OSHA Training

Yesterday was my OSHA 8-hour annual refresher training class and test. It is a requirement to keep my hazardous waste emergency operations ( HAZWOPER ) knowledge up to date.

Among items we discussed were new shipping documents, the hazard classification system, blood borne pathogens, a little time with our emergency response guidebooks and the part I was waiting for PPE (personal protective equipment). Masks, suits, boots all that stuff.

'Who wants to volunteer?"...

and seeing a perfectly good opportunity to develop a blog post with interesting photos, I stepped up.
Picture 1 (upper left): I am wearing a powered supplied air hood. It is battery operated and has filter cartridges. The hood has two flaps, an inner that goes under your outer wear and the outer flap. It was quite cool and did not fog up.
Picture 2 (right) : I have on rubber boots, a new style of tyvec suit (which is some new material i forgot the name), and double glove protection. Here we were just demonstrating the correct way to tape off the legs and wrists.
So. Yep. I'm good for another year of hazardous waste cleanup. But do not fear for my safety. When the shit gets really bad...or even just a little bad. I step WAY the fuck back and call in Clean Harbors. This is probably one of the few situations were I will say

"why do it yourself when some other guy can it for you'?"

And, Yes I did pass the test.