Which federal agency regulates and governs issues related to hazardous materials in the environment?

Several guideline documents have been developed to assist in the proper management of hazardous materials:

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Which U.S. government agency is focused on the transport of hazardous materials?
Which agency has oversight of hazardous materials transportation in the USA?
Which agency enforces the regulations for transportation of hazardous materials on lakes in the United States?
What are the 4 types of hazardous materials?

Management of Empty Chemical Containers
Management of Flammable and Combustible Materials
Management of Peroxide Forming Chemicals
- Peroxide-Forming Chemical Warning Label
3-part article from the Journal of Chemical Health & Safety – Management of Time-Sensitive Chemicals

Labeling

All chemical containers must be labeled with the Identity of the Chemical(s) therein and Appropriate Hazards Warnings, in words, pictures, symbols, or a combination thereof which provide all of the hazard information. Labels on containers with mixtures of difference chemicals must indicate the constituents and approximate percentages of each.

Containers of Waste Chemicals must have a completed label. An Unwanted Chemical Label template is available in MS Word.
This label should also be used for chemicals that are no wanted, but that are not “chemical waste” items.

A group of common hazard pictures is available for use in creating appropriate container signage. The common hazard pictures are in a PowerPoint file.

To assist Emergency Responders, the entry door(s) to all rooms and laboratories at Marshall University that house hazardous materials must be labeled with the NFPA Hazardous Materials Diamond. A template for the Hazardous Materials Diamond is available in Word and instructions are provided.

Storage

The storage of hazardous chemicals is critical to maintaining a safe working and learning environment. Chemicals must be stored according to their chemically compatibility. More information about chemical compatibility and proper storage guidelines is available on the chemical storage page.

Unwanted chemicals must also be stored according to chemical compatibility, and placed only in chemically compatible containers. Cole-Parmer maintains a searchable database for determining container compatibility.

Entities Regulating Hazardous Waste:

EPA

The US Environmental Protection Agency regulates hazardous materials through the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA protects the environment by mandating the safe management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.

The EPA breaks down hazardous materials into various lists. Each lists represents a different type of hazard. F and K lists are specific to industrial processes, while the others are more general in nature and apply to all generators.

This Excel spreadsheet lists each of the EPA Hazardous Materials Lists (D, F, K, P, U) and has an additional list of hazardous constituents.

OSHA

Responsible for protecting workers from unnecessary health hazards, OSHA has established Subpart Z in the General Industry Regulations, 29 CFR 1910. Subpart Z outlines those Toxic and Hazardous Substances that must be properly managed to prevent illness in all employees.

Subpart Z includes over 30 specific chemicals and includes Bloodborne Pathogens, addressed in sections 1910.1000 through 1910.1052. The link above lists all of 29 CFR 1910. Simply scroll down to the specific section for that information.

DOT

The US Department of Transportation regulates everything that is shipped on interstate highways. The DOT maintains a Hazardous Materials List, which must be consulted when chemical wastes are offered for transport to a treatment facility.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains a searchable database of Hazardous Chemicals. The site also includes a virtual mixture prediction tool.

Overview

An unexpected release of hazardous substances, or a substantial threat of a hazardous substance release, can pose a significant health and safety risk to workers.Unexpected releases can be caused by operation failures and unrelated outside events (e.g., natural disasters, terrorism). Workers can encounter hazardous substances through waste dumped in the environment—a serious safety and health issue that continues to endanger life and environmental quality. Employers must adequately prepare emergency response and cleanup workers to clearly understand their role(s) in managing unexpected releases of hazardous substances, so that they can act quickly and respond in a safe manner during an emergency.

The Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 required OSHA to issue regulations protecting workers engaged in hazardous waste operations. OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910.120; and construction 29 CFR 1926.65) established health and safety requirements for employers engaged in these operations, as well as responses to emergencies involving releases of hazardous substances. HAZWOPER requires that employers follow specific work policies, practices, and procedures to protect their workers potentially exposed to hazardous substances. The standards provide employers with the information and training criteria necessary to ensure workplace health and safety during hazardous waste, emergency response, and cleanup operations involving hazardous substances. HAZWOPER aims to prevent and minimize the possibility of worker injury and illness resulting from potential exposures to hazardous substances.

Exposures to hazardous substances pose a wide range of acute (i.e., immediate) and chronic (i.e., long-term) health effects. These may include chemical burns, sensitization, irritation, and other toxic effects that may lead to death. Hazardous substance releases can also result in fires, explosions, high-energy events, and/or toxic atmospheres depending on the physical properties and health hazards of the released substance(s). OSHA's Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances Safety and Health Topic page provides more information on safety and health hazards from exposure to hazardous substances.

Under the OSHA law, each employer is responsible for the safety and health of its workers and for providing a safe and healthful workplace. Employers must protect workers from anticipated hazards associated with participation in response and recovery operations for hazardous substances. For additional information on workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA's employers page, workers page and publications list.

OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers through setting and enforcing standards and providing outreach, education and compliance assistance. The publications "OSHA at a Glance" and All About OSHA provide information on the strategies and programs OSHA uses to promote worker safety and health.

About the HAZWOPER Safety and Health Topics Page

This webpage serves as a resource for workers and employers engaged in hazardous waste, emergency response, and cleanup operations involving hazardous substances. It highlights the responsibility of the employer to ensure effective preparedness for and management of emergency responses to potential exposures to hazardous substances.

The webpage includes the following sections:

Background

Provides an overview of HAZWOPER and a discussion of the possible sources of exposure or circumstances leading to exposure to the hazardous substances covered by the regulation. It describes the safety and health effects (injuries, illnesses, and fatality potential) associated with potential exposure to hazardous substances.

Standards

Highlights the OSHA standards and employer requirements, with links to regulatory text under HAZWOPER, the preamble to the final rule for HAZWOPER, and OSHA directives.

General Businesses

Provides information for general businesses. The information in this section applies to operations and incidents involving hazardous substances, for which emergency preparedness and response activities may be necessary.

Preparedness

Provides information on key provisions and employer requirements for categories of work operations covered by HAZWOPER. The page also addresses how HAZWOPER requirements relate to employer and worker preparedness (e.g., planning, equipping, and training).

HAZWOPER Training FAQs

Provides frequently asked questions about HAZWOPER training requirements and training interpretations.

OSHA Resources

Provides links to OSHA-generated information about HAZWOPER. It includes resources developed and maintained by OSHA or developed and maintained through OSHA collaboration with interagency partners. It directs users to interagency guidance documents, websites, fact sheets, and brochures.

Additional Resources

Provides links to additional resources on HAZWOPER topics, developed and maintained by organizations outside of OSHA. These may include materials from other federal or state government agencies, international agencies, peer-reviewed journals, or non-profit or non-governmental organizations focusing on emergency preparedness and response.

Which U.S. government agency is focused on the transport of hazardous materials?

PHMSA is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation, including pipelines.

Which agency has oversight of hazardous materials transportation in the USA?

The safe transportation of hazardous materials is regulated by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), among others.