OSHA 3114
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response

Hazardous Waste Operations
and Emergency Response

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration

OSHA 3114
1997 (Revised)

This informational booklet is intended to provide a generic,
non-exhaustive overview of a particular standards-related topic.
This publication does not itself alter or determine compliance
responsibilities, which are set forth in OSHA standards themselves
and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Moreover,
because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time,
for additional guidance on OSHA compliance requirements, the reader
should consult current administrative interpretations and decisions
by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and the
courts.

Material contained in this publication is in the public domain
and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission of the
Federal Government. Source credit is requested but not required.

This information will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.

Voice phone: (202) 219-8615; Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (TDD) message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

Hazardous Waste
Operations
and Emergency Response

U.S. Department of Labor
Alexis M. Herman, Secretary

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Gregory R.
Watchman, Acting Assistant Secretary

OSHA 3114
1997 (Revised)

Contents

Introduction

Scope
and Application

Provision
of the Standard
Safety and Health
Program
Workplan
Site Evaluation and Control
Site-Specific
Safety and Health Plan
Information and Training
Program
Personal Protective Equipment
Program
Monitoring
Medical Surveillance
Decontamination
Procedures
Emergency Response

Other
Provisions
Engineering Controls and Work
Practices
Handling and Labeling Drums and
Containers
Sanitation of Temporary Workplaces

Recordkeeping

Hazard
Communication Standard (HCS)

Summary

Other
Sources of OSHA Assistance
Safety and
Health Program Management Guidelines
State
Programs
Consultation Services
Voluntary Protection Programs
(VPPs)
Training and Education
Electronic
Infomation
Emergencies

OSHA
Related Publications

States
with Approved Plans

OSHA
Consultation Project Directory

OSHA
Area Offices

OSHA
Regional Offices

Introduction

The dumping of hazardous waste poses a significant threat to the
environment. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1995 data
show that EPA managed about 277 million metric tons of hazardous
waste at licensed Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) sites.(1) Hazardous waste is a serious safety and health
problem that continues to endanger human and animal life and
environmental quality. Hazardous waste -- discarded chemicals that
are toxic, flammable or corrosive -- can cause fires, explosions,
and pollution of air, water, and land. Unless hazardous waste is
properly treated, stored, or disposed of, it will continue to do
great harm to all living things that come into contact with it now
or in the future.

Because of the seriousness of the safety and health hazards
related to hazardous waste operations, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) issued its Hazardous Waste
Operations and Emergency Response Standard, Title 29 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.120 (See Federal
Register 54 (42): 9294-9336, March 6, 1989) to protect
workers in this environment and to help them handle hazardous wastes
safely and effectively.

State, county, and municipal employees such as police, ambulance
workers, and firefighters with local fire departments will be
covered by the regulations issued by the 25 states operating their
own OSHA-approved safety and health programs (see listing at the end
of this booklet). EPA regulations will cover these employees in
states without state plans. These regulations will be based on
OSHA's standard.

This booklet discusses OSHA's requirements for hazardous waste
operations and emergency response at uncontrolled hazardous waste
sites and treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities and
summarizes the steps an employer must take to protect the health and
safety of workers in these environments.

Scope and
Application

The standard covers workers in cleanup operations at
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and at EPA-licensed waste TSD
facilities; as well as workers responding to emergencies involving
hazardous materials (e.g., spills).

Provision of the
Standard

Safety and Health
Program

An effective and comprehensive safety and health program is
essential in reducing work-related injuries and illnesses and in
maintaining a safe and healthful work environment. The standard,
therefore, requires each employer to develop and implement a written
safety and health program that identifies, evaluates, and controls
safety and health hazards and provides emergency response procedures
for each hazardous waste site or treatment, storage, and disposal
facility. This written program must include specific and detailed
information on the following topics:

An organizational workplan,

Site evaluation and control,

A site-specific program,

Information and training program,

Personal protective equipment program,

Monitoring,

Medical surveillance program,

Decontamination procedures, and

Emergency response program.

The written safety and health program must be periodically
updated and made available to all affected employees, contractors,
and subcontractors. The employer also must inform contractors and
subcontractors, or their representatives, of any identifiable safety
and health hazards or potential fire or explosion hazards before
they enter the work site.

Each of the components of the safety and health program is
discussed in the following paragraphs.

Workplan

Planning is the key element in a hazardous waste control program.
Proper planning will greatly reduce worker hazards at waste sites. A
workplan should support the overall objectives of the control
program and provide procedures for implementation and should
incorporate the employer's standard operating procedures for safety
and health. Establishing a chain of command will specify employer
and employee responsibilities in carrying out the safety and health
program. For example, the plan should include the following:

Supervisor and employee responsibilities and
means of communication,

Name of person who supervises all of the
hazardous waste operations, and

The site supervisor with responsibility for
and authority to develop and implement the site safety and health
program and to verify compliance.

