There are very few situations that can be more hazardous to a worker on a hazardous waste site than working from a site safety plan developed on the basis of a faulty site characterization survey. One example would be the inability to recognize the physical signs that indicate the presence of containers holding shock sensitive, reactive and/or radioactive materials. It's only through accurate identification of these materials, that an effective safety and health plan can be developed to minimize the negative impact sure to arise from the improper handling of these products.

This program has been designed in the most practical way possible to provide our students with the ability to recognize the physical signs associated with, and exhibited by, these materials. These physical signs include: placards, labels, container types, effervescence, fuming, etc. The ability to understand the potential risks in handling these materials (fire, explosion, other violent reactions), and knowledge of the techniques necessary to handle these types of materials safely are key things that students will learn.

Possible hazardous waste site scenarios make it necessary for workers to recognize and prevent accidental mixing of incompatible chemicals/materials. In addition, the waste site worker must be able to recognize physical signs of mixed materials/chemicals that are already reacting.

These are intense hands-on courses designed to meet the intent of 40 CFR (EPA), part 264.16 (RCRA) and 29 CFR 1910.120 (OSHA). These courses cover the following topics:

• Personal Protective Equipment
  
  
• Medical Surveillance
  
  
• Decontamination
  
  
• Emergency Response Plan
  
  
• Confined Space Entry
  
  
• Spill Control
  
  
• Safe handling of drum containers (i.e., leak containment, sampling and transferring)
  
  
• Hazard and risk analysis (related to site restoration activities)
  
  
• Direct and side effects of chemical exposure to unprotected or under-protected workers (including the effects of heat induced stress on the body)
  
  
• Uses / limitations of available monitoring equipment (including, but not limited to a combustible gas detector, oxygen analyzer, pH paper and strips, colorimetric tubes, and radiation detection equipment.