Does "Subpart H - Hazardous Materials" Apply to You?

If yes, then you need to comply with the standard on compressed gases (general requirements) as it provides requirements pertaining to safety relief devices and inspections. In addition, this subpart provides specific requirements for acetylene, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrous oxide that will also apply based on the compressed gas(es) being used. 

Do employees use acetylene? If yes, then you need to comply with the standard on acetylene. It requires complying with referenced consensus standards including those found in incorporation by reference. It also provides requirements pertaining to transfer, storage, handling and use of cylinders, piped systems, generators and filling cylinders. 

Do employees use hydrogen? If yes, then you may need to comply with the standard on hydrogen. Paragraph (b) applies only to the installation of gaseous hydrogen systems on consumer premises where the hydrogen supply to the consumer premises originates outside the consumer premises and is delivered by mobile equipment; the installation of liquefied hydrogen systems on consumer premises but it does not apply to gaseous hydrogen systems having a total hydrogen content of less than 400 cubic feet, nor to hydrogen manufacturing plants or other establishments operated by the hydrogen supplier or his agent for the purpose of storing hydrogen and refilling portable containers, trailers, mobile supply trucks, or tank cars. It provides requirements pertaining to containers, safety relief devices, piping, tubing, fittings, equipment assembly, markings, testing, location, design consideration, operating instructions and maintenance. 

Gaseous hydrogen system is one in which the hydrogen is delivered, stored and discharged in the gaseous form to consumer's piping. The system includes stationary or movable containers, pressure regulators, safety relief devices, manifolds, interconnecting piping and controls. The system terminates at the point where hydrogen at service pressure first enters the consumer's distribution piping.

Paragraph (c) of this standard applies to the installation of liquefied hydrogen systems on consumer premises but does not apply to liquefied hydrogen portable containers of less than 150 liters (39.63 gallons) capacity; nor to liquefied hydrogen manufacturing plants or other establishments operated by the hydrogen supplier or his agent for the sole purpose of storing liquefied hydrogen and refilling portable containers, trailers, mobile supply trucks, or tank cars. It provides requirements pertaining to containers, safety relief devices, piping, tubing, fittings, equipment assembly, markings, testing, location, design consideration, operating instructions and maintenance. 

Do employees use oxygen? If yes, then you need to comply with the standard on oxygen. This standard applies to the installation of bulk oxygen systems on industrial and institutional consumer premises. It does not apply to oxygen manufacturing plants or other establishments operated by the oxygen supplier or his agent for the purpose of storing oxygen and refilling portable containers, trailers, mobile supply trucks, or tank cars, nor to systems having capacities less than those stated below. It provides requirements pertaining to location, distance between systems and exposures, storage containers, piping, tubing, fittings, safety relief devices, liquid oxygen vaporizers, equipment assembly and installation, operating instructions and maintenance.

A bulk oxygen system is an assembly of equipment, such as oxygen storage containers, pressure regulators, safety devices, vaporizers, manifolds, and interconnecting piping, which has storage capacity of more than 13,000 cubic feet of oxygen, Normal Temperature and Pressure (NTP), connected in service or ready for service, or more than 25,000 cubic feet of oxygen (NTP) including unconnected reserves on hand at the site. The bulk oxygen system terminates at the point where oxygen at service pressure first enters the supply line. The oxygen containers may be stationary or movable, and the oxygen may be stored as gas or liquid. 

Do employees use nitrous oxide? If yes, then you need to comply with the standard on nitrous oxide. It states that the piped systems for the in-plant transfer and distribution of nitrous oxide shall be designed, installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the referenced consensus standard incorporated by reference (see incorporation by reference).

More information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for compressed gases. Other related information can be found on the A-Z safety and health topics page for personal protective equipment and flammable liquids. Additional assistance with consensus standards can be obtained by contacting the NCDOL Library. 

If yes, then you need to comply with the flammable liquids standard. This standard applies to the handling, storage, and use of flammable liquids with a flashpoint at or below 199.4 °F (93 °C) unless otherwise noted. It does not apply to:

• Bulk transportation of flammable liquids;
• Storage, handling, and use of fuel oil tanks and containers connected with oil burning equipment;
• Storage of flammable liquids on farms;
• Liquids without flashpoints that may be flammable under some conditions, such as certain halogenated hydrocarbons and mixtures containing halogenated hydrocarbons;
• Mists, sprays, or foams, except flammable aerosols covered in paragraph (d) of this section; or
• Installations made in accordance with requirements of the following standards, that are incorporated by reference.