In addition to this organizational structure, the plan should
define the tasks and objectives of site operation as well as the
logistics and resources required to fulfill these tasks. For
example, the following topics should be addressed:

The anticipated clean-up and/or operating
procedures;

A definition of work tasks and objectives and
methods of accomplishment;

The established personnel requirements for
implementing the plan; and

Procedures for implementing training,
informational programs, and medical surveillance
requirements.

Necessary coordination between the general program and
site-specific activities also should be included in the actual
operations workplan.

Site Evaluation and
Control

Site evaluation, both initial and periodic, is crucial to the
safety and health of workers. Site evaluation provides employers
with the information needed to identify site hazards so they can
select appropriate protection methods for employees.

It is extremely important, and a requirement of the standard,
that a trained person conduct a preliminary evaluation of an
uncontrolled hazardous waste site before entering the site. The
evaluation must include all suspected conditions that are
immediately dangerous to life or health or that may cause serious
harm to employees (e.g., confined space entry, potentially explosive
or flammable situations, visible vapor clouds, etc.). As available,
the evaluation must include the location and size of the site, site
topography, site accessibility by air and roads, pathways for
hazardous substances to disperse, a description of worker duties,
and the time needed to perform a given task, as well as the present
status and capabilities of the emergency response teams.

Periodic reevaluations should also be conducted for treatment,
storage, and disposal facilities, as conditions or operations
change.

Controlling the activities of workers and the movement of
equipment is an important aspect of the overall safety and health
program. Effective control of the site will minimize potential
contamination of workers, protect the public from hazards, and
prevent vandalism. The following information is useful in
implementing the site control program: a site map, site work zones,
site communication, safe work practices, and the name, location and
phone number of the nearest medical assistance.

The use of a "buddy system" also is required as a protective
measure to assist in the rescue of an employee who becomes
unconscious, trapped, or seriously disabled on site. In the buddy
system, two employees must keep an eye on each other and only one
should be in a specific dangerous area at one time, so that if one
gets in trouble, the second can call for help.

Site-Specific Safety and Health
Plan

A site-specific safety and health plan is a complementary program
element that aids in eliminating or effectively controlling
anticipated safety and health hazards. The site-specific plan must
include all of the basic requirements of the overall safety and
health program, but with attention to those characteristics unique
to the particular site. For example, the site-specific plan may
outline procedures for confined space entry, air and personal
monitoring and environmental sampling, and a spill containment
program to address the particular hazards present at the site.

The site safety and health plan must identify the hazards of each
phase of the specific site operation and must be kept at the work
site. Pre-entry briefings must be conducted prior to site entry and
at other times as necessary to ensure that employees are aware of
the site safety and health plan and its implementation. The employer
also must ensure that periodic safety and health inspections are
made of the site and that all known deficiencies are corrected prior
to work at the site.

Information and Training
Program

As part of the safety and health program, employers are required
to develop and implement a program to inform workers (including
contractors and subcontractors) performing hazardous waste
operations of the level and degree of exposure they are likely to
encounter.

Employers also are required to develop and implement procedures
for introducing effective new technologies that provide improved
worker protection in hazardous waste operations. Examples include
foams, absorbents, adsorbents, and neutralizers.

Training makes workers aware of the potential hazards they may
encounter and provides the necessary knowledge and skills to perform
their work with minimal risk to their safety and health. The
employer must develop a training program for all employees exposed
to safety and health hazards during hazardous waste operations. Both
supervisors and workers must be trained to recognize hazards and to
prevent them; to select, care for and use respirators properly as
well as other types of personal protective equipment; to understand
engineering controls and their use; to use proper decontamination
procedures; to understand the emergency response plan, medical
surveillance requirements, confined space entry procedures, spill
containment program, and any appropriate work practices. Workers
also must know the names of personnel and their alternates
responsible for site safety and health. The amount of instruction
differs with the nature of the work operations, as indicated in
Tables 1 and 2.

Employees at all sites must not perform any hazardous waste
operations unless they have been trained to the level required by
their job function and responsibility and have been certified by
their instructor as having completed the necessary training. All
emergency responders must receive refresher training, suffcient to
maintain or demonstrate competency, annually. Employee training
requirements are further defined by the nature of the work (e.g.,
temporary emergency response personnel, firefighters, safety
officers, HAZMAT personnel, and incident commanders). These
requirements may include recognizing and knowing the hazardous
materials and their risks, knowing how to select and use appropriate
personal protective equipment, and knowing the appropriate control,
containment, or confinement procedures and how to implement them.
The specific training and competency requirements for each personnel
category are explained fully in the final rule (FR54 42:9294,
March 6, 1989). For a brief summary of training
requirements, see Tables 1 and 2.

Employees who receive the
training specified (see Table 1) must receive a written certificate
upon successful completion of that training. That training need not
be repeated if the employee goes to work at a new site; however, the
employee must receive whatever additional training is needed to work
safely at the new site. Employees who worked at hazardous waste
sites before 1987 and received equivalent training need not repeat
the initial training specified in Table 1, if the employer can
demonstrate that in writing and certify that the employee has
received such training.

