Companies that work in the business of shipping hazardous materials have a huge responsibility to their customers as well as to their employees and the public. Many packages, includes packages containing medical waste, can be toxic to people and the environment if not dealt with responsibly. An accident that leads to a leak in a package can be a serious situation, which is why the companies that handle this kind of waste must take care to train their employees carefully.
Rulings By The Department of Transportation
The Federal Department of Transportation has many rules in place regarding the treatment of hazardous packages, and companies that fail to comply with these regulations could be charged with civil or criminal violations, with penalties that go up $50,000. Given the seriousness of this issue, the Department of Transportation requires companies to put employees who handle hazardous materials through a special training program. Only employees who successfully pass these programs will be allowed to handle hazardous materials, and as stated, the penalties for those who fail to comply are harsh.
Today there are companies that specialize in offering training for employees who are involved in handling hazmat materials. The workshops offered are designed to be in compliance with the Department of Transportation�s specific regulations, so employees who successfully complete the training offered will be clear to handle the materials in question.
What�s Offered in Training
Hazardous waste training classes may include training in general awareness and familiarization with the handling of hazardous materials, as well as safety training, function-specific training, security awareness, and in-depth security training. All of these issues are critical in the education of those handling potentially dangerous materials.
Once the training is complete, the employee will be set for three years. The Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, however, states that training is required every three years for employees of companies that handles hazardous waste. Training is also required of those who design, represent, modify, manufacture, repair, test, ship, test or recondition hazardous materials.
Again, failure on the part of companies dealing with hazardous materials that fail to comply with these rules can result in major civil or criminal penalties.
There are workshops available from reputable training companies available now, so any company working in these industries should arrange to begin classes today.