Hazmat Training Critical Element

More than one-third of the DOT's enforcement actions pertaining to violations of hazardous materials transportation regulations involve the failure of hazmat employers to provide training or maintain test records. In most cases violations are attributed to failure to provide function specific training. For example, and investigator questions incorrect entries on a shipping paper prepared by a hazmat employee who responds that he was not instructed, nor tested, by his hazmat employer regarding the preparation of shipping papers.

Some hazmat employers rely on cheap and quick training entities to provide tests and certificates where the whole process and materials are suspect to say the least. One question any employer should ask his training consultant is whether the training provided is of the general awareness type or function specific to the kind of activities conducted by your company. In addition, you should determine if the safety training is appropriate to your business activity. For example, the safety training provided to a driver who loads cargo may be quite different from someone who just labels and marks packages.

We strongly recommend you consider hazmat training as a critical element to the future of your business and not as something that management will look into during an enforcement proceeding or after an accident. When training becomes and issue after an accident, a DOT penalty may not be most significant when compared to the outcome of a civil proceeding to determine the extent of liability or punitive damages.

Please contact us today on how to get started.

Midwest Environmental Services, Inc.
PO Box 218 . Brownstown, IN 47220 . 812.358.5160 /phone . 812.358.5642 /fax
info@midwestenvironmentalservices.com /email
24 HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE : 1.877.999.7745