Personal Protective Equipment
Program

The standard further requires the employer to develop a written
personal protective equipment program for all employees involved in
hazardous waste operations. As mentioned earlier, this program also
is part of the site-specific safety and health program. The personal
protective equipment program must include an explanation of
equipment selection and use, maintenance and storage,
decontamination and disposal, training and proper fit, donning and
doffing procedures, inspection, in-use monitoring, program
evaluation, and equipment limitations.

The employer also must provide and require the use of personal
protective equipment where engineering control methods are
infeasible to reduce worker exposures at or below the permissible
exposure limit. Personal protective equipment must be selected that
is appropriate to the requirements and limitations of the site, the
task-specific conditions and duration, and the hazards and potential
hazards identified at the site. As necessary, the employer must
furnish the employee with positive-pressure self-contained breathing
apparatus or positive-pressure air-line respirators equipped with an
escape air supply, and with totally encapsulating chemical
protective suits.

Monitoring

Airborne contaminants can present a significant threat to
employee safety and health, thus making air monitoring an important
component of an effective safety and health program. The employer
must conduct monitoring before site entry at uncontrolled hazardous
waste sites to identify conditions immediately dangerous to life and
health, such as oxygen-deficient atmospheres and areas where toxic
substance exposures are above permissible limits. Accurate
information on the identification and quantification of airborne
contaminants is useful for the following:

Selecting personal protective
equipment,

Delineating areas where protection and
controls are needed,

Assessing the potential health effects of
exposure, and

Determining the need for specific medical
monitoring.

After a hazardous waste cleanup operation begins, the employer
must periodically monitor those employees who are likely to have
higher exposures to determine if they have been exposed to hazardous
substances in excess of permissible exposure limits. The employer
also must monitor for any potential condition that is immediately
dangerous to life and health or for higher exposures that may occur
as a result of new work operations.

Medical Surveillance

A medical surveillance program will help to assess and monitor
the health and fitness of employees working with hazardous
substances. The employer must establish a medical surveillance
program for the following:

All employees exposed or potentially exposed
to hazardous substances or health hazards above permissible
exposure limits for more than 30 days per year;

Workers exposed above the published exposure
levels (if there is no permissible exposure limit for these
substances) for 30 days or more a year;

Workers who wear approved respirators for 30
or more days per year on site;

Workers who are exposed to unexpected or
emergency releases of hazardous wastes above exposure limits
(without wearing appropriate protective equipment) or who show
signs, symptoms, or illness that may have resulted from exposure
to hazardous substances; and

Members of hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
teams.

All examinations must be performed under the supervision of a
licensed physician, without cost to the employee, without loss of
pay and at a reasonable time and place. Examinations must include a
medical and work history with special emphasis on symptoms related
to the handling of hazardous substances and health hazards and to
fitness for duty including the ability to wear any required personal
protective equipment under conditions that may be expected at the
work site. These examinations must be given as follows:

Prior to job assignment and annually
thereafter (or every 2 years if a physician determines that is
sufficient),

At the termination of employment,(2)

Before reassignment to an area where medical
examinations are not required, (2)

If the examining physician believes that a
periodic followup is medically necessary, and

As soon as possible for employees injured or
becoming ill from exposure to hazardous substances during an
emergency, or who develop signs or symptoms of overexposure from
hazardous substances.

The employer must give the examining physician a copy of the
standard and its appendices, a description of the employee's duties
relating to his or her exposure, the exposure level or anticipated
exposure level, a description of any personal protective and
respiratory equipment used or to be used, and any information from
previous medical examinations. The employer must obtain a written
opinion from the physician that contains the results of the medical
examination and any detected medical conditions that would place the
employee at an increased risk from exposure, any recommended
limitations on the employee or upon the use of personal protective
equipment, and a statement that the employee has been informed by
the physician of the medical examination. The physician is not to
reveal, in the written opinion given to the employer, specific
findings or diagnoses unrelated to employment.

Decontamination
Procedures

Decontamination procedures are a component of the site-specific
safety and health plan and, consequently, must be developed,
communicated to employees, and implemented before workers enter a
hazardous waste site. As necessary, the site safety and health
officer must require and monitor decontamination of the employee or
decontamination and disposal of the employee's clothing and
equipment, as well as the solvents used for decontamination, before
the employee leaves the work area. If an employee's non-impermeable
clothing becomes grossly contaminated with hazardous substances, the
employee must immediately remove that clothing and take a shower.
Impermeable protective clothing must be decontaminated before being
removed by the employee.

Protective clothing and equipment must be decontaminated,
cleaned, laundered, maintained, or replaced to retain effectiveness.
The employer must inform any person who launders or cleans such
clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure
to hazardous substances.

Employees who are required to shower must be provided showers and
change rooms that meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.141,
Subpart J -- General Environmental Controls. In
addition, unauthorized employees must not remove their protective
clothing or equipment from change rooms unless authorized to do so.

