” said BoatUS Foundation Vice President Susan Shingledecker, “And giving seasonal fuel dock staff the ability to protect your marina and the environment.”

The free online course, which covers spill prevention, planning and response, offers videos, interactive exercises and interviews with spill responders, marina owners and managers, and can be taken at anytime. Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff does not provide HAZWOPER certification but tackles the simple ways any seasonal employee can help prevent spills and safely reply should a spill happen as well as the simple steps they can take to prevent a spill at your marina. While the course is designed for new marina staff, included throughout are management tips to provide additional information to more senior staff.


Full story at http://www.boatingindustry.com/news/2015/06/04/boatus-offers-free-online-fuel-spill-training/

The Oil Spill in Refugio, a Crime Scene?



The Crew Organizes to Excavate Pipeline as Investigation Continues

As a crew prepared to excavate the pipe that had spilled hundreds of containers of oil into the Pacific, Santa Barbara’s District Attorney Joyce Dudley was on the spot Monday, of a mind to deliberate it a “potential crime scene.” Her office has act against multiple environment-related cases in the past, she said, and could probably take on the Refugio spill, though she could not comment on the facts. She’ll be meeting with federal prosecutors this week to talk over the possibilities.


The area is being secured by Sheriff’s deputies for both the health and safety of the public, she explained and also to avoid impacting any evidence.


The north side of Refugio is just one area under isolation from the public. The beaches at Refugio and El Capitan are closed through June 4, and Coal Oil Point remains off limits. The fishing zones from Canada de Alegria to Coal Oil Point remain closed, states the Refugio oil spill’s Unified Command. A safety zone around the fisheries has also been made from west of Gaviota State Beach to west of Coal Oil Point. Aircraft, including drones, have in the same way been limited from a five-mile radius around the Refugio State Beach area to 1,000 feet ASL.


At the moment, a HAZWOPER (pronounced “haz-whopper”), or Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard training is planned for a couple days this week, followed by beach cleanups in order to show how to safely handle tars and oils, said a CERT volunteer at the Joint Information Center. The Unified Command press release express thanks to the community for its commitment and warned that volunteer opportunities would vary with the situation.

Full story at Refugio Oil Spill a Crime Scene?

Related article post
http://hazwoper-training-online.blogspot.com/2015/05/experts-response-on-refugio-oil-spill.html

Expert's Response on Refugio Oil Spill Event


 
Igor Mezic was at a conference in Snowbird, Utah, when he got information that a ripped oil pipeline had sent tens of thousands of gallons of crude pouring into the ocean just north of Refugio State Beach.

But distance did not discourage the UC Santa Barbara professor of mechanical engineering who with previous project scientist Sophie Loire, undergraduate Patrick Clary and several of his students was attending the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics’ Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems. They instantly began gathering data and producing hyper graphs that, based on calculations of velocity streams, allowed them to predict in what directions the oil might spread.

During that time, when David Valentine, a professor of earth science at UCSB and an expert on the behavior of oil and methane in the ocean, heard the news, he and two of his students hastily made their way up the coast. They began gathering oil samples from areas up and down the beach and in the ocean.

Mezic and Valentine are two in a large group of UCSB scientists, researchers and engineers who have responded to the oil spill by bringing together their substantial expertise. Working often in team work with one another, they are collecting and providing numerous data and observations to agencies such as the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, which is at work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s response team. Their research is probable to help inform ongoing response and cleanup efforts.

Further, several researchers and graduate students are being trained in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards in order to support the ongoing cleanup efforts.

More news and information at Expert Response | The UCSB Current

HAZWOPER Training Career Advantage


Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training is way for industrial workers to protect a steady and high-paying profession as a Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) removal specialists. The natural results of manufacturing and industrial energy making conventionally produce HAZMAT. Removal specialists are employed all over the private, commercial and governmental job markets to help in the safe monitoring, packaging and disposal of HAZMAT. While the idea of working with HAZMAT may seem excessively dangerous to many, the HAZWOPER training organizes individuals to work safely in all kinds of dangerous environments while managing hazardous products. HAZMAT removal specialists are highly-sought-after professionals with a variation of employment opportunities.

To the average person, the thought of dealing with toxic or volatile substances may seem more dangerous than interesting. On the other hand, through HAZWOPER training, one learns that all chemicals and products can be made safe and efficiently handled through prescribed methods and procedures. A HAZMAT removal specialist is hired to upkeep an industry's typical procedures and ensure the safe management of waste materials. The skill set established by these individuals through their levels of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training associated with HAZWOPER typically makes them immune to economic fluctuations in market hiring. Regardless of the economy, manufacturers and industries cannot pay for to make cut-backs in their HAZMAT departments. For this reason, many graduates of HAZWOPER enjoy a long term career position within a single organization. 

Detailed information at HAZWOPER Training Career Advantage Through

Related Articles:
HAZWOPER Training and Improving Your Career Prospects
Online Hazwoper Training

OSHA Training Definition and Importance


Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is accountable for overseeing and imposing the federal OSH Act of 1970. OSHA regulations established out uniform national standards for workplace safety and health practices throughout the country. There are rules for risk assessments, employee safety and health, hazard communication, record keeping, OSHA inspections, employee rights, penalties, and most frequent OSHA violations.


Some states have their own federally permitted occupational protection and health regulatory programs; these are known as “state-plan” states. Regulations in state-plan states must be at least as strict as federal OSHA regulations, but states may adopt stricter regulations.

