Hazardous Materials Transportation Training Requirements

Do you know if you are considered a hazmat (hazardous materials) employee by regulatory authorities? You are a hazmat employee if you unload, load or handle hazmats or if you design, manufacture, inspect, mark, test or recondition containers. You are also considered a hazmat employee if you prepare hazmats for transportation, or if you operate a transport vehicle. Federal hazardous materials transportation law requires that hazmat employees be trained on the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).

According to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 100-185), a hazmat or hazardous material is defined as: a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. This includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and other materials meeting the requirements in the regulations.

Training on the HMR must include general awareness, function specific training, safety training, security awareness training and if necessary, an in-depth security training. A test is required at the end of training although there is no set testing method or pass standards.

It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that all hazmat employees are trained. Training can be obtained from several sources and can be provided either by the employer or by other public or private sources. Training can take the form of presentations, videos, or online options. It is important to note that the Department of Transportation does not approve, endorse, or certify any particular training program or product. It is up to the employer to certify that an employee has been properly trained.

Safety Partners, Inc. can help you assess if you meet the definition of a hazmat employee according to the regulations and can coordinate training for you and your employees.

Contact Us  |  Back to Articles

Safety Partners efficiently and cost-effectively implements hands-on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs at emerging life sciences companies. Safety Partners tailors its programs to each client's unique science, processes, procedures, and facilities, while reducing program implementation burdens. Its expertise is unmatched, clocking over 85,000 hours at over 120 New England life sciences firms.