Emergency Response

Proper emergency planning and response are important elements of
the safety and health program that help minimize employee exposure
and injury. The standard requires that the employer develop and
implement a written emergency response plan to handle possible
emergencies before performing hazardous waste operations. The plan
must include, at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and at
treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, the following
elements:(3)

Personnel roles, lines of authority, and
communication procedures,

Pre-emergency planning,

Emergency recognition and prevention,

Emergency medical and first-aid
treatment,

Methods or procedures for alerting onsite
employees,

Safe distances and places of refuge,

Site security and control,

Decontamination procedures,

Critique of response and followup,

Personal protective and emergency equipment,
and

Evacuation routes and
procedures.

In addition to the above requirements, the plan must include site
topography, layout, and prevailing weather conditions; and
procedures for reporting incidents to local, state, and federal
government agencies.

The procedures must be compatible with and integrated into the
disaster, fire and/or emergency response plans of the site's nearest
local, state, and federal agencies. Emergency response organizations
may use the local or state emergency response plans, or both, as
part of their emergency response plan to avoid duplication of
federal regulations.

The plan requirements also must be rehearsed regularly, reviewed
periodically, and amended, as necessary, to keep them current with
new or changing site conditions or information. A distinguishable
and distinct alarm system must be in operation to notify employees
of emergencies. The emergency plan also must be made available for
inspection and copying by employees, their representatives, OSHA
personnel, and other governmental agencies with relevant
responsibilities.

When deemed necessary, employees must wear positive-pressure
self-contained breathing apparatus and approved self-contained
compressed-air breathing apparatus with approved cylinders. In
addition, back-up and first-aid support personnel must be available
for assistance or rescue.

Other Provisions

As already indicated, as part of an effective safety and health
program, the employer must institute control methods and work
practices that are appropriate to the specific characteristics of
the site. Such controls are essential to successful worker
protection. Some control methods are described in the following
paragraphs.

Engineering Controls and Work
Practices

To the extent feasible, the employer must institute engineering
controls and work practices to help reduce and maintain employee
exposure at or below permissible exposure limits. To the extent not
feasible, engineering and work practice controls may be supplemented
with personal protective equipment. Examples of suitable and
feasible engineering controls include the use or pressurized cabs or
control booths on equipment, and/or remotely operated materials
handling equipment. Examples of safe work practices include removing
all non-essential employees from potential exposure while opening
drums, wetting down dusty operations, and placing employees upwind
of potential hazards.

Handling and Labeling Drums and
Containers

Prior to handling a drum or container, the employer must assure
that drums or containers meet the required OSHA, EPA (40
CFR Parts 264-265 and 300), and Department of
Transportation (DOT) regulations (49 CFR Parts
171-178), and are properly inspected and labeled. Damaged drums or
containers must be emptied of their contents, using a device
classified for the material being transferred, and must be properly
discarded. In areas where spills, leaks or ruptures occur, the
employer must furnish employees with salvage drums or containers, a
suitable quantity of absorbent material, and approved
fire-extinguishing equipment in the event of small fires. The
employer also must inform employees of the appropriate hazard
warnings of labeled drums, the removal of soil or coverings, and the
dangers of handling unlabeled drums or containers without prior
identification of their contents. To the extent feasible, the moving
of drums or containers must be kept to a minimum, and a program must
be implemented to contain and isolate hazardous substances being
transferred into drums or containers. In addition, an approved EPA
ground-penetrating device must be used to determine the location and
depth of any improperly discarded drums or containers.

The employer also must ensure that safe work practices are
instituted before opening a drum or container. For example, air-line
respirators and approved electrical equipment must be protected from
possible contamination, and all equipment must be kept behind any
existing explosion barrier.(4)

Only tools or equipment that prevent ignition shall be used. All
employees not performing the operation shall be located at a safe
distance and behind a suitable barrier to protect them from
accidental explosions. In addition, standing on or working from
drums or containers is prohibited. Special care also must be given
when an employee handles containers of shock-sensitive waste,
explosive materials, or laboratory waste packs. Where an emergency
exists, the employer must ensure the following:

Evacuate non-essential employees from the
transfer area;

Protect equipment operators from exploding
containers by using a barrier, and

Make available a continuous means of
communication (e.g., suitable radios or telephones), and a
distinguishable and distinct alarm system to signal the beginning
and end of activities where explosive wastes are
handled.

If drums or containers bulge or swell or show crystalline
material on the outside, they must not be moved onto or from the
site unless appropriate containment procedures have been
implemented. In addition, lab packs must be opened only when
necessary and only by a qualified person. Prior to shipment to a
licensed disposal facility, all drums or containers must be properly
labeled and packaged for shipment. Staging areas also must be kept
to a minimum and provided with adequate access and egress routes.

