Written Safety & Health Program

While a written hazard communication program is a requirement of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.120(b)(1)(i) also requires employers to "develop and implement a written safety and health program for their employees involved in hazardous waste operations. The program shall be designed to identify, evaluate, and control safety and health hazards, and provide for emergency response for hazardous waste operations."

OSHA points out that "traditional approaches [to safety] are often reactive...problems are addressed only after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or an outside inspection finds a problem that must be fixed."

A written safety and health program "recognizes that finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury or illness is a far more effective approach" to workplace safety.

OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.120(b)(1)(i) requires a written safety and health program that includes the following components:

• An organizational structure
• A comprehensive work plan
• A site-specific safety and health plan that need not repeat the employer's standard operating procedures for safety and health
• The safety and training program
• The medical surveillance program
• The employer's standard operating procedures (SOPs) for safety and health

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