Schooling, both primary and collegiate, is supposed to give people the knowledge, training, and skills they need to succeed in a work environment. By the end, though, all the knowledge you acquire should give you a major advantage in your chosen field and guide you through life.
At least, that’s how it should be. We all know the jokes about how schools don’t teach life skills like balancing checkbooks and changing tires. Worse still is when courses within a major don’t offer information that you need for your field. Here, we’ll argue the question: should hazmat training for schools be a thing?
A Gap in the Curriculum?
Transportation logistics is a massive field encompassing many different careers. Pretty much everyone involved in it, from C-suite executives to shippers on the ground, needs some level of training on hazmat regulations. To be precise, they need to undergo multiple types of training in order to receive the certification required under federal and international law as it pertains to handling hazmat/ dangerous goods shipments.
Many hazmat employees undergo training either on their own accord or through their employer. There is nothing wrong with either option, and people are free to do what they please. That being said, this is an educational course. If it’s so important (this is where the narrator would say, “It is.”), then wouldn’t it be wise to offer it in an educational institution?
Some schools do invite experts to give seminars about the transportation of hazardous materials. Still, there is a huge difference between one lecture on one evening and a semester-long course. More universities and trade schools should opt for the latter and give students the time they need to really understand the material. It doesn’t even have to be complicated because people can earn their hazmat certification online. Wouldn’t it be great if Hazmat University’s online courses were to be included as part of one of the curriculum in primary and collegiate schooling?
Preparing in Advance
Hazmat training can take some time. It should, because regulations are extensive and there is a lot of material to cover. That is why when employees that have been assigned responsibilities related to the handling of hazmat or dangerous goods start a new job, regulations require that they receive training within 90 days prior to taking on these job functions and must go through testing and create training records.
Of course, prospective hires can speed up that time even faster by receiving their training before the time comes to search for work. Schools should offer courses for hazmat certification, online or with in-person trainers.
Lastly, in the field of hazmat – and, when you think about it, in life – it’s often better to be proactive than reactive. If new employees can enter the world of transportation logistics with that certification on their resumes, they can show prospective employers that they’re proactive. Moreover, if educational institutions are proactive enough to provide students with training that (again) is already required under federal and international law, then they will have an advantage over rival institutions.
Get Hazmat Training Online Today
We at Hazmat University care deeply about this issue. We know how important it is that hazmat employees receive adequate training that is (we cannot stress this enough) required under federal and international law.
To that end, we offer hazmat courses online that meet the federal requirements for certification. All of our programs can be started and completed entirely through the internet, for the convenience of students everywhere 24/7. Check out our course selection today and get started on receiving your hazmat certification online right away.