Sanitation of Temporary
Workplaces

Each temporary worksite must have a supply of potable water that
is stored in tightly closed and clearly labelled containers and
equipped with a tap. Disposable cups and a receptacle for cup
disposal also must be provided. The employer also must clearly mark
all water outlets that are unsafe for drinking, washing, or cooking.
Temporary worksites must be equipped with toilet facilities. If
there are no sanitary sewers close to or on the hazardous waste
site, the employer must provide the following toilet facilities
unless prohibited by local codes:

Privies,

Chemical toilets,

Recirculating toilets, or

Combustion toilets.

Heated, well-ventilated, and well-lighted sleeping quarters must
be provided for workers who guard the worksite. In addition, washing
facilities for all workers must be near the worksite, within
controlled work zones,(5) and so equipped to enable employees to remove
hazardous substances. The employer also must ensure that food
service facilities are licensed.

Recordkeeping

In 1988, OSHA revised the standard requiring employers to
provide employees with information to assist in the management of
their own safety and health. The standard, Access to Employee
Exposure and Medical Records (29 CFR 1910.20), permits
direct access to these records by employees exposed to hazardous
materials, or by their designated representatives, and by OSHA. The
rule applies to, but does not require, medical and exposure records
maintained by the employer.

The employer must keep exposure records for 30 years and medical
records for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years.
Records of employees who have worked for less than 1 year need not
be retained after employment, but the employer must provide these
records to the employee upon termination of employment. First-aid
records of one-time treatment need not be retained for any specified
period.

The employer must inform each employee of the existence,
location, and availability of these records. Whenever an employer
plans to stop doing business and there is no successor employer to
receive and maintain these records, the employer must notify
employees of their right to access to records at least 3 months
before the employer ceases to do business. At the same time,
employers also must notify the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health.

Under the hazardous waste standard, at a minimum, medical records
must include the following information:

Employee's name and social security
number

Physicians' written opinions,

Employee's medical complaints related to
exposure to hazardous substances, and

Information provided to the treating
physician.

Hazard Communication Standard
(HCS)

Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act of 1986 (SARA) requires employers covered by the
Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR
1910. 1200) to maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and
submit such information to State emergency response commissions,
local emergency planning committees, and the local fire department.
Under this requirement, employers covered by HCS must provide
chemical hazard information to both employees and surrounding
communities. Consequently, in the case of an emergency response
situation to hazardous substances at a site, the local fire
department may already be aware of the chemicals present at the site
since data may have been provided through MSDSs.

Summary

Hazardous wastes, when not handled properly, can pose a
significant safety and health risk. OSHA recognizes the need to
improve the quality of the hazardous waste work environment and has,
therefore, issued this standard. This standard provides employers
and employees with the information and training necessary to improve
workplace safety and health, thereby greatly reducing the number of
injuries and illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous waste.

Other
Sources of OSHA Assistance

Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines

Effective management of worker safety and health protection is a
decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related
injuries and illnesses and their related costs. To assist employers
and employees in developing effective safety and health programs,
OSHA published recommended Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines (Federal Register 54
(18): 3908-3916, January 26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines apply
to all places of employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elements that are critical
to the development of a successful safety and health management
program:

management commitment and employee
involvement,

worksite analysis,

hazard prevention and control, and

safety and health training.

The guidelines recommend specific actions under each of these
general elements to achieve an effective safety and health program.
A single free copy of the guidelines can be obtained from the U.S.
Department of Labor, OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535, Washington,
DC 20013-7535, by sending a self-addressed mail label with your
request. See also OSHA's Web site (http://www.osha.gov/) for
these and other agency items.

State Programs

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and
health plans. States with plans approved under section 18(b) of the
OSH Act must adopt standards and enforce requirements that are at
least as effective as federal requirements. There are currently 25
state plan states: 23 of these states administer plans covering both
private and public (state and local government) employees; the other
2 states, Connecticut and New York, cover public employees only.
Plan states must adopt standards comparable to federal requirements
within 6 months of a federal standard's promulgation. Until such
time as a state standard is promulgated, federal OSHA provides
interim enforcement assistance, as appropriate, in these states. A
listing of approved state plans appears at the end of this
publication.

Consultation Services

Consultation assistance is available on request to employers who
want help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful
workplace. Largely funded by OSHA, the service is provided at no
cost to the employer. Primarily developed for smaller employers with
more hazardous operations, the consultation service is delivered by
state government agencies or universities employing professional
safety consultants and health consultants. Comprehensive assistance
includes an appraisal of all mechanical physical work practices, and
environmental hazards of the workplace and all aspects of the
employer's present job safety and health program.

The program is separate from OSHA's inspection efforts. No
penalties are proposed or citations issued for any safety or health
problems identified by the consultant. The service is confidential.

For more information concerning consultation assistance, see the
list of consultation projects at the end of this publication.

Voluntary Protection Programs
(VPPs)

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) and onsite consultation
services, when coupled with an effective enforcement program, expand
worker protection to help meet the goals of the OSH Act. The three
VPPs -- Star, Merit, and Demonstration -- are designed to recognize
outstanding achievement by companies that have successfully
incorporated comprehensive safety and health programs into their
total management system. They motivate others to achieve excellent
safety and health results in the same outstanding way as they
establish a cooperative relationship among employers, employees, and
OSHA.

