Dangerous Goods General Awareness and Recognition Training

According to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) - specifically, Subpart H, Section 172.704, Paragraph (a), Subparagraph (1) - hazmat employees are required by law to be provided what is called “general awareness/familiarization training.” The purpose of this training is, in the words of this subsection of 49 CFR, “to provide familiarity with the requirements of this subchapter, and to enable the employee to recognize and identify hazardous materials consistent with the hazard communication standards of this subchapter.” Paragraph (c), Subparagraph (2) of the same Section also states that along with the other types of training required by 49 CFR, hazmat employees must be provided with general awareness training not just one time, but at minimum once every three years.

To assist hazmat employees in fulfilling this requirement, Hazmat University provides online Dangerous Goods General Awareness Training. This training focuses on an array of topics related to hazardous materials, from how one can identify something as a hazardous material to how one must react in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials.

Aside from 49 CFR, other dangerous goods regulations from around the world also require that hazmat employees be provided with this type of training, including the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. This training, however, is not divided into several different courses based on different modes of transportation. Hazmat University’s Online Dangerous Goods General Awareness and Recognition Training covers information from the regulations concerning all three modes: Air, Ground, and Vessel.

This course also includes Security Awareness Training, to provide the employee with an awareness of the risks associated with hazmat transportation, an outline of methods to enhance transportation security, and an awareness of how to recognize and respond to possible security threats. 49 CFR Subpart H, Section 172.704, Paragraph (a) also requires that hazmat employees undergo this type of training in Subparagraph (4), which further stipulates, “New hazmat employees must receive the security awareness training required by this paragraph within 90 days after employment.” This training, which also must be provided to hazmat employees at least once every three years, is packaged with Dangerous Goods General Awareness and Recognition Training at no additional cost.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be aware of:

• Definition of Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods
• Regulations and training requirements overview
• Fines and penalties
• Classification
• Identification
• Packing
• Labeling
• Marking
• Documentation
• Placarding
• Safety and Emergency Response
• Requirements for security as they relate to shipments of dangerous goods by air, ground, and vessel, as mandated by the appropriate national and/or international authorities

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, the student may download a certificate of completion.

Primary Audience

While Dangerous Goods General Awareness and Recognition training is also incorporated into our courses for shipping hazardous materials by air, ground, or vessel, this course is designed to serve as a standalone course to provide general awareness of hazardous materials to employees who are not assigned hazardous materials job duties, but are employed in a workplace that engages in the handling, shipping and/or transportation of hazardous materials.  This may also include managers, postal workers, sales personnel, receptionists and more.  Completion of this course also serves to comply with the General Awareness training element for hazmat employees required by 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart H, §172.704(a)(1), the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.