Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training is designed to inform and protect workers who are at risk of coming into contact with dangerous materials. The HAZWOPER standard is a set of regulations and procedures outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. federal agency responsible for protecting employees of U.S. companies from workplace injuries and harm. OSHA has specified 10 separate courses of education related to safe practices when dealing with hazardous materials. Employees are required to take different courses depending on which type of facility they work in, their potential exposure to hazardous materials and their level of authority in the workplace.

The first few levels of courses focus on emergency response. The most basic level of HAZWOPER training is known as First Responder Awareness. OSHA has not specified a minimum amount of required education, as the expectations for this level are simply to demonstrate the ability to perform one's duty safely and adequately and the amount of training required to do so varies from position to position. The next level, First Responder Operations, involves meeting the requirements for First Responder Awareness as well as successfully completing an eight-hour course. Generally, this level is appropriate for workers who would be required to take action in the event of a hazardous release but would not face direct exposure to released materials.

Those employees whose duties would require them to risk exposure to hazardous materials require the next higher level of education. This level, known as Hazardous Materials Technician, involves a 24-hour course. Additionally, employees may need to receive additional education in site-specific skills and procedures. Similarly, workers who are designated Hazardous Materials Specialists must have 24 hours of training. Their role is typically to focus on one specific aspect of clean-up or emergency response as part of a team of Hazardous Materials Technicians. The highest level of emergency response training qualifies an employee to be an On Site Incident Commander. These employees are responsible for supervising other First Responder staff. Their education involves a 24-hour course, plus further training relevant to their specific duties.

Employees whose risk is not due to potential emergencies ,but from working at a hazardous waste site are required to take separate courses. The most basic level in this category involves a 24-hour course, followed by one day of supervised field experience. Employees at this level are referred to as Occasional Site Workers. Workers with more potential exposure to hazardous materials must instead take a 40-hour training and have three days of supervised field experience. This qualifies them to be certified as HAZWOPER General Site Workers. Employees who are supervisors must fulfill all of the above requirements, plus take an additional eight-hour class.