For additional information on VPPs and how to apply, contact the
OSHA area or regional offices listed at the end of this publication,
or visit OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov/index.html

Training and Education

OSHA's area offices offer a variety of informational services,
such as publications, audiovisual aids, technical advice, and
speakers for special engagements. OSHA's Training Institute in Des
Plaines, IL, provides basic and advanced courses in safety and
health for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants,
federal agency personnel, and private sector employers, employees,
and their representatives.

OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations, through
grants, to conduct workplace training and education in subjects
where OSHA believes there is a lack of workplace training. Grants
are awarded annually and grant recipients are expected to contribute
20 percent of the total grant cost.

For more information on grants, training and education, contact
the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and Education, 1555
Times Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, (847) 297-4810; (847) 297-4874
fax.

For further information on any OSHA program, contact your nearest
OSHA area or regional office listed at the end of this publication.

Electronic Information

Internet -- OSHA standards, interpretations, directives,
and additional information are now on the World Wide Web at http://www.osha.gov/index.html

CD-ROM -- A wide variety of OSHA materials including
standards, interpretations, directives, and more can be purchased on
the OSHA CD-ROM from the Government Printing Office.

Emergencies

For life-threatening situations, call (800) 321-OSHA. Complaints
will go immediately to the nearest OSHA area or state office for
help.

For further information on any OSHA program, contact your nearest
OSHA area or regional office listed at the end of this publication.

OSHA
Related Publications

Single, free copies of the following publications can be
obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Publications, P.O.
Box 37535, Washington, DC 20013-7535, (202) 219-4667, (202) 219-9266
(fax), or from the nearest OSHA reigonal or area office listed at
the end of this publication. Send a self-addressed mailing label
with your request.

Access to Medical and Exposure Records - OSHA
3110

All About OSHA - OSHA 2056

Chemical Hazard Communication - OSHA 3084

Consultation Services for the Employer - OSHA
3047

How to Prepare for Workplace Emergencies - OSHA
3088

Materials Handling and Storage - OSHA 2236

Personal Protective Equipment - OSHA 3151

Respiratory Protection - OSHA 3079

The kit and the guidelines are available from the Superintendent
of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402, (202) 512-1800. The kit order no. is 029-016-00147-6; cost
$18.00 (foreign - $22.50). The guidelines order no. is
029-016-00163-8; cost $1.50.

Hazard Communication -- A Compliance Kit - OSHA
3104 (A reference guide to step-by-step requirements for compliance
with the OSHA standard.)

Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance -
OSHA 3111

Emergency Response Guidebook - U.S. Department of
Transportation, Publication No. DOT-P- 5800-4, 1987. (Available from
J.J. Keller Customer Service Center, 1-800-327-6868. Price $7.45).

Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for
Hazardous Waste Site Activities - NIOSH/OSHA/USCG/EPA.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Publication
No. DHHS (NIOSH) No. 85-115, 1985. (Available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 20402, (202) 512-1820, GPO Order No.
017-033-00419-6, $11.00).

States with Approved Plans

Commissioner
Alaska
Department of Labor
1111 West 8th Street Room 306
Juneau, AK
99801
(907) 465-2700

Director
Industrial
Commission of Arizona
800 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ
85007
(602) 542-5795

Director
California
Department of Industrial Relations
45 Fremont Street
San
Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-8835

Commissioner
Connecticut Department of
Labor
200 Folly Brook Boulevard
Wethersfield, CT
06109
(860) 566-5123

Director
Hawaii
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
830 Punchbowl
Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-8844

Commissioner
Indiana
Department of Labor
State Office Building
402 West Washington
Street Room W195
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-2378

Commissioner
Iowa
Division of Labor Services
1000 E. Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50319
(515) 281-3447

Secretary
Kentucky
Labor Cabinet
1047 U.S. Highway, 127 South Suite 2
Frankfort,
KY 40601
(502) 564-3070

Commissioner
Maryland
Division of Labor and Industry
Department of Labor Licensing and
Regulation
1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 613
Baltimore, MD
21202-2206
(410) 767-2999

Director
Michigan
Department of Consumer and Industry Services
4th Floor, Law
Building
P.O. Box 30004
Lansing, MI 48909
(517)
373-7230

Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Labor and
Industry
443 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
(612)
296-2342

Director
Nevada
Division of Industrial Relations
400 West King Street
Carson
City, NV 89710
(702) 687-3032

Secretary
New Mexico
Environment Department
1190 St. Francis Drive
P.O. Box
26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
(505) 827-2850

Commissioner
New York
Department of Labor
W. Averell Harriman State Office Building -12
Room 500
Albany, NY 12240
(518) 457-2741

Commissioner
North
Carolina Department of Labor
319 Chapanoke Road
Raleigh, NC
27603
(919) 662-4585

