A team reacts only as well as it has been trained. This is why, in the fields of hazardous waste management—including prevention, remediation, emergency response, transportation, and disposal—training is essential. From hazardous safety training to emergency rescue procedures to programs and permits, NEDT tirelessly trains our employees to be ready, whether that’s on the job site, on the road, or here at NEDT HQ. Learn more and see our gallery below.
Safety and Rescue Training is Critical in Hazardous Waste
As spill responders and disaster management, we’ve seen firsthand how not having the right training and procedures can injure employees, damage the environment, and cripple a business. So when it comes to hazardous chemicals and other waste, doing it right the first time is critical, especially when responding to a crisis. And every time we see an incident in the news with hazardous waste, we work internally to review and update our training, guidelines, and procedures to make sure it can’t happen here.
The NEDT Culture of Safety Through Training
And we stand by the results. In 2023, we announced we had reached 1000 days without incident, specifically the OSHA-defined time lost incident, which are on-the-job injuries that result in the loss of productive work time for employees. Our then Vice President, Patrick O’Toole, ascribed this to our culture of training and safety:
“Safety is our highest priority; it dictates all facets of our work. Nothing is more important. Employees of NEDT regularly attend mandated safety trainings, including OSHA’s 40-hour program, as well as several in-house trainings regarding fall protection, respiratory protection, control of hazardous energy, boating safety and boom deployment, and confined space entry and rescue.”
NEDT in Action: Training Gallery
Below are some of the training our staff attend. Some of these are required, some are recommended, and some are part of certification processes, but all are important.
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- NEDT staff perform the 40-hour HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response), which includes policies, practices, and procedures for uncontrolled hazardous waste operations, all up to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards.
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- Working on jobsites compromised by disasters, ongoing remediation excavations, and spill responses with bridges and embankments, our staff trains for fall protection and recovery.
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- NEDT operators undergo certification and remedial training on all the protective gear NEDT utilizes, from simple mouth, nose, and eye protection to completely sealed PPE gear.
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- Due to our involvement in performing maintenance, shutdowns, and repairs of industrial machinery, our staff undergoes control of hazardous energy training, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures.
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- In our role as spill response, disaster management, and site remediation, sometimes we have to clean bodies of water. Training on boating and boon deployment is vital to keep our staff safe and productive on the open water.
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- Some spaces, such as tanks, utility tunnels, and crawl spaces in industrial zones, are designated Permit Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) by OSHA and require specialized training for use of the permit system and emergency actions.
We believe that our deep pool of institutional knowledge, high standards, and focus on training, safety, and procedures not only make us a safer company, but a more effective one when it comes to hazardous waste. Even if you’re not dealing with special circumstances like contaminated water disposal or PRCS-required operations, it pays to work with the best. Using our 25+ years of project experience, we’ll deliver the best experience in any of our areas of expertise. Contact us today to learn more and get started.
