HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. It is a set of practices, procedures and regulations developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The HAZWOPER standard was designed to protect workers who are at risk of coming into contact with various dangerous substances. The federal government created these protective regulations after the 1978 Love Canal disaster.

The regulations specify five types of operations which are legally required to follow the HAZWOPER standard. These include: operations required by state or federal authorities and located at sites with known or potential hazardous materials, operations involving areas specified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), voluntary operations undertaken to clean up areas recognized to contain uncontrolled hazardous waste, operations involving treatment, storage and disposal facilities which come under the jurisdiction of the RCRA, and any emergency operations which are likely to involve exposure to dangerous materials.

The HAZWOPER standard applies to more than just governmental employees who specialize in dealing with environmental disasters. It is also relevant for some types of manufacturing facilities and for physicians, nurses and doctors who work in hospitals where they may come into contact with toxic contaminants. Even janitorial and maintenance staff who work at certain facilities may fall under the requirement for this type of protective training.

OSHA has created multiple levels of training, focusing on the varying levels of potential exposure and responsibility of different employees. The most common level of training involves a 40-hour HAZWOPER course, which is followed by three days of fieldwork under the supervision of an experienced trainer. Once this level of training has been completed, the person must receive eight hours of refresher training per year to remain in compliance with the standard. This refresher training may be conducted via computer, as long as there is some in-person supplementation.

Those who manage or supervise other workers in some capacity are required to do all of the above, plus an additional initial eight-hour training focused on their specific requirements and responsibilities. Workers who have less direct risk of exposure but will be performing labor at sites with hazardous wastes are required to attend a 24-hour course. This course is followed by one day of supervised field experience. This level of certification also requires an annual eight-hour refresher course.

All of these courses include information on how to identify various forms of hazardous wastes, as well as the specific dangers of different substances. HAZWOPER training also provides employees with specific precautions and procedures designed to lessen the risks of exposure to and release of dangerous materials.