Administrator
Department of Consumer and
Business Services
Occupational Safety and Health Division
(OR-OSHA)
350 Winter Street, N.E. Room 430
Salem, OR
97310
(503) 378-3272

Secretary
Puerto Rico
Department of Labor and Human Resources
Prudencio Rivera Martinez
Building
505 Munoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, PR 00918
(809)
754-2119

Commissioner
South
Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
110
Centerview Drive
P.O. Box 11329
Columbia, SC
29211-1329
(803) 734-9594

Comissioner
Tennessee
Department of Labor
Attention: Robert Taylor
710 James
Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0659
(615) 741-2582

Comissioner
Industrial Commission of
Utah
160 East 300 South, 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 146600
Salt
Lake City, UT 84114-6600
(801) 530-6898

Commissioner
Vermont
Department of Labor and Industry
National Life Building - Drawer
20
120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620
(802) 828-2288

Commissioner
Virgin
Islands Department of Labor
2131 Hospital Street Box
890
Christiansted
St. Croix, VI 00820-4666
(809)
773-1994

Commissioner
Virginia
Department of Labor and Industry
Powers-Taylor Building
13
South 13th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-2377

Director
Washington
Department of Labor and Industries
General Administration
Building
P.O. Box 44001
Olympia, WA 98504-4001
(360)
902-4200

Administrator
Workers' Safety and Compensation
Division (WSC)
Wyoming Department of Employment
Herschler
Building 2nd Floor East
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY
82002
(307) 777-7786

OSHA Consultation Project
Directory

State

Telephone

Alabama

(205)
348-7136

Alaska

(907)
269-4957

Arizona

(602)
542-5795

Arkansas

(501)
682-4532

California

(415)
972-8515

Colorado

(970)
491-6151

Connecticut

(860)
566-4550

Delaware

(302)
761-8219

District of
Columbia

(202)
576-6339

Florida

(904)
488-3044

Georgia

(404)
894-2646

Guam

(671)
475-0136

Hawaii

(808)
568-9100

Idaho

(208)
385-3283

Illinois

(312)
814-2337

Indiana

(317)
232-2688

Iowa

(515)
965-7162

Kansas

(913)
296-7476

Kentucky

(502)
564-6895

Louisiana

(504)
342-9601

Maine

(207)
624-6460

Maryland

(410)
880-4970

Massachusetts

(617)
727-3982

Michigan

(517)
332-1817(H)

(517)
322-1809(S)

Minnesota

(612)
297-2393

Mississippi

(601)
987-3981

Missouri

(573)
751-3403

Montana

(406)
444-6418

Nebraska

(402)
471-4717

Nevada

(702)
486-5016

New Hampshire

(603)
271-2024

New Jersey

(609)
292-2424

New Mexico

(505)
827-4230

New York

(518)
457-2481

North Carolina

(919)
662-4644

North Dakota

(701)
328-5188

Ohio

(614)
644-2246

Oklahoma

(405)
528-1500

Oregon

(503)
378-3272

Pennsylvania

(412)
357-2561

Puerto Rico

(787)
754-2188

Rhode Island

(401)
277-2438

South Carolina

(803)
734-9614

South Dakota

(605)
688-4101

Tennessee

(615)
741-7036

Texas

(512)
440-3809

Utah

(801)
530-7606

Vermont

(802)
828-2765

Virginia

(804)
786-6359

Virgin Islands

(809)
772-1315

Washington

(360)
902-5638

West Virginia

(304)
558-7890

Wisconsin

(608)
266-8579(H)

(414)
521-5063(S)

