If your company ships, transports, or receives hazardous materials, there are periodic safety training requirements required to stay in compliance with EPA and DOT regulations.

DOT

The Department of Transportation (under 49 CFR Part 172) requires that employees receive basic training on how to fulfill their duties in shipping, transporting, and receiving hazardous materials. 

PSARA helps organizations meet these requirements by training employees to:

Identify a hazardous material
Select the proper packaging
Place placards or labels on a shipment
Complete the appropriate shipping manifests
Read and understand the hazardous materials table
React appropriately in the event of an emergency

Enhanced Security Requirements

As of 2003, HAZMAT employers must develop and implement a security plan if you offer for transportation or transport the following types or quantities of hazardous materials:
• A hazardous material in an amount that must be placarded in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations;
• A hazardous material in a bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons) for liquids or gases or more than 13.24 cubic meters (468 cubic feet) for solids; or
• A select agent or toxin regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under 42 CFR part 73.

Security plans must include the following elements:

Personnel security
Unauthorized access
En route security

Your security plan must be in writing and must be retained for as long as it remains in effect. Your security plan must be revised as necessary to reflect changing circumstances.

Security Training

You must also provide training to your employees who are responsible for implementing your security plan. This training should cover the following topics:

Company security objectives
Specific security procedures
Employee responsibilities
Actions to take in the event of a security breach
Organizational security structure

In addition, all hazmat employees – that is, employees who directly affect hazardous materials transportation safety – must receive training that provides an awareness of the security risks associated with hazardous materials transportation and methods to enhance transportation security. This training should also include a component that covers how to recognize and respond to possible security threats.

All DOT training should be renewed every three years following the initial training event. 

This training can be easily combined with RCRA and OSHA’s hazard communication requirements to provide a cost-effective and time-sensitive solution to your training needs. As always, our training programs can be customized to the needs of your facility and your employees.

Other Information

DOT Home Page
DOT Hazmat Safety Page
DOT Regulations and Federal HAZMAT Law
DOT HTM Security