HAZWOPER Buddy System

The buddy system is a way of organizing employees into groups. Within these groups, each person observes another person in the group.

A buddy should be capable of performing the following tasks:

• Assisting his or her partner if that partner is in need
• Identifying if his or her partner is suffering from chemical or heat exposure
• Checking his or her partner's protective clothing
• Notifying supervisors or others in case of an emergency

If an emergency occurs, the buddy system allows for rapid assistance to employees in need. However, because an emergency can affect both buddies on a team, the buddy system does not always guarantee safety. For this reason, the buddy system works in conjunction with workers or teams outside of the Exclusion Zone (that is, the work area) and in the Support Zone (where supportive staff remain, out of harm's way, to assist those in need).

To learn more about HAZWOPER visit our HAZWOPER 40 Hour Online Training web page.