While HAZMAT and HAZWOPER certifications both involve learning how to safely handle and mitigate risks related to hazardous materials, they are two separate qualification standards that are not universal across industries. If you need HAZMAT training for one position and switch to another job, you might need to invest in a new certification program.
This guide explains everything you need to know about the differences between HAZWOPER and HAZMAT certification training.
What Is HAZWOPER?
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) is a set of OSHA safety regulations in the US for safe handling, cleanup, and emergency response to hazardous waste and materials.
Who Needs HAZWOPER Training?
Any worker who risks exposure to hazardous substances in their day-to-day job functions must receive the appropriate HAZWOPER training for their position regardless of their industry or position. Some examples of employees needing HAZWOPER training include:
- Researchers in chemical laboratories.
- Maintenance workers in aging buildings.
- Equipment operators in facilities using vinyl chloride and other toxins.
There are two types of training required for different workers. Employees who frequently work at job sites where hazardous waste is present must complete a 40-hour program, and employees who only work at the site occasionally must receive 24 hours of training.
When Is HAZWOPER Training Required?
HAZWOPER training is required to work in positions involving potential exposure to hazardous materials and must be repeated once annually.
What Is HAZMAT?
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) are substances that, if not properly handled or contained during transportation, could pose a risk to health, safety, and property. The term can refer to either the materials or the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) certification. HAZMAT training educates workers about the risks associated with specific materials they work with during normal operations and provides guidelines for managing these materials.
Who Needs HAZMAT Training?
All employees should receive at least general awareness training if their company works with hazardous materials. More specifically, any employee in transportation or logistics for hazardous materials operations should receive job-specific DOT HAZMAT training.
Some examples of positions requiring DOT HAZMAT training include:
- Material handlers.
- Freight forwarders.
- Shipping and receiving personnel.
- Logistics coordinators and analysts.
- Commercial HAZMAT drivers.
- Cargo managers.
When Is HAZMAT Training Required?
HAZMAT training must occur within 90 days of an employee’s first shift, and they must renew their certification once every three years.
HAZWOPER vs. HAZMAT: What Are the Biggest Differences?
Some of the most important differences of HAZWOPER and HAZMAT include the following:
Regulating Body
The DOT developed the HAZMAT standards, while HAZWOPER guidelines come from OSHA. That said, HAZMAT refers to more than DOT requirements. It’s also a key component of HAZWOPER emergency response standards, which include guidance for first responders, supervisors and general site workers.
Functions
HAZWOPER specifically applies to operations involving hazardous waste, while HAZMAT is a broader category of hazardous materials. DOT HAZMAT certification is specific to positions involving logistics and transporting hazardous materials.
Training Frequency
While employees must renew their HAZWOPER certification annually, DOT HAZMAT certification requires a refresher once every three years. These courses can be completed in person or online, depending on which arrangement works best for you.
Training Requirements and Certification Processes
Compare the requirements for a HAZWOPER vs. HAZMAT technician certification below.
HAZWOPER Training Levels
There are several different levels of HAZWOPER training requirements for workers in various positions:
- Constant exposure: General and occasional workers frequently on hazardous waste jobsites must receive 40 hours of off-site training and several days of in-field experience to attain certification. This level also applies to supervisors and managers of these operations.
- Occasional exposure and annual refresher: Employees tasked with the occasional treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste must receive 24 hours of HAZWOPER training, which includes 24 hours of constant exposure training and eight hours each year after certification.
- Emergency Responders: Emergency responders who could encounter hazardous material exposure must receive a specified number of training and on-site experience hours to receive certification. The specific number of hours required depends on each student’s job function.
Emergency responder training is especially complex because it breaks down into multiple sections depending on the employee’s role in emergency management. The positions that must receive this training include:
- First responder awareness: First responders who are most likely to discover hazmat incidents must be able to identify hazardous substances and understand the potential outcomes and risks involved with those materials.
- First responder operations: First responders must also undergo at least eight hours of training to learn how to contain hazardous materials and prevent or limit exposure using approved techniques.
- Hazardous materials technician: Hazmat technicians must complete at least 24 hours of first responder operations training and achieve a degree of mastery in chemical and toxicological knowledge to fulfill their roles.
- Hazardous materials specialist: A hazmat specialist requires more training hours than a hazmat technician to become competent in identifying both known and unknown materials. They must also execute stringent confinement plans and develop emergency response plans for your organization.
- On-scene incident commander: Incident commanders must complete 24 hours of first responder operations training and attain competency in executing emergency response plans issued by your company and the state and local governments to control the incident and mitigate risk.
HAZMAT Training Options
According to the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), all employees working in hazardous material companies must receive general awareness training within 90 days of beginning work. This level provides a basic overview of the hazmat transportation system so employees can understand their roles.
Employees who interact directly with hazardous materials in their everyday operations should also receive the following levels of training:
- Function-specific training: All hazmat employees must receive training on best practices for preventing incidents in their daily job functions.
- Safety training: Anyone who handles or risks exposure to hazardous materials during transportation — such as loading dock workers, drivers and warehouse employees — must receive safe handling and emergency response procedures training for the materials they handle on a normal workday.
- Security awareness training: Hazmat employees must learn to recognize and protect against terrorist threats to hazardous materials shipments.
- Security plan training: Anyone involved with preparing or transporting high-risk shipments must undergo company-specific training to understand the security objectives that apply most to your business.
- Driver training: Only employees who drive loads containing hazardous material must receive this highly specific type of training.
Why Choose Hazmat School for Your HAZMAT or HAZWOPER Training?
Hazmat School is a fully online hazardous materials training provider serving over 20,000 students annually. Whether you need DOT HAZMAT certification or Level 3 HAZWOPER training, you can find the right program for your career on our site.
Our online training is:
- Affordable: Online training eliminates the need to drive back and forth between the training facility, home and work so that you can save money on fuel and other costs associated with traditional education methods.
- Convenient: We designed our self-paced courses to fit into busy schedules so you can easily pick up where you left off, even if it’s been a few days between sessions. Since they’re fully online, you can log on from anywhere with an internet connection.
- User-friendly: Our intuitive platform is straightforward and easy to navigate, so you can confidently access everything you need for each course you take.
- Engaging and interactive: We developed our courses to hold student attention and provide valuable content so you can focus completely on your learning and easily comprehend each lesson.
- Legitimate: Hazmat School provides graduates with official training certificates from the DOT, OSHA, RCRA and Title 22, so you can rest easy knowing your investment is going toward a real certification.
Enroll Today to Earn Your Certification
Whether you’re looking to renew a certification or begin your HAZMAT or HAZWOPER journey, Hazmat School has the resources to earn the proper credentials for your industry and position. We offer various HAZWOPER and HAZMAT courses, first responder training, Cal/OSHA courses and more.
Browse our online course list to get started on your certification, or contact us for more information about how the process works.
Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