What does OSHA do?
OSHA implement the following policies to aid employers and employees diminish injuries, illnesses, and deaths on the job:
    Implementation – making sure OSHA Regulations are followed
    Aid – outreach & training to employers and employees
    Team work – partnerships and alliances through voluntary programs

OSHA encourages workplace care and health by:

Imposing new (or better) safety and health management systems.
Carrying out work-site inspections. Companies failing to OSHA Regulations may be quoted and/or    fined.
Helping cooperative programs together with Voluntary Protection Programs, OSHA Strategic Partnerships, and other industry Alliances.
Creating specific rights and responsibilities of employees and employers.
Associate innovation in dealing with workplace hazards.
Establishing record-keeping and reporting requirements for employers.
Developing training programs for occupational safety and health personnel.
Partnering with states that operate their own occupational safety and health programs.
Supporting the OSHA Consultation Program.


Read All About OSHA at http://www.allaboutosha.com/what-is-osha



HAZWOPER, an Employee’s requirement when visiting Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Operation mandated by the Government

24 Hour Initial HAZWOPER Training
 Image via Teksafety

Usually, HAZWOPER 24-hour is really required for employees visiting an Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Operation mandated by the Government.

This course covers comprehensive issues relating to the hazard acknowledgement at working sites. OSHA developed the HAZWOPER course program to safeguard the workers working at hazardous sites and developed broad regulations to guarantee their health and safety. This program, while recognizing different types of hazards, also recommends possible precautions and protective measures to decrease or remove hazards at the work place.

Powered Industrial Trucks and Forklifts - Forklift operators transfer heavy materials from one point to another at a job site. They work in a warehouse transferring pallets of material, or they might have a job moving building supplies on a construction site. In some occurrences, the forklift operator may drive other power-driven industrial trucks, such as a scissor lift truck. This entry-level position gives the employee the expertise to move into other, higher-paid jobs as a material-moving machine operator.

Basic Rigging and Rigging Equipment - This 1-day course offers participants with a information about Basic Rigging Safety. Classroom theory provides 5 hours of inclusive instruction on assessing a load and attaching suitable rigging equipment, and the principles of tag line use and signaling.

 

Online Hazwoper Training: Pros and Cons


Workers have been taking Hazwoper training over the internet for many years and yet various employers don't recognize such option is available. Online courses offer lots of advantages over an old-styled classroom training and can lead to quicker and more successful Hazwoper training certification.

Training Online Is Inexpensive
As businesses struggle in today's economy they are looking for ways to cut corners and run leaner until the financial situation progresses. However, Hazwoper training is not just a program that can be cut due to governmental regulations. In addition to the serious factor of keeping the workers safe, the realistic side is that Hazwoper is authorized by law and employers can't decide to just abandon it.

Placing your employees through online training means that they incur no travel expenses. Airfare, rental car fees and hotel rates are increasing rapidly and travel is a massive drain on company budgets, especially for small businesses. If your employees don't have to have to travel, the total cost of the course can be cut by 50% or more.

Learn On a Flexible Schedule
It is uncommon that an employee can just stop working for a week to attend a 40-hour Hazwoper course and the interruption to the workflow is important. On top of that most workers are balancing home and family lives and this makes the job even more difficult. Online training makes it easier to balance work, family and training.

Most online Hazwoper training is divided into independent modules. Workers can take individual modules as their schedules license. They can take the courses both at work and at home, fitting in a few modules during the day and maybe undertaking another one or two in the evening. It is much easier to find several small periods of time than one big one.

Students Work Their Own Pace
The major problem with any classroom course is that all of the students don't all have the same background, skill set, or ability to learn. Instructors must teach at a pace that will fit most of the class but it is unavoidable that some students will be left out. Students who find the pace too slow will get uninterested and show poor remembering. If the pace is too fast, your workers get lost rapidly and may learn very slight.

Hazwoper regulations involve that students in 8, 24, or 40 hr Hazwoper courses spend the indicated amount of time studying. The flexibility of online Hazwoper training allows students to devote more time on difficult modules and less time on subjects they have understanding with. This leads to more well-organized learning and better performance on the tests.

Online training has become even more popular in many areas as internet technology has permitted the courses to become more than just an online book. Online Hazwoper training now integrates everything from video clips to hazard simulators and has become an easy and inexpensive way to provide this OSHA-mandated training to workers.

Original Article Source from http://EzineArticles.com/1734064

Importance of HAZWOPER Training



It is mandatory by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) that employees that work with uncontrolled hazardous wastes must strictly attend a 24 hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Training course. Any and all workers who have not yet attended the course will not be permitted into job sites with these hazardous chemicals. On top of the course, workers also must have one day of supervised field knowledge. These are not only all requirements by OSHA, but are practices that will help you well protect yourself and your coworkers from hazardous materials you may meet while in the workplace. Sometimes, workers look beyond the safety features of training courses and only see them as an inconvenient prerequisite they must fulfill in order to work.

There are several cases where employees will have to deal with potentially dangerous chemicals and substances while working. Common of these substances are entirely airborne so it is difficult to detect them without actually testing the air. If any employees are exposed to these harmful poisons in the air, they can suffer substantial damage to their health; some of it may even be permanent or life threatening. A 24 hour HAZWOPER training course is intended to train employees on how to recognize these chemicals, how to handle them, and how to avoid any possible accidents or infection from happening. They will be taught how to properly use a respirator for protection against chemicals along with several other methods of protection.

Detailed information at www.safetypartnersltd.com/hazwoper-training-why-its-important/