A hazmat employee is any individual who works with or handles a hazardous material that can possibly affect the safety of transportation. An example of hazardous material employees include manufacturers, truck drivers, loaders and inspectors. Under federal law, all hazmat employees are required to take specific training classes. These training requirements are in place to protect the employee, as well as others in the community.
General Awareness/Familarity Training
Under federal law, all hazmat employees need general awareness/familiarity training. This training familiarizes the employee with hazardous materials, enabling him to properly discern and identify them. In this training class, the employee learns about the different classes and divisions of hazardous materials. He also receives visual lessons on what these materials look like.
All hazmat employees are required to participate in safety training classes. During safety training, the employee learns how to properly respond in emergency situations involving hazardous materials. She learns how to protect herself and others from being exposed to hazardous materials. As a preventive measure, the employee learns safety tips on how to prevent and avoid hazmat accidents. She also learns how to properly handle packages that contain hazardous materials.
Hazmat employees are required to participate in security training classes. Unlike the other training classes, the security class does not have to be completed prior to employment. The employee has 90 days from the date of employment to complete security training. During this course, the employee learns how to recognize, identify and respond to security threats involving hazardous materials. The employee learns what protocol is required if he ever witnesses a breach in security.
Hazmat transportation training is not a one time thing. It is continuous, as long as the employee continues to work with hazardous materials. The employee must take all three hazmat training classes at least once every three years. If his employer changes the security plan prior to the three-year time-frame, the employee must take a new security training class within 90 days from the date of the new plan implementation.
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