Introduction to Hazardous Waste Safety Training

The importance of hazardous waste handling and disposal cannot be understated. By following OSHA standards and regulations, you can protect the health of yourself, those around you, animals, and the environment.

Hazardous waste first gained wide recognition in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. At this time, according to the EPA, solid waste management faced many challenges, including increasing solid waste generation, shrinking disposal capacity, rising disposal costs, and public opposition to the siting of new disposal facilities. The United States continues to face these challenges today, enforcing regulations and safety standards for treating waste and disposing of it in an environmentally sound manner.

RCRA set forth a framework to ensure that hazardous waste is safely managed in a "cradle to grave" capacity. This means that the waste must be safely handled from the time that it is created to when it is transported, stored, and finally disposed of.

To learn more about Hazardous Waste visit our Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.