Arsenic Hazards & Safety

Online Training Certification Course

From the highest rated and most trusted online training company - since 2008.

This online training course details potential sources of arsenic, the risks and symptoms of exposure, and applicable arsenic regulations. Arsenic is highly toxic in its inorganic form, which threatens public health through contaminated drinking water used for drinking, food preparation, or irrigation, as well as in numerous industrial processes. The topics detailed in our online certification course will provide strategies to prevent arsenic exposure in the workplace and community.

Arsenic is a potentially lethal poison that, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is five times more toxic than lead. Inorganic arsenic can be found in air, water, and soil. It is present in high levels in the groundwater in numerous countries, including the United States. Arsenic is a naturally occurring inorganic element that has been used in combination with other elements across numerous industries, such as construction, agriculture, and electronics.

This course is for:
Anyone exposed to arsenic hazards should participate in arsenic safety training. Arsenic is used in many industrial purposes, from electronics to alloy manufacturing, pharmaceutical substances, construction, pesticides, glass production, and more.

Workers associated with potentially high-risk areas for arsenic exposure should become familiar with safe work practices and procedures that can minimize the risk of illness, poisoning, and fatalities.

Case Study: An environmental disaster occurred on August 5, 2015, when employees of the EPA and a private environmental restoration firm accidentally released toxic wastewater at the Gold King Mine site near Silverton, Colorado. Three million gallons of water spilled into a nearby pond that feeds into streams, rivers, and other waterways in Colorado and its neighboring states New Mexico and Utah, and the Navajo Nation. The spilled water was contaminated with arsenic along with cadmium, lead, beryllium, zinc, iron, and copper. The governor of Colorado declared the area affected by the spill a disaster zone. The EPA took responsibility for the incident and continued with its cleanup and remediation efforts on the site.

Key Takeaway: Although arsenic occurs naturally in the environment, human activity often contributes to environmental sources of arsenic.

Available languages: 100+ languages - translation provided by Google Translate (Select Language bottom of page)

Governing Regulations

Different forms of arsenic are found in varied sources, which requires multiple government agencies to regulate arsenic hazards. The EPA oversees the standards for arsenic in the environment. For example, 66 FR 6976 establishes maximum contaminant levels for arsenic in non-community water systems.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) establish the regulations and standards regarding arsenic exposure in the workplace. Arsine gas is regulated by 40 CFR Part 61, which addresses national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. 29 CFR 1910.1018 establishes inspection and compliance procedures for the occupational exposure standard for organic and inorganic arsenic-containing compounds.

The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes a provisional global standard for allowable levels of arsenic in drinking water worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes the regulations concerning arsenic in food.

What You'll Learn

Introduction to Arsenic Safety Training

Overview of the Sources of Arsenic Exposure
Overview of Human Health Risks from Arsenic Exposure
Importance of Awareness of Arsenic Risks
Overview of Applicable Standards and Regulations for Arsenic
Key Terms

Characteristics, Uses, and Sources of Arsenic

Arsenic Compounds
Organic Arsenic
Inorganic Arsenic
Arsine
Where Is Arsenic Found?
Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water
Arsenic Exposure from Plant-Based Foods
Arsenic Exposure from Rice and Rice Products
Arsenic Exposure from Meat and Dairy Products
Arsenic Exposure from Seafood
Industrial Sources of Arsenic Exposure
Arsenic Exposure from Wood Preservatives
Arsenic Exposure from Agricultural Chemicals
Other Industrial Sources of Arsenic Exposure

Arsenic and Its Impact on Human Health

Modes of Arsenic Exposure
Arsenic Exposure Risks for Children
Populations at Highest Risk of Arsenic Exposure
Impact of Arsenic Exposure on Human Health
Acute Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic
Chronic Exposure to Inorganic Arsenic
Medical Treatment for People Exposed to Inorganic Arsenic
Acute Exposure to Arsine
Chronic Exposure to Arsine
Medical Treatment for Arsine Exposure

Applicable Regulations and Standards for Arsenic

Regulations and Standards for Arsenic in the Environment
Regulations and Standards for Arsenic in the Workplace
Regulations and Standards for Arsenic in Food

Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Arsenic Exposure on Human Health

Avoiding Inhalation and Dermal Absorption of Arsenic
Avoiding the Ingestion of Arsenic
Emergency Response to Arsine Exposure
Emergency First Aid for Arsenic Exposure
Implementation of Arsenic Exposure Control Program
Medical Surveillance
Personal Protective Equipment

Summary

Additional Resources

Exam

It will take a MINIMUM of 2 hours to complete this online course. The student may log on and off as needed. A bookmark will be set so when they log back in they will return to where they left off.

We have no restrictions on how long a person takes to complete a course. Likewise, if you are purchasing for others, we have no time limit on assigning courses, so you can purchase a larger quantity than you currently need and take advantage of volume discounts.

Employers are responsible for training new personnel before assigning them to tasks that may subject them to hazards such as arsenic exposure. To ensure compliance with OSHA's Arsenic standard 1910.1018, safety training must be conducted at least annually. This arsenic training online course meets the training requirements.

Each student will receive 0.2 CEUs (or 2 CMEs) from Compliance Training Online® for completing this course.