Note: This standard has specific requirements depending on the use and/or location. 

Paragraphs (a) provides the definitions, paragraph (b) provides requirements for tank storage (i.e., design and construction, pressure vessels, low pressure tanks, atmospheric tanks); installation of outside above ground tanks; installation of tanks inside of buildings; supports, foundations, and anchorage for all tank locations; sources of ignition; and testing, and paragraph (c) provides the requirements for piping, valves and fittings. 

Do you have container and/or portable tank storage?  If yes, then paragraph (d) applies to you if:

• The storage of flammable liquids in drums or other containers (including flammable aerosols) does not exceed 60 gallons individual capacity; and
• The portable tanks do not exceed 660 gallons individual capacity.

Note: This paragraph does not apply to the following:

• Storage of containers in bulk plants, service stations, refineries, chemical plants, and distilleries;
• Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids in the fuel tanks of a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, or portable or stationary engine;
• Flammable paints, oils, varnishes, and similar mixtures used for painting or maintenance when not kept for a period in excess of 30 days;
• Beverages when packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1 gallon in size.

It provides requirements for design, construction, and capacity of containers; design, construction, and capacity of storage cabinets; design and construction of inside storage rooms; storage inside building; storage outside buildings; and fire control.

Do you have an industrial plant? If yes, then paragraph (e) applies to you if:

• The use of flammable liquids is incidental to the principal business, or
• Where flammable liquids are handled or used only in unit physical operations such as mixing, drying, evaporating, filtering, distillation, and similar operations which do not involve chemical reaction. Note: This paragraph does not apply to chemical plants, refineries or distilleries.

Exception: Where portions of such plants involve chemical reactions such as oxidation, reduction, halogenation, hydrogenation, alkylation, polymerization, and other chemical processes, those portions of the plant shall be in accordance with paragraph (h) - processing plants.

It provides requirements for incidental storage or use of flammable liquids; unit physical operations; tank vehicle and tank car loading and unloading; fire control; sources of ignition; electrical; repairs to equipment; housekeeping; and general requirements (i.e., waste and residue, clear zone, access). 

Do you have bulk plants? If yes, then paragraph (f) applies to you. It provides requirements for storage, piling containers, buildings (i.e., exits, ventilation), loading and unloading facilities (i.e., static protection, valves, separation), wharves (i.e., design and construction, hoses, piping, fittings, couplings), electrical equipment (i.e., classification), sources of ignition, drainage and waste disposal, and fire control.

Do you have service stations? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (g). It provides the requirements for storage and handling, special enclosures, inside buildings, dispensing systems, remote pumping systems, marine service stations, electrical equipment, heating equipment, and drainage and waste disposal.

Do you have processing plants? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (h) as it applies to those plants or buildings which contain chemical operations such as oxidation, reduction, halogenation, hydrogenation, alkylation, polymerization, and other chemical processes but shall not apply to chemical plants, refineries or distilleries. It includes requirements location, processing building (i.e., construction, drainage, ventilation), liquid handling (i.e., storage, piping, valves, fittings, transfers, equipment), tank vehicle and tank car loading and unloading, fire control (i.e., portable fire extinguishers, alarm systems, maintenance), sources of ignition (i.e., electrical, maintenance, repair), and housekeeping. 

Do you have refineries, chemical plants, and distilleries? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (i). It provides requirements for storage tanks, fired and unfired pressure vessels, location of process units, and fire control.

Flammable liquid means any liquid having a flashpoint at or below 199.4 °F (93 °C). Flammable liquids are divided into four categories as follows:

• Category 1 shall include liquids having flashpoints below 73.4 °F (23 °C) and having a boiling point at or below 95 °F (35 °C).
• Category 2 shall include liquids having flashpoints below 73.4 °F (23 °C) and having a boiling point above 95 °F (35 °C).
• Category 3 shall include liquids having flashpoints at or above 73.4 °F (23 °C) and at or below 140 °F (60 °C). When a Category 3 liquid with a flashpoint at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C) is heated for use to within 30 °F (16.7 °C) of its flashpoint, it shall be handled in accordance with the requirements for a Category 3 liquid with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C).
• Category 4 shall include liquids having flashpoints above 140 °F (60 °C) and at or below 199.4 °F (93 °C). When a Category 4 flammable liquid is heated for use to within 30 °F (16.7 °C) of its flashpoint, it shall be handled in accordance with the requirements for a Category 3 liquid with a flashpoint at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C). Note: When liquid with a flashpoint greater than 199.4 °F (93 °C) is heated for use to within 30 °F (16.7 °C) of its flashpoint, it shall be handled in accordance with the requirements for a Category 4 flammable liquid.

