Product Number: HWM17
List Price: $295.00
Length of Video(in Minutes): 45
Release Date: December 11th, 2006
Publisher: Black Mountain Safety & Health, Inc.
Description: Black Mountain Safety & Health's new video "Hazardous Waste Management for Generators" assists facilities in complying with the government requirements for the management and disposal of hazardous waste. This comprehensive program focuses on EPA RCRA regulations and explains:
- How to identify hazardous waste according to the government standards
- How to store and dispose of hazardous waste
- The origin and development of the federal laws regulating hazarous waste
- What hazardous waste generators need to do in order to comply with federal law
Please note: In 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to regulate the handling of hazardous waste "from cradle to grave". Since then other regulations have followed, including OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.120, also known as HAZWOPER. OSHA feels that it is so important for employees to know how to recognize these potentially dangerous substances (as well as how to handle and dispose of them properly) they have mandated that anyone working with these substances receive comprehensive training in this area. As part of these regulations, there are varying requirements for
employee training, depending on an employee's specific level of
involvement with hazardous materials.
Brief Outline of Hazardous Waste Management for Generators
- There
are two government agencies that regulate the generation, transportation and
disposal of hazardous waste. These two
organizations are the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of
Transportation.
- The federal regulations governing hazardous waste are
found in Title 40, starting with part 260 (EPA) and in Title 49, starting with
part 100 (Dept of Transportation).
- Both small
quantity and large quantity generators must apply for an EPA identification
number using EPA form 8700-12.
- The training requirements of 49 CFR 172.704 are
mandatory for individuals involved in the shipping of hazardous materials and
hazardous waste.
- Table
171.101 in Title 49 is used to determine packaging requirements and other
requirements in the shipping of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
- Federal
requirements for large quantity generators of hazardous waste are different
from the requirements for small quantity generators. Large quantity generators are those who
generate more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste or more than 1 kilogram
of acutely hazardous waste in a period of one month.
- Manifesting
and labeling of waste prior to shipping is required for both large and small
quantity generators.
- The
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (pronounced “Rick Ra”) of 1976 as
amended, is the nation’s basic law governing the management of hazardous waste.
The Environmental Protection Agency administers RCRA and other environmental
laws under the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 40.
- The major
objectives of the RCRA laws are to (1) Establish a national hazardous waste
policy. (2) Establish liability for generators of hazardous waste. and (3)
Proper management of hazardous waste from the “cradle” to the “grave”.
- The
various terms related to hazardous wastes are quite precisely defined. For example, a hazardous waste is defined as
a solid, liquid or gas or any combination of these, all of which may pose
potential harm or damage to humans or the environment.
- For the
purposes of the law under RCRA, a solid waste can also include liquids as well
as gases. Solid waste and hazardous
waste are defined and regulated quite differently.
- Whether or
not a waste is considered a hazardous waste and therefore subject to RCRA
subtitle C regulations can be determined by using the decision chart provided
in the regulations and in this video.
- Some
hazardous wastes are defined as hazardous because they are listed by chemical
name in 40 CFR 261.10 and have an EPA Hazardous Waste Identification
Number. Other wastes are considered
hazardous due to the waste being ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic. To determine if the waste fits any of these
characteristics, the characteristic must be measurable by standard test methods
which can be performed by commercial chemical laboratories.
- The RCRA gives standards for classifying waste
as ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic.
- There are
advantages and disadvantages of using the federal listings for identification
of hazardous waste. One advantage is
that the listings make the hazardous waste identification process easy for
industrial handlers. A disadvantage is
that there is a lack of flexibility. The
listing for a waste stream does not consider the potential variations in waste
composition. Thus, the listings can
unnecessarily regulate some wastes that do not pose a significant health
threat.
- The four
hazardous waste lists are known as the “F List”, “K List”, “P List” and the “U List”. Each of these lists is devoted to particular
sources of hazardous waste.
- Storage – All waste drums for both regulated
and non-regulated waste should be stored, packaged and/or shipped in United
Nations certified drums or containers.
- The three agencies governing the use of
drums and containers are the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency and The Department of Transportation.
- All containers must be properly
labeled and marked.
- Both conditionally exempt small quantity
generators and small quantity generators may store up to 55 gallons of hazardous
waste in what is known as satellite accumulation areas.
- Once the satellite area
accumulates 55 gallons, the waste must be relocated in a centralized hazardous waste accumulation
area within 3 days. Large quantity generators are not permitted to have or
maintain satellite accumulation areas. Large quantity generators have only 90 days to
ship their hazardous waste off-site once it is generated.
- The construction of a hazardous
waste accumulation facility must meet certain EPA requirements including, among other
things, a sloping floor for containment of drainage, security measures, postings, emergency
shower, eye wash and other safety measures.
- Certain types of waste are
non-regulated because they are not on the EPA list and do not have the characteristics of
hazardous waste as detailed in Title 40. Examples of non-regulated waste include broken
glass, oil rags, etc.
- Universal wastes are wastes such as rechargeable batteries, fluorescent lamps, TV and monitor picture tubes, mercury containing thermostats and certain pesticides. Universal wastes can be disposed of more easily than hazardous wastes but individual states may modify the rules, so it is important to with your state for the exact regulations
- Once PCBs are declared hazardous waste, they must be destroyed within one year.
- Biohazardous wastes include a wide variety of wastes generated by medical facilities. This type of waste is normally collected and disposed of by commercial facilities located in large cities. This type of waste is normally reduced in volume and sterilized by special equipment and procedures.
- Training requirements for hazardous waste management, for generators, are outlined in 40 CFR 265.16. Other training requirements, mandated by the Department of transportation, apply to each person who performs functions related to the transportation of hazardous waste.
- The terms “hazmat employee” and “hazmat employer” are defined in 49 CFR 171.8. Each hazmat employee must be initially trained and periodically retrained at least every three years in three areas: general awareness and familiarization, function specific and safety. Detailed records of training must be kept.
- Personnel involved in hazardous waste management must receive OSHA’s HAZWOPER training detailed in 29 CFR 1910.120 parenthesis little (c)
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