Who Needs Training?
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) requires both initial and recurrent training for any and all hazmat employees. It is the responsibility of the hazmat employer to ensure that each hazmat employee is trained.
A Hazmat Employeeis a person who is employed by a hazmat employer and directly affects hazmat transportation safety including: An owner-operator of a motor vehicle which transports hazmat, a person (including self-employed person) who:
- Loads, unloads, or handles hazmat;
- Tests, reconditions, repairs, modifies, marks, or otherwise represents packaging as qualified for use in transport of hazmat;
- Prepares hazmat for transportation;
- Is responsible for the safety of transporting hazmat; or
- Operates a vehicle used to transport hazmat.
A Hazmat Employer is a person who uses one or more of its employees in connection with:
- Transporting hazardous materials in commerce;
- Causing hazmat to be transported or shipped in commerce; or
- Representing, marking, certifying, selling, offering, reconditioning, testing, repairing, or modifying packaging as qualified for use in the transportation of hazardous articles.