More related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for personal protective equipment, flammable liquids and respiratory protection. Additional assistance with consensus standards can be obtained by contacting the NCDOL Library. 

If yes, then you need to comply with the spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials standard. It applies to flammable and combustible finishing materials when applied as a spray by compressed air, "airless" or "hydraulic atomization", steam, electrostatic methods, or by any other means in continuous or intermittent processes. The standard also covers the application of combustible powders by powder spray guns, electrostatic powder spray guns, fluidized beds, and electrostatic fluidized beds. It does not apply to outdoor spray application of buildings, tanks, or other similar structures, nor to small portable spraying apparatus not used repeatedly in the same location.

Paragraph (b) - (h) provides the requirements pertaining to spray booths (i.e., interiors, construction, floors, overspray collectors. cleaning, conveyors, illumination, frontal area), electrical and other sources of ignition (i.e., conformance, minimum separation, hot surfaces, wiring conformance, combustible residues and areas, lamps, grounding),  ventilation (i.e., conformance, exhaust, belts, motors, ducts, discharge clearance, drying spaces), flammable liquids and liquids with a flashpoint greater than 199.4 °F (i.e., conformance, quantity, containers, transferring liquids, spraying containers, pipes and hoses, spray liquid heaters, pump relief, grounding), protection (i.e., conformance, sprinklers, portable fire extinguishers), operations and maintenance (i.e., conformance, spraying, cleaning, residue disposal, clothing storage, cleaning solvents, hazardous materials combinations, no smoking signs), and fixed electrostatic apparatus (i.e., conformance, type approval, location, support, insulators, grounding, safe distance, conveyors, fail-safe controls, guarding, ventilation, fire protection).

Paragraph (i) applies to electrostatic hand spraying equipment and applies to any equipment using electrostatically charged elements for the atomization and/or, precipitation of materials for coatings on articles, or for other similar purposes in which the atomizing device is hand held and manipulated during the spraying operation. It includes the requirements pertaining to conformance, electrical support equipment, equipment approval and specifications, spray gun ground, grounding, maintenance of grounds, interlocks, and ventilation.

Paragraph (j) provides the requirements for drying, curing and fusion apparatus including conformance, alternate use, and adjacent system interlocked.  

Paragraph (k) provides that automobile undercoating spray operations in garages, conducted in areas having adequate natural or mechanical ventilation, are exempt from the requirements pertaining to spray finishing operations, when using undercoating materials not more hazardous than kerosene (as listed by Underwriters' Laboratories in respect to fire hazard rating 30-40) or undercoating materials using only solvents listed as having a flash point in excess of 100 deg. F. Undercoating spray operations not conforming to these provisions are subject to all requirements of this section pertaining to spray finishing operations.

Paragraph (l) covers powder coating and includes requirements pertaining to electrical and other sources of ignition, ventilation, drying, curing and fusion equipment, operation and maintenance, electrostatic spraying equipment, and electrostatic fluidized beds. 

Paragraph (m) provides requirements for organic peroxides and dual component coatings and includes requirements pertaining to conformance and smoking.

Paragraph (a) provides definitions including: 

Spraying area - Any area in which dangerous quantities of flammable vapors or mists, or combustible residues, dusts, or deposits are present due to the operation of spraying processes.

Spray booth - A power-ventilated structure provided to enclose or accommodate a spraying operation to confine and limit the escape of spray, vapor, and residue, and to safely conduct or direct them to an exhaust system.

Also reference paragraph (c) of the ventilation standard for requirements pertaining to spray finishing operations. It applies to spray booths or spray rooms used to enclose or confine all spray finishing operations but does not apply to the spraying of the exteriors of buildings, fixed tanks, or similar structures, nor to small portable spraying apparatus not used repeatedly in the same location. 

More related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for personal protective equipment, flammable liquids and respiratory protection. 

