In the past 10 years, according to the PHMSA data, there have been 52 fatalities and 160 injuries due to hazmat incidents involving tractor trailers in transit.
Just last year, much national attention focused on the safety of transporting hazardous materials on railroads after the East Palestine, Ohio, train crash on February 3, 2023.
But the costliest hazardous materials spill on a highway was in 2020 when a tractor trailer hauling gasoline mixed with ethyl alcohol took a roundabout much too fast and flipped over, spilling nearly 10,000 gallons of liquid onto Highway 1A and into a nearby saltwater marsh.
Police cited the driver, who was unhurt, for taking the curve at an unsafe speed, and the cost of damage to the tractor trailer, loss of gasoline and cleanup of the marsh exceeded $1.1 million.
As drivers hauling HAZMAT, are you prepared to react if you are involved in a HAZMAT spill or other dangerous situation?
What is DOT HAZMAT training?
As a HAZMAT carrier, I am sure you know that non-compliance of HAZMAT transportation rules can be the imminent death for your company as the severity of fines and penalties can be up to $186,000 for civil violations and up to $500,000 for criminal violations.
That’s why it is important to make sure required DOT training is being maintained.
U.S. DOT Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR), 49 CFR 172.704- Subpart H, also known as HM -181, requires training for employees who handle or transport hazardous materials.
The training gives all HAZMAT employees security awareness training and includes information on topics such as hazardous material tables, hazard classifications, placards, labels, hazardous waste manifests, and security awareness.
When is DOT HAZMAT training required?
Training applies to any employee who:
- Loads, unloads, or handles hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
- Manufactures, tests, reconditions, repairs, modifies, marks, or otherwise represents containers, drums, or packages as qualified for use in the transportation of hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
- Prepares any hazardous materials or hazardous waste for transportation.
- Is responsible for the safety of transporting hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
- Operates a vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
Related: What are HAZMAT carrier responsibilities after a crash?
How often is DOT HAZMAT training required?
All new hires or employees with new job duties involving hazardous materials must complete this training within 90 days.
Then, refresher training is required every three years to maintain your employee’s knowledge.
When it comes to employer recordkeeping, employers must create and maintain training records, for as long as that employee is employed by that employer as a hazmat employee and for 90 days thereafter, that include:
- The hazmat employee’s name;
- The most recent training completion date of the hazmat employee’s training;
- A description, copy, or the location of the training materials used to meet the requirements in paragraph (a) of this section;
- The name and address of the person providing the training; and
- Certification that the hazmat employee has been trained and tested, as required by this subpart.
Don’t Miss Our DOT HAZMAT Safety Training (Complete Training)
Each year, or upon request, we offer DOT HAZMAT Safety Training that helps carriers meet these training requirements.
The objective of this HAZMAT Training is to master all DOT HAZMAT Training in one course.
Ensure you and your workforce are properly trained for the safe handling of hazardous materials. Enroll in our DOT HAZMAT Complete Training today.
You can find other required or useful DOT management and driver training at our CNS Learning Hub for online, live webinar, or in-person trainings.
Are you ready to be proactive?
Our safety management programs are perfect for combining multiple services and can be tailored to fit your needs, whether you are a new owner operator or a seasoned trucker or business owner.
At CNS, our DOT Compliance Programs focus on Proactive Safety Management (PSM), a mindset that will ensure your fleet’s safety and compliance is always in order and ahead of the FMCSA.
Our PSM Motor Carrier Program includes:
- ELD management
- Driver Qualification File Management
- New driver on-boarding
- Driver safety meetings
- CSA score management
- Policies and handbooks
- Vehicle maintenance
- and more
