Disposal Of Hazardous Material

There are many businesses that generate wastes considered hazardous or harmful to human health or the environment. Due to the harmful potential of these materials, workers must be aware of the safety hazards and follow proper handling and disposal procedures in order to protect the environment, themselves, and comply with state and federal regulations.
Workers that generate or handle hazardous waste must be trained on the material’s hazards and safe handling procedures including its collection, labeling, and storage before being transported for final disposal or treatment. Workers should also be trained on emergency and accidental spill response procedures for the materials.
Hazardous materials should never be disposed of down the drain or in regular trash receptacles. They should be put into proper and compatible containers that can be securely sealed. Compatible containers insure the waste material will not react with or corrode them. Storage containers should have a “head space” to allow for waste expansion. Sealed containers should be labeled with the name and hazard class of the waste along with the words ‘Hazardous Waste’ and the date it was generated. Waste storage time limits vary depending on the facility or material.
Waste containers should be securely stored and protected from extreme environments to prevent ruptures, overturns, or other failures and should remain closed during storage, except when adding or removing waste. They should be stored in compatible hazard classes (flammable, corrosive, oxidizers, etc.) and segregated to prevent hazard-ous reactions if the wastes combine. Some flammable material containers may require grounding and containers should be seismically secured, if possible, to prevent spills in an earthquake.
Storage areas for hazardous wastes should be inspected at least weekly. Secondary containment can prevent spills, but if a leak or spill occurs, workers should follow facility spill and emergency response procedures. Spill kits should be available for such emergencies and all cleanup materials should be handled as hazardous waste.
Proper waste documentation is important to track and maintain accountability for hazardous waste prior to shipment. Workers should be familiar with the documents required for their facility and waste types including EPA identification numbers issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests. Workers must receive training before they can sign waste manifest documentation. Transportation of hazardous wastes should be done according to regulation requirements and by dedicated hazardous waste haulers. q