If yes, you need to comply with the standard on explosives and blasting agents. It applies to the manufacture, keeping, having, storage, sale, transportation, and use of explosives, blasting agents, and pyrotechnics. This standard does not apply to the sale and use (public display) of pyrotechnics, commonly known as fireworks, nor to the use of explosives in the form prescribed by the official U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Note: The manufacture of explosives and the manufacture of pyrotechnics as defined below must meet the requirements of  process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals. 

This standard provides requirements for storage, transportation, use (i.e., including when used at piers, railway stations, and cars or vessels), blasting agents, water gel (slurry) explosives and blasting agents, storage of ammonium nitrate, small arms ammunition, small arms primers, and small arms propellants, and definitions applicable to this standard. 

Explosive is defined as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion, i.e., with substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat, unless such compound, mixture, or device is otherwise specifically classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation; see 49 CFR chapter I. The term "explosives" shall include all material which is classified as Class A, Class B, and Class C explosives by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and includes, but is not limited to dynamite, black powder, pellet powders, initiating explosives, blasting caps, electric blasting caps, safety fuse, fuse lighters, fuse igniters, squibs, cordeau detonant fuse, instantaneous fuse, igniter cord, igniters, small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, smokeless propellant, cartridges for propellant-actuated power devices, and cartridges for industrial guns. Commercial explosives are those explosives which are intended to be used in commercial or industrial operations.

Pyrotechnics is defined as any combustible or explosive compositions or manufactured articles designed and prepared for the purpose of producing audible or visible effects which are commonly referred to as fireworks.

Blasting agent is defined as any material or mixture, consisting of a fuel and oxidizer, intended for blasting, not otherwise classified as an explosive and in which none of the ingredients are classified as an explosive, provided that the finished product, as mixed and packaged for use or shipment, cannot be detonated by means of a No. 8 test blasting cap when unconfined.

More related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topic pages for personal protective equipment, explosives, process safety management and pyrotechnics.

If yes, then you need to comply with the storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases standard. It includes requirements for internal combustion engines, fuel containers, and pertinent equipment for the use of liquefied petroleum gases as a motor fuel on easily movable, readily portable units including self-propelled vehicles.

It applies to systems utilizing containers constructed in accordance with DOT specifications and those that are not. It also applies to storage containers, and dispensing devices, and pertinent equipment in service stations where LP-gas is stored and is dispensed into fuel tanks of motor vehicles, and to the storage of portable containers not in excess of 1,000 pounds water capacity, filled or partially filled, at user location but not connected for use, or in storage for resale by dealers or resellers.

This standard does not apply to marine and pipeline terminals, natural gas processing plants, refineries, or tank farms other than those at industrial sites; LP-gas refrigerated storage systems; LP-gas when used with oxygen; LP-gas when used in utility gas plants; or to low-pressure (not in excess of one-half pound per square inch or 14 inches water column) LP-gas piping systems, and the installation and operation of residential and commercial appliances.

It includes requirements related to welding containers, marking containers, valves and accessories, hose specifications, safety relief valves, storage of containers, cylinder systems, safety devices, garaging vehicles, gas service stations, internal combustion engines, and LP gas as a motor fuel. 

More related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for flammable liquids, compressed gases and personal protective equipment. 

Do you have anhydrous ammonia systems including refrigerated ammonia storage systems? If yes, then you need to comply with the storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia standard. This standard applies to the design, construction, location, installation, and operation of anhydrous ammonia systems including refrigerated ammonia storage systems. However, this standard does not apply to ammonia manufacturing plants or to refrigeration plants where ammonia is used solely as a refrigerant.

It includes requirements for basic rules, marking containers, storage areas, location of containers, piping, fittings, hose specifications, safety relief devices, charging containers, electrical equipment, design, compressors, tank motor vehicles, transfer of liquids, farm vehicles, and definitions.

More information on ammonia can be found on our A-Z topics page for ammonia and ammonia refrigeration. Additional related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for personal protective equipment, compressed gases and respiratory protection. 

Can you answer yes to any of the questions below? If yes, you need to comply with the process safety management of highly hazardous materials standard.

• Do you have any process which involves a chemical at or above the specified threshold quantities listed in appendix A?
• Do you have any process which involves a Category 1 flammable gas or a flammable liquid with a flashpoint below 100 °F on site in one location, in a quantity of 10,000 pounds or more? Exception: Hydrocarbon fuels used solely for workplace consumption as a fuel (e.g., propane used for comfort heating, gasoline for vehicle refueling), if such fuels are not a part of a process containing another highly hazardous chemical covered by this standard and flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F stored in atmospheric tanks or transferred which are kept below their normal boiling point without benefit of chilling or refrigeration.

