DOT Hazmat Training – General Awareness
This course covers regulations related to the transportation of hazardous materials as outlined in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) in Parts 171-180 of Title 49 regulate the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce by motor vehicle, rail car, aircraft, or waterborne vessel. The HMR includes classification, labeling, packaging, handling, loading and unloading requirements, in addition to standards for hazmat training, incident reporting, hazard communication, and security. Ensure compliance with DOT Hazmat Training requirements with our comprehensive training course.
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Learning Objectives
- Provide U.S. DOT definitions for “hazardous material,” “hazmat employer” and “hazmat employee”
- Identify the circumstances under which the U.S. DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) apply
- Describe the responsibilities of hazmat employees and persons who offer hazardous materials for shipment
- Use the Hazardous Materials Table to generate a basic description for use on shipping documents, complying with DOT Hazmat training requirements
- Explain how hazardous substances, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials, and hazardous wastes are identified and regulated during shipping
Specs
| Course Level | Intermediate |
| Languages | English |
| Compatibility | Audio, Video |
| Based on: | Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR §§ 171-180 Hazardous Materials Table, 49 CFR § 172.101 |
Key Questions
A hazardous material is any material with the potential to cause injury, loss of life, or damage to property or the environment when transported in commerce.
Why can't I use the same packaging for all hazardous material shipments?Packaging requirements for hazardous materials vary because each material presents different safety hazards, and each transportation mode places different stresses on or exposes packaging to different conditions (i.e., temperature).
Do hazmat employees need to complete DOT hazmat training before they can begin work?Hazmat employees who are new to the job or who change job functions must complete the required training within 90 days of employment or job change. Alternately, they may perform new hazmat job functions in the first 90 days under proper supervision.
What is the Packing Group indicated for each material in the Hazardous Materials Table?The Packing Group (PG) number indicates the relative level of danger presented by a material during transportation. These are written as Roman numerals; I indicates the greatest level of danger, while III indicates a minor danger level. Some materials do not have Packing Group designations.
What should be included in a "Basic Description" on hazmat shipping papers?The first five columns of the Hazardous Materials Table contain the information needed to complete a Basic Description on hazmat shipping documents, essential for compliance with DOT hazmat training requirements.
Sample Video Transcript
Column 8 contains citations for HMR Sections beginning with 173 which specify “Packaging” requirements for the material. It has three sub-columns:
- Sections cited in column 8A relate to packaging exceptions
- Sections cited in 8B are for non-bulk shipments
- Sections cited in 8C are for bulk shipments Note that if column 8A says “None,” there are no “universal” packaging exceptions, and the requirements from column 8B or 8C must be used.
So, for example, non-bulk packaging for acetaldehyde shipments must meet the requirements in Section 173.201 of the HMR, while bulk packaging for acetal shipments must meet the requirements in Section 173.242 or qualify for an exception in 173.150. Note that if the packaging reference is not appropriate for the state of the material being shipped (liquid or solid), the Solid/Liquid Table in Section 172.101(i)(4) can be used to determine the correct reference.
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