Solid waste combines heavy equipment on ground that is still settling, a gas that is both flammable and asphyxiating, and a waste stream that regularly contains things it should not. The hazards are ordinary ones, arranged in an unusually unforgiving way.
This course covers the day to day hazards of landfill and transfer station work alongside the 40 CFR Part 258 operating criteria that shape them. It is written for equipment operators, spotters, gate staff and site supervisors.
What you will be able to do
- Explain why fill settles, and why that changes how you read the ground under a machine
- Describe how landfill gas forms, why methane is both an explosion and an asphyxiation hazard, and where it accumulates
- Use a four gas instrument correctly and recognise a permit required confined space before entering it
- Work the working face safely alongside customers, haulers and machines
- Judge slope, grade and tip-over risk, and keep a safe distance from the edge
- Apply daily cover, control litter, and understand why vector control is an operating requirement
- Handle leachate and biological hazards, including sharps and unexpected waste
- Manage traffic and the gate, where the public and heavy equipment meet
- Work safely around gas collection wells, headers and flares
How it is built
- 10 lessons of self-paced content covering the working face, gas, slopes, leachate and the gate
- Video in every lesson
- A knowledge check after every lesson, 4 questions at 75% to pass, unlimited retakes
- A final assessment of 20 questions drawn from a 30 question bank, 80% to pass, with retakes drawing a different set
- Certificate of completion with a verification number
Regulatory framework
Municipal solid waste landfills operate under 40 CFR Part 258. Explosive gas control at 258.23 requires methane to stay below 25 percent of the lower explosive limit in facility structures and below the lower explosive limit at the property boundary, with routine monitoring. Daily cover, disease vector control and run-on and run-off control are operating criteria in the same part. OSHA rules apply in parallel, in particular confined spaces, control of hazardous energy, powered industrial trucks and construction equipment.
Important scope note
This is awareness training. It does not replace site-specific permit required confined space entry training, gas instrument calibration and bump testing procedures, equipment-specific operator evaluation, or a written respiratory protection program. Those remain separate obligations.
Applicable Industries:
OccuPros Safety Instructor Team
Every OccuPros course is developed and reviewed by our team of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and Safety Management Specialists (SMS) with 15+ years of field experience across construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and general industry. Our instructors don't just teach safety - they've managed safety programs on active jobsites, conducted OSHA compliance audits, and published 184 safety course topics nationwide.
Before you buy
The practical questions, answered plainly.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you finish the course and pass the assessment, your certificate of completion is available to download immediately from your dashboard. It carries a verification number.
How long do I have access?
Access to this course does not expire. It is self-paced, so you can start, stop and resume whenever you like, and your progress is saved between sessions.
What if I fail the assessment?
You can retake it. Knowledge checks run through the course and the final assessment draws from a larger question bank, so a retake will not simply repeat the same questions.
Does this replace hands-on training?
This course delivers the knowledge portion. Site-specific procedures, equipment-specific practice and any required practical evaluation remain your employer's responsibility, and the course is explicit about where those lines fall.
Can I buy this for my whole crew?
Yes. Choose "My team" on this page to buy seats instead of a single enrolment. You become the team administrator, assign seats from your Team Portal as people join, and volume pricing applies automatically at 5 seats and again at 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solid Waste & Landfill Operations Safety OSHA-aligned for confined space entry?
This course covers the knowledge requirements aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (permit-required confined spaces) and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA (construction). Employers must also ensure workers receive site-specific training on their particular confined space hazards and entry procedures.
Does this course include hands-on training?
Solid Waste & Landfill Operations Safety covers the knowledge and theory component online. For roles requiring hands-on practical evaluation (atmospheric testing, entry/rescue procedures), OccuPros provides in-person sessions. Call (469) 746-4040 to schedule.
How much does Solid Waste & Landfill Operations Safety cost?
Solid Waste & Landfill Operations Safety is $99 per person. Group pricing available for 5+ enrollments. See group training options.
How long does it take to complete?
Most learners complete Solid Waste & Landfill Operations Safety in 1-3 hours depending on prior experience. The course is self-paced, so you can pause and resume at any time.