This standard does not apply to:

• Retail facilities;
• Oil or gas well drilling or servicing operations; or,
• Normally unoccupied remote facilities.

This standard provides requirements for employee participation, process safety information, process hazard analysis, operating procedures, training, contractors, pre-startup safety review, mechanical integrity, hot work permits, management of change, incident investigations, emergency planning and response, compliance audits, trade secrets and definitions. In addition, appendix B provides a block flow diagram and simplified process flow diagram and appendix C provides compliance guidelines and recommendations for process safety management.  

Process means any activity involving a highly hazardous chemical including any use, storage, manufacturing, handling, or the on-site movement of such chemicals, or combination of these activities. For purposes of this definition, any group of vessels which are interconnected and separate vessels which are located such that a highly hazardous chemical could be involved in a potential release shall be considered a single process.

Highly hazardous chemical means a substance possessing toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive properties.

Normally unoccupied remote facility means a facility which is operated, maintained or serviced by employees who visit the facility only periodically to check its operation and to perform necessary operating or maintenance tasks. No employees are permanently stationed at the facility. Facilities meeting this definition are not contiguous with, and must be geographically remote from all other buildings, processes or persons.

Additional information can be found on the A-Z safety and health topic pages for process safety management, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, eyewash stations and emergency showers, organic solvents, fire prevention plans, emergency action plans, flammable liquids and respiratory protection.

The HAZWOPER standard provides requirements for three separate operations, unless the employer can demonstrate that the operation does not involve employee exposure or the reasonable possibility for employee exposure to safety or health hazards: clean-up operations by an employer; treatment, storage and disposal, and emergency response. Answer the following question to identify whether you need to comply with this standard and if so, which section of the standard. 

Do you have employees that respond to clean up operations of hazardous material at the worksite? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (a) - (o) - clean up operations by an employer. Paragraph (a) provides the scope, application and definitions. Paragraphs (b) - (o) provide requirements for clean up operations including having a safety and health program, site characterization and analysis, site control, training, medical surveillance, engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment for employee protection, monitoring, informational programs, handling drums and containers, decontamination, emergency response by employees at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, illumination, sanitation of temporary workplaces, and new technology programs. In addition, appendix A provides personal protective equipment test methods, appendix B provides general description and discussion of the levels of protection and protective gear, appendix C provides compliance guidelines, and appendix E provides training curriculum guidelines. 

Clean-up operation means an operation where hazardous substances are removed, contained, incinerated, neutralized, stabilized, cleared-up, or in any other manner processed or handled with the ultimate goal of making the site safer for people or the environment.

Emergency response or responding to emergencies means a response effort by employees from outside the immediate release area or by other designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. Note: Responses to incidental releases of hazardous substances where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel are not considered to be emergency responses within the scope of this standard. Responses to releases of hazardous substances where there is no potential safety or health hazard (i.e., fire, explosion, or chemical exposure) are not considered to be emergency responses.

Additional information on can be found on our A-Z topics pages for HAZWOPER. More related information can be found on the A-Z topics pages for personal protective equipment, emergency action plans, flammable liquids and respiratory protection. 

Note: For environmental information related to hazardous waste clean-up, disposal, and management, go to North Carolina Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management. 

The HAZWOPER standard provides requirements for three separate operations, unless the employer can demonstrate that the operation does not involve employee exposure or the reasonable possibility for employee exposure to safety or health hazards: clean up operations by an employer; treatment, storage and disposal, and emergency response. Answer the following question to identify whether you need to comply with this standard and if so, which section of the standard.

Do you have employees that respond to emergencies involving hazardous materials at any location (i.e., HatMat Team)? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (a) and paragraph (q) - emergency response. Paragraph (a) provides the scope, application and definitions. Paragraph (q) provides the requirements for an emergency response plan, procedures for handling emergency response, skilled support personnel, specialist employees, training, trainers, refresher training, medical surveillance and consultation, chemical protective clothing, and post-emergency response operations. In addition, appendix A provides personal protective equipment test methods, appendix B provides general description and discussion of the levels of protection and protective gear, appendix C provides compliance guidelines, and appendix E provides training curriculum guidelines. 

