EPA Worker Protection Standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (Renewal)

The EPA Worker Protection Standards apply to State and Local government employees engaged in hazardous waste operations and emergency response in the 27 states and 2 territories that do not have in effect an OSHA-approved plan. Section 126(f) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) requires EPA to set worker protection standards for State and local employees engaged in hazardous waste operations and emergency response in the 27 States that do not have Occupational Safety and Health Administration approved State plans. The EPA coverage, required to be identical to the OSHA standards, extends to three categories of employees: those engaged in clean-ups at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, including corrective actions at Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities regulated under the Resource Conservation and recovery Act (RCRA); employees working at routine hazardous waste operations at RCRA TSD facilities, and employees involved in emergency response operations without regard to location.

The latest form for EPA Worker Protection Standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (Renewal) expires 2021-01-31 and can be found here.