You should know that DOT HazMat general awareness training is essential for your company if any of your truck drivers are involved in the transportation and handling of hazardous materials. In fact, all your supervisors and floor-level managers should also be aware of how to handle and convey hazardous materials from one location to another. If they are directly involved in the storage and dissemination of any hazardous materials, this training becomes even more important.
You do not have to extend any advanced level of courses to these individuals but yes, general awareness is an absolute must. It enables them to deal with hazardous wastes, manage shipping papers, get acquainted with hazardous materials tables, and also explains to them the HazMat regulations laid down by the federal bodies and the government among many other things. Before we get into the details of it, let’s understand what hazardous materials are.
The Department of Transportation labels any substance or material, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation, capable of endangering the health and safety of living beings as hazardous. It also endangers public property and exposed physical structures. This is specifically in the context of intrastate and interstate commerce.
There are primarily 4 broad categories of hazardous materials which are explosives, flammables, oxidizing, and toxic. Within these categories, there are several other classes and subcategories as well. The general awareness program that you choose should talk about the classes and categories of hazardous materials that are specific to your transport operations.
Now let’s talk about a few very important reasons that necessitate you to invest in DOT HazMat general & security awareness training for your employees
Understanding Of General Concepts
The general awareness training with regard to hazardous materials effectively lays down the foundation for understanding the various concepts of hazardous materials. It provides the candidate with adequate knowledge about what hazardous materials are and what the various classifications include. The training is related to the identification, packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation of all kinds of hazardous materials shipments. The course module also explains the 9 hazard classes, enabling your employees, commercial drivers, and safety-sensitive position holders to uphold the necessary level of safety and awareness throughout your organization.
Getting To Know DOT HazMat Regulations
There are different sets of HazMat shipping regulations that apply to different modes of transportation. There are different rules for air, water, road, and rail transport. The pupil will also come across the numerous commonalities between them and it helps them understand what rules apply to the mode of transport that they work in. Also, if we talk in the context of general awareness training specifically, it is not divided into separate programs at all. It means that the rules that apply to the ground or ocean are going to apply to air transport as well. So, this means that every HazMat employee must be familiar with these regulations.
Ensuring Compliance
The biggest reason to invest in HazMat general awareness training is that it helps you stay compliant. According to the Department of Transportation, all HazMat employees have been defined in 49 CFR §171.8 and they are required to undergo this training without fail. This familiarizes them with hazardous materials regulations. These requirements are important because they have also been established by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. The IATA’s dangerous goods regulations also necessitate that all your HazMat employees go through this training without any interruption. Remember, if you fail to fulfill this requirement, both the employees and the employers directly involved in HazMat handling will be subject to potential legal action. Non-compliance with the requirements may result in potential heavy fines and penalties.
Advantages To HazMat Employers
You must also be aware that HazMat regulations continue to evolve. The federal bodies and the government keep on making changes to them periodically. Therefore, it becomes very crucial for you to keep on training your employees with the most updated HazMat rules and regulations. This prevents HazMat-related incidents whether you are transporting them by air, ocean, or the highway network. The general awareness program in particular doesn’t only maintain employee safety but also keeps you compliant throughout the year. It also creates a positive impact on the minds of your customers and vendors about your business. Your ability to uphold these regulations will lead you to reductions in insurance premiums and a decrease in employee turnover in addition to increased productivity.
The Need For HazMat General Awareness Training – Who Is It Important For?
Having a broad understanding of HazMat regulations is not going to be enough. You will need a little bit more than that and this is where your Hazmat awarness training comes into the picture. It doesn’t just focus on the employees who come in direct contact with these materials but also individuals who handle, load, document, and package these materials at different levels of your business processes. This training also empowers them to demonstrate appropriate emergency response behaviors in the event of unexpected exposure. By investing in the right general awareness training for hazardous materials, you can keep your supply chain functional by easily avoiding any hazardous materials-related incidents.
Let’s Examine Key Topics Covered in HazMat General Awareness Training
- Understanding hazard classes, categories, and divisions
- The importance of packing, groups, and label codes
- A breakdown of the hazardous materials table for easy understanding
- Shipping papers, marking, and labeling requirements and procedures
- Placarding requirements, packaging types, categories, requirements, and exceptions
- Highway carrier requirements
- Air and rail carrier requirements
- Water carrier requirements
- Security requirements
- Unauthorized access
It all boils down to a few very critical things. When you are trying to stay compliant, your effort is going to show in the quality of HazMat general & security awareness training that you strive to provide to your employees. Also, when you are looking to maintain a certain commendable level of safety for everyone in your organization, this is the course module that works. So, it is not just your moral or ethical responsibility but a business and legal obligation as per government rules that keeps you functional.
