Home > FAQs > Training > Fact Sheets > Hazardous Material Transportation
Training Fact Sheet - Hazardous Material Transportation
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Regulation:
49 CFR 172.700-704; 49 CFR 171.8 Definitions of Hazardous Material (Hazmat) employee and employer.
International Air Transport Association (IATA), Dangerous Goods Regulations, 1.5.0-1.5.4
Who is covered:
All hazmat employers must ensure that all hazmat employees are trained. The University is a hazmat employer to the extent that it uses employees to (1) load, unload or handle hazardous materials in commerce; (2) prepare hazardous materials for transportation in commerce; (3) operate a vehicle used to transport hazardous materials in commerce. The term in commerce does not apply to shipments wholly within the University, but it does apply to shipments into the University and from the University. Covered employees include among others, all operational and technical staff in the Chemical Waste Program; all Radiation Protection Program personnel involved in shipping waste and in receiving the radioisotopes; Storehouse personnel actively involved in unloading incoming hazardous materials or shipping such materials back to distributors; shipping and receiving personnel, depending on their involvement in unloading or loading these materials; staff involved in the preparation of infectious waste for transportation, unless this role has been contracted out; and researchers shipping hazardous materials for return or to other researchers.
What training is included:
- General awareness/familiarization training designed to familiarize employee with the thrust of the hazmat transport rules and with the recognition and identification of hazardous materials;
- Function-specific training on the requirements applicable to the function the employee performs;
- Safety training on the emergency response information involved in transportation, measures to minimize the hazards of the materials involved, and material handling methods for avoiding accidents.
When training is required:
By October 1, 1993 for current employees, within 90 days of employment for new employees; thereafter, at least every 3 years. For those making shipments by air, retraining is required within 24 months of previous training.
Record keeping:
Employer shall create and retain the record of current training for each hazmat employee, as long as that employee is employed as a hazmat employee and for 90 days thereafter.
The record includes employee's name; most recent training completion date; description, copy or the location of the training materials used; name and address of the person providing the training; certification that the hazmat employee has been trained and tested, as required.
Contact name and number:
For further information, call Andrew Phelan, assistant director and hazardous waste officer, Environmental Health and Safety, at 612-626-7744 or e-mail: andyph@tc.umn.edu
See also the HazMat Transport Program http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hwd/haztrans.html which provides the option of using trained University employees for shipping hazardous materials. There is a charge for this service.