Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazmat Training provides crucial knowledge on the Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) and is required for all employees who handle hazardous materials for transportation.
What does DOT Hazmat Training entail?
DOT training is required by 49 CFR 100-185. 49 CFR regulates all hazmat shipments for the following agencies of the Department of Transportation:
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Security Administration (PHMSA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
- State agencies with authority to enforce DOT regulations
Your training content is required to include general awareness, security awareness, safety and then function-specific training to the role each person is doing in the process. So the training durations could be different for different roles. After completion of the initial DOT Hazmat training course, refreshers must be completed every three years.
Who needs DOT Hazmat Training?
Often, we get the question, “Who needs DOT hazmat training?” Not only are there nuances between the various agencies of DOT and the international transportation organizations DOT defers to, but often in companies there could be a number of people involved in the process – knowingly or unknowingly.
Basically, anyone involved in the process of sending hazardous materials (hazmat) will need to be trained. This would include anyone who:
- Purchases the packaging and/or determines it’s the correct packaging for your materials;
- Prepares the package for sending (boxes, labels, determines which box to use, etc.);
- Fills out the paperwork, choosing labels or choosing placards;
- Signs off on manifests or paperwork (including sending hazardous waste);
- Loads, unloads, and handles hazmat;
- Sells, tests, reconditions, repairs or modifies packaging for use in shipping hazmat;
- Screens baggage, cargo, or mail;
- Transports hazmat or operates a vehicle transporting hazmat;
- Is a freight forwarder who accepts/transfers/handles/unloads cargo; and,
- Anyone who supervises or conducts training for any of the above personnel.
So this could involve multiple departments or people at your company. Roles such as:
- Shipping & Receiving
- Mailroom Clerks
- Environmental, Health and Safety People
- Hazardous Waste Handlers/Manifest Signers
- Administrative Staff
- Procurement/Purchasing and Finance
- Warehouse
- Plant Personnel
- Operations Management
Take a look at your process. Who’s involved? Do they need to be involved? Have they been trained?
If you are looking to better understand DOT/IATA/IMDG regulations, visit our website and sign up for any of our Hazmat Shipping trainings course either in person at our facility or online.