Hazmat Training Classes for Shipping Hazardous Materials

U.S. DOT training regulations stipulate that training is requisite for any employee who: offers hazardous materials for transportation; packages, marks or labels hazardous materials for transportation; loads or unloads hazardous materials transport vehicles; transports hazardous materials; receives and forwards packages containing hazardous materials; manufactures packaging for use in transporting hazardous materials; and/or tests hazardous material packaging. Any person who directly supervises employees that conduct any of these tasks must also satisfy training requirements.

Learn more about who needs hazmat training in our hazmat training infographic.

U.S. DOT requires hazmat training be updated every three years, or in the event that the Department of Transportation issues new or revised rules related to the duties of a hazmat employee. IATA requires training be updated every two years.

Violations of any hazmat regulations including training may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $77,114 for each violation. If the violation results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property, the maximum civil penalty is $179,933. The minimum civil penalty amount for a training violation is $463. Criminal violations may result in fines, imprisonment, or both. (See 49 CFR §107.329 and §107.333)

Learn more about how often training should be updated in our hazmat training infographic.

Different levels of training are required for different duties, and employers are obligated to determine the level of training required for each individual employee. All employees are required to undergo a minimum course that provides a general understanding of hazmat safety and regulations, such as CHEMTREC’s Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness training course, which explains shipper and operator responsibilities, dangerous goods classifications and an overview of how to mark and label packages correctly and how to correctly document hazmat shipments.

Individuals who handle or may be exposed to hazardous materials, such as warehouse staff, loading dock workers and drivers, require further levels of training to include knowledge of safe handling and emergency response. This includes function-specific training, safety training and security training, such as that provided in CHEMTREC’s Ground Transportation 49 CFR Training for Shippers training course. Carriers of these hazardous materials can benefit from our Ground Transportation for Carriers training course. It addresses the requirements specific to ground carriers found in Part 177 of the 49 CFR covering items like driver training, loading, unloading, segregation, and vehicles and shipments in transit.

Similarly, individuals who handle these products via air shipment, must comply with training requirements mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) align with. Our Dangerous Goods IATA Training for Air Transportation training course helps with this training requirement. 

The Ground Transportation 49 CFR Training for Carriers course and IATA course should not be taken until the General Awareness course (or similar training) is completed.

The U.S. DOT also has special provisions for shipment of lithium batteries. These regulations apply to anyone who performs or directs the functions of packaging, marking, labeling or loading packages containing lithium batteries for shipment by highway, rail, air or vessel. Since lithium battery regulations update relatively often, CHEMTREC’s Shipping Lithium Battery and Cells training course is a specially focused course that covers proper handling of both excepted and fully regulated lithium batteries.

For the companies that handle chemicals in the work area, all employees must be trained about the hazards. Our OSHA Hazard Communication training course helps provide the knowledge and oversight companies need to understand the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and how it relates to the Hazard Communication System.

If you need additional help selecting the right course, contact our Training Team for further guidance.