Does anyone really choose to be a hazmat employee? For anyone who wants to be a hazmat employee, dangerous goods training and certification is not just required but necessary. Of that, there is no question. However, not just any assortment of lessons will suffice. According to Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 172.704 (49 CFR 172.704), hazmat employees must undergo five types of training as part of their overall dangerous goods training. They must complete each before they can begin working with hazardous materials. Here are the exact requirements on how to comply with the training requirements and receive certification to ship hazardous materials.
General Awareness Training
General awareness training, also known as familiarization training, can be seen as the bare basics of hazmat training. 49 CFR 172.704 states that the purpose is to “provide familiarity” with the regulations for hazardous materials. It also specifies that instructions must be given on how to “recognize and identify hazardous materials consistent with the hazard communication standards.” While employees do receive more specialized training, there are a number of benefits to this type. This particularly applies to those whose line of work does involve direct contact with dangerous goods.
Function-Specific Training
This is the “more specialized training” mentioned above. Employees must complete training that provides further instruction in their specific field of work and mode(s) of transport. For example, if they are involved with the process of shipping by ground, they must learn the laws and practices that correspond to this mode of transporting hazardous materials. Anyone involved with shipping hazmat by vessel will need to receive training in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, while employees involved with shipping hazmat by air are required to understand the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions and/or The International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods regulations (IATA).
Safety Training
Due to the many hazards posed in this line of work, dangerous goods certification training must focus on safety in all scenarios. This means that hazmat employees must be aware and learn how to properly package and handle hazardous materials to prevent incidents. Of course, this requirement also extends to emergency response training, which teaches employees how to react when incidents do occur. Employees must also learn how to keep themselves safe from the constant risk of exposure.
Security Awareness and In-Depth Security Training
Not every threat in the workplace comes from the hazardous materials themselves. Moreover, the job of keeping this environment safe from intruders and infiltrators is not up to security personnel alone. Everyone involved with hazardous materials must know how to spot and stop would-be thieves and terrorists. Security awareness training meets this need. Any personnel involved with “implementing the security plan,” as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) website describes it, must undergo in-depth security training.
Dangerous Goods Certification Training
Prospective employees can receive most the required dangerous goods certification training online through Hazmat University. Our programs can assist employers of hazmat employees in meeting all the requirements for certification, including for the required initial and recurrent training. Learn more by visiting our online store today.