Note: Post-emergency response operations requires that upon completion of the emergency response, if it is determined that it is necessary to remove hazardous substances, health hazards and materials contaminated with them (such as contaminated soil or other elements of the natural environment) from the site of the incident, the employer conducting the clean-up shall comply with one of the following:

• Meet all the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (o); or
• Where the clean-up is done on plant property using plant or workplace employees, such employees shall have completed the training requirements of the following: emergency action plan, respiratory protection, hazard communication, and other appropriate safety and health training made necessary by the tasks they are expected to perform such as personal protective equipment and decontamination procedures. 

Emergency response or responding to emergencies means a response effort by employees from outside the immediate release area or by other designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance. Note: Responses to incidental releases of hazardous substances where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel are not considered to be emergency responses within the scope of this standard. Responses to releases of hazardous substances where there is no potential safety or health hazard (i.e., fire, explosion, or chemical exposure) are not considered to be emergency responses.

Do you have employees that respond to hydrocarbon fuel leaks? If yes, you will also need to comply with the North Carolina state specific standard, hazardous materials, which adds a new level of training to paragraph (q)(6) for individuals who respond to hydrocarbon fuel leaks; "first responder operations plus level".

Responder Operations Plus Level - First responders at operations plus level are individuals who respond to hydrocarbon fuel tank leaks where the leaking tanks contain a hydrocarbon fuel which is used to propel the vehicle on which the tank is located. Only those vehicles designed for highway use or those used for industrial, agricultural or construction purposes are covered.

Additional information on can be found on our A-Z topics pages for HAZWOPER. More related information can be found on the A-Z topics pages for personal protective equipment, emergency action plans, flammable liquids and respiratory protection. 

The HAZWOPER standard provides requirements for three separate operations, unless the employer can demonstrate that the operation does not involve employee exposure or the reasonable possibility for employee exposure to safety or health hazards: clean-up operations by an employer; treatment, storage and disposal, and emergency response. Answer the following question to identify whether you need to comply with this standard and if so, which section of the standard.

Do you have employees involved in operations at a treatment, storage and disposal facility? If yes, then you need to comply with paragraph (a) and paragraph (p) - treatment, storage and disposal. Paragraph (a) provides the scope, application and definitions. Paragraph (p) provides the requirements for having a safety and health program, hazard communication program, medical surveillance program, decontamination program, new technology program, material handling program, training program, and an emergency response plan. In addition, appendix A provides personal protective equipment test methods, appendix B provides general description and discussion of the levels of protection and protective gear, appendix C provides compliance guidelines, and appendix E provides training curriculum guidelines. 

Additional information on can be found on our A-Z topics pages for HAZWOPER. More related information can be found on the A-Z topics pages for personal protective equipment, flammable liquids, emergency action plans and respiratory protection. 

Note: For environmental information related to hazardous waste clean-up, disposal, and management, go to North Carolina Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management. 

Does the operation involve a dip tank that contains a substance other than water? If yes, then these standards apply to you.

The standard on dipping and coating operations: coverage and definitions states that it applies when you use the liquid (other than water) in the tank or its vapor to:

• Clean an object; 
• Coat an object; 
• Alter the surface of an object; or 
• Change the character of an object.

The general requirements for dipping and coating operations provides the requirements for construction, ventilation, chemical reaction, exhaust hoods, confined spaces, first aid procedures, and hygiene facilities (i.e., emergency shower, eyewash, inspections, respirators, ventilation). 

Further, you will need to comply with the standards, additional requirements for dipping and coating operations that use flammable liquids or liquids with flashpoints greater than 199.4 F (i.e., noncombustible material, overflow piping, bottom drains, use of conveyor systems, fire protection, temperatures) and additional requirements for special dipping and coating operations (i.e., hardening tanks, tempering tanks, flow coating, roll coating, roll spreading, roll impregnating, vapor degreasing tanks, cyanide tanks, electrostatic paint detearing) as applicable to your dipping and coating operations. 

Dip tank means a container holding a liquid other than water and that is used for dipping or coating. An object may be immersed (or partially immersed) in a dip tank or it may be suspended in a vapor coming from the tank. 

Lower flammable limit (LFL) means the lowest concentration of a material that will propagate a flame. The LFL is usually expressed as a percent by volume of the material in air (or other oxidant). 

Autoignition temperature means the minimum temperature required to cause self-sustained combustion, independent of any other source of heat. 

More related information can be found on our A-Z safety and health topics pages for personal protective equipment, dipping and coating, flammable liquids and respiratory protection.