Wyoming

(307)
777-3546

(H) - Health
(S) - Safety

OSHA Area
Offices

Area

Telephone

Albany, NY

(518)
464-4338

Albuquerque, NM

(505)
248-5302

Allentown, PA

(610)
776-0592

Anchorage, AK

(907)
271-5152

Appleton, WI

(414)
734-4521

Austin, TX

(512)
916-5783

Avenel, NJ

(908)
750-3270

Baltimore, MD

(410)
962-2840

Bangor, ME

(207)
941-8177

Baton Rouge, LA

(504)
389-0474

Bayside, NY

(718)
279-9060

Bellevue, WA

(206)
553-7520

Billings, MT

(406)
247-7494

Birmingham, AL

(205)
731-1534

Bismarck, ND

(701)
250-4521

Boise, ID

(208)
334-1867

Bowmansville, NY

(716)
684-3891

Braintree, MA

(617)
565-6924

Bridgeport, CT

(203)
579-5581

Calumet City, IL

(708)
891-3800

Carson City, NV

(702)
885-6963

Charleston, WV

(304)
347-5937

Cincinnati, OH

(513)
841-4132

Cleveland, OH

(216)
522-3818

Columbia, SC

(803)
765-5904

Columbus, OH

(614)
469-5582

Concord, NH

(603)
225-1629

Corpus Christi, TX

(512)
888-3420

Dallas, TX

(214)
320-2400

Denver, CO

(303)
844-5285

Des Plaines, IL

(847)
803-4800

Des Moines, IA

(515)
284-4794

Englewood, CO

(303)
843-4500

Erie, PA

(814)
833-5758

Fort Lauderdale, FL

(305)
424-0242

Fort Worth, TX

(817)
428-2470

Frankfort, KY

(502)
227-7024

Harrisburg, PA

(717)
782-3902

Hartford, CT

(860)
240-3152

Hasbrouck Heights,
NJ

(201)
288-1700

Guaynabo, PA

(787)
277-1560

Honolulu, HI

(808)
541-2685

Houston, TX

(281)
286-0583

Houston, TX

(281)
591-2438

Indianapolis, IN

(317)
226-7290

Jackson, MS

(601)
965-4606

Jacksonville, FL

(904)
232-2895

Kansas City, MO

(816)
483-9531

Lansing, MI

(517)
377-1892

Little Rock, AR

(501)
324-6291

Lubbock, TX

(806)
472-7681

Madison, WI

(608)
264-5388

Marlton, NJ

(609)
757-5181

Methuen, MA

(617)
565-8110

Milwaukee, WI

(414)
297-3315

Minneapolis, MN

(612)
664-4560

Mobile, AL

(334)
441-6131

Nashville, TN

(615)
781-5423

New York, NY

(212)
466-2482

Norfolk, VA

(804)
441-3820

North Aurora, IL

(630)
896-8700

Oklahoma City, OK

(405)
231-5351

Omaha, NE

(402)
221-3182

Parsippany, NJ

(201)
263-1003

Peoria, IL

(309)
671-7033

Philadelphia, PA

(215)
597-4955

Phoenix, AZ

(602)
640-2007

Pittsburgh, PA

(412)
644-2903

Portland, OR

(503)
326-2251

Providence, RI

(401)
528-4669

Raleigh, NC

(919)
856-4770

Salt Lake City, UT

(801)
524-5080

Sacramento, CA

(916)
566-7470

San Diego, CA

(619)
557-2909

Savannah, GA

(912)
652-4393

Smyrna, GA

(404)
984-8700

Springfield, MA

(413)
785-0123

St. Louis, MO

(314)
425-4249

Syracuse, NY

(315)
451-0808

Tampa, FL

(813)
626-1177

Tarrytown, NY

(914)
524-7510

Toledo, OH

(419)
259-7542

Tucker, GA

(770)
493-6644

Westbury, NY

(516)
334-3344

Wichita, KS

(316)
269-6644

Wilkes-Barre, PA

(717)
826-6538

Wilmington, DE

(302)
573-6115

OSHA Regional
Offices

Region I
(CT,* MA, ME, NH, RI, VT*)
JFK Federal Building Room E-340
Boston,
MA 02203
Telephone: (617) 565-9860

Region II
(NJ, NY,* PR,* VI*)
201 Varick Street Room 670
New York, NY
10014
Telephone: (212) 337-2378

Region III
(DC, DE, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)
Gateway Building, Suite 2100
3535
Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Telephone: (215)
596-1201

Region IV
(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC, SC,* TN*)
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street,
S. W., Room 6T50
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: (404)
562-2300

Region V
(IL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)
230 South Dearborn Street Room
3244
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: (312) 353-2220

Region VI
(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)
525 Griffin Street Room
602
Dallas, TX 75202
Telephone: (214) 767-4731

Region VII
(IA,* KS, MO, NE)
City Center Square
1100 Main
Street, Suite 800
Kansas City, MO 64105
Telephone: (816)
426-5861

Region VIII
(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT,* WY*)
1999 Broadway, Suite 1690
Denver, CO
80202-5716
Telephone: (303) 844-1600

Region IX
(American Samoa, AZ,* CA,* Guam, HI,* NV,* Trust Territories of the Pacific)
71
Stevenson Street Room 420
San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone:
(415) 975-4310

Region X
(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)
1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715
Seattle, WA
98101-3212
Telephone: (206) 553-5930

Footnote(1) U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, The
Hazardous Waste System (Washington, DC, 1995), p. ES-2. (Back
to Text)

Footnote(2) If the employee has not had an
examination within the last 6 months. (Back
to Text)

Footnote(3) Emergency response to the
release of hazardous substances beyond cleanup and TSD sites must
also have plans that include these elements and other specific
requirements as indicated in 1910.120 (q). (Back
to Text)

Footnote(4) A physical barricade, natural or
man-made, that has been designed and constructed of sufficient
thickness and density to withstand or deflect the impact loads of an
adjacent explosion. (Back
to Text)

Footnote(5) A designated work area within
the worksite. (Back
to Text)

Footnote(*) These states and territories
operate their own OSHA-approved job safety and health programs
(Connecticut and New York plans cover public employees only). States
with approved programs must have a standard that is identical to, or
at least as effective as, the federal standard. (Back
to Text)

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