HAZWOPER Program
Site safety plan, decontamination procedures, emergency response, training requirements.
What this document is
This document is a written HAZWOPER program that outlines policies and procedures for safe hazardous waste operations. It establishes site safety plans, decontamination procedures, emergency response protocols, and training requirements to protect workers.
The regulation that requires it
29 CFR 1910.120 requires employers to develop and implement a written safety and health program for hazardous waste operations. The standard covers site characterization, site control, training, medical surveillance, engineering controls, and emergency response. Paragraph (b) specifically mandates a written program that addresses these elements before work begins. California adopts an equivalent standard under Title 8 CCR 5192 that applies to most contractors in the state.
Who needs it
General contractors, remediation contractors, and construction firms that perform hazardous waste site cleanup or emergency response need this program. It applies to trades including equipment operators, laborers, supervisors, and environmental technicians who may contact hazardous substances. The requirement covers work in all states under federal OSHA as well as California employers under Cal/OSHA Title 8 CCR 5192.
What happens without it
OSHA and Cal/OSHA issue citations during inspections of hazardous waste sites when the written program is missing or incomplete. Serious violations typically carry penalties in the range of several thousand dollars while willful violations can reach the maximum allowable under the current OSHA penalty schedule. Multi-employer worksites increase citation risk because general contractors can be held responsible for subcontractor compliance. Repeated violations or incidents without a program can lead to work stoppages and higher insurance costs.
What's included in the generated document
- Site safety and health plan requirements
- Employee training and medical surveillance procedures
- Decontamination and emergency response protocols
- Personal protective equipment selection guidelines
- Recordkeeping and program review procedures
How to implement it at your company
- Talk to Guy first. Describe your operation, trade, and location — Guy draws from 300,000+ verified OSHA and state regulatory citations to build a compliance plan specific to your company. Your answers shape every section of the document you receive. Takes about 10 minutes.
- Review the document and customize sections with your company name, specific job tasks, and site hazards.
- Assign a qualified program administrator and document their training records.
- Deliver required HAZWOPER training to all affected employees and maintain training certificates.
- Distribute the plan to field supervisors and keep copies available on every covered jobsite.
- Review and update the program at least annually or when site conditions change.