Source: https://www.hazmatuniversity.com/courses/faq
Timestamp: 2019-11-17 18:28:44
Document Index: 607828135

Matched Legal Cases: ['§172', '§172', '§172', '§107', '§107', '§171']

Frequently Asked Questions - Hazmat University
Frequently Asked Questions for Online Hazmat Training
The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates provisions for training to any company that performs any function regulated by the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). This includes any of the following functions:
offers hazardous materials for transportation,
packages, marks or labels hazardous materials for transportation,
loads or unloads hazmat transport vehicles,
transport hazmat,
receives and forwards hazardous materials shipments,
manufactures packaging used to transport hazmat, and/or
conducts testing for hazmat packaging.
Each hazmat employer is required and responsible for training each of their hazmat employees. This is true for businesses of any size (e.g. self-employed, partnerships, corporations, etc.). There are no exceptions to this rule.
How soon can I or my employees get started with online training?
As soon as you place the order in the store, you will receive an order confirmation which provides enrollment codes and instructions to follow. You can order for yourself and/or for your employees. Once you receive your order confirmation, simply follow the instructions to register as a student (if not already registered as a student) and to enroll in the course(s) ordered. Then the next step is to take the course, and retrieve the certificate of completion. It's as simple as that!
Who is considered a "hazmat employee"?
A hazmat employee is any of the following:
Employed on a full-time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer and who in the course of such full time, part time or temporary employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety;
Self-employed (including an owner-operator of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) transporting hazardous materials in commerce who in the course of such self-employment directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety;
A railroad signalman; or
A railroad maintenance-of-way employee.
This term includes an individual, employed on a full time, part time, or temporary basis by a hazmat employer, or who is self-employed, who during the course of employment:
Designs, manufactures, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package, container or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material in commerce.
How often should I be trained in hazardous materials?
New hazmat employees and hazmat employees who undergo a change in job function must complete initial training within 90 days after employment or change in job function [49CFR §172.704(c)(1)]. Recurrent training must be completed at least once every three years [49CFR §172.704(c)(2)].
Some modes of transportation and other countries may have shorter time frames where initial and recurrent training must be completed (e.g. IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for transporting hazmat by aircraft requires recurrent training at least once every two years [IATA DGR 1.5.0.3]).
Is online training the same as classroom, instructor-led training?
Online training is different from classroom, instructor-led training in several ways. While having a live instructor in a classroom setting is the ideal training environment, we have formulated an alternative approach with our online training that matches (or surpasses) standard classroom training. Our online training offers the following benefits over classroom training:
Lower cost — there are no travel or instructor costs associated with online training
Self-paced learning — learn the regulations at your own speed; rewind, fast forward through and repeat a course for specific training material helps students learn and retain important information
Instant enrollment — register for a course and begin learning right away; no waiting for a start date or instructor to arrive
Relevant training content — regulations are updated several times throughout the year; online training courses are updated with the latest regulatory provisions available
Certificate of training — print out your Certificate of Training upon course completion to comply with record retention requirements
What if I don't ship hazmat often?
There are no exceptions to the rule. If you ship or transport anything considered a hazardous material of any quantity and of any frequency, you must be trained. Updated records of your training must be kept and available upon request.
I'm not sure if I want online or classroom training
Okay, no problem! The Bureau of Dangerous Goods provides hazmat training for the classroom in select cities around the United States and on-site training anywhere around the world. If you're not yet convinced about online hazmat training, we'll work with you and your hazmat employees to ensure that the desired method of training is received. For more information and to speak with one of our training representatives, please give us a call at 609-860-0300 or e-mail us at sales@bureaudg.com.
Do I receive a certificate for being trained in hazmat?
Students who successfully enroll and complete their online hazmat training course at Hazmat University will receive a certificate that meets the requirements of record keeping for trained hazmat employees [49CFR §172.704(d)]. This certificate will include the following information:
The hazmat employee's name,
The completion date of training,
A description of the materials used to meet the requirements for training,
Name and address of training provider,
Certification that the hazmat employee has been successfully trained and tested.
Each course is comprised of one or more modules consisting of a lesson and an exam. Upon successfully completing all modules, the student will be awarded with a Certificate of Completion, provided payment has been received.
Domestic vs. International training
Domestic shipments of hazardous materials within the United States must comply with Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) or commonly known as the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). If hazmat shipments are being transported by air or ocean internationally, applicable regulations from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) may apply respectively. Both IATA and IMO regulations have their own training requirements in addition to the 49 CFR.
Fines and civil penalties?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) conduct unannounced inspections regarding the activities of transporters of hazardous materials.
If the inspection finds that your business does not meet the proper requirements for hazmat training, your business may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.
49 CFR §107.329 Maximum civil penalties:
(a) A person who knowingly violates a requirement of the Federal hazardous material transportation law, an order issued thereunder, this subchapter, subchapter C of the chapter, or a special permit or approval issued under this subchapter applicable to the transportation of hazardous materials or the causing of them to be transported or shipped is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $79,976 for each violation, except the maximum civil penalty is $186,610 if the violation results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property. There is no minimum civil penalty, except for a minimum civil penalty of $481 for violations relating to training. When the violation is a continuing one, each day of the violation constitutes a separate offense.
(b) A person who knowingly violates a requirement of the Federal hazardous material transportation law, an order issued thereunder, this subchapter, subchapter C of the chapter, or a special permit or approval issued under this subchapter applicable to the design, manufacture, fabrication, inspection, marking, maintenance, reconditioning, repair or testing of a package, container, or packaging component which is represented, marked, certified, or sold by that person as qualified for use in the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $79,976 for each violation, except the maximum civil penalty is $186,610 if the violation results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property. There is no minimum civil penalty, except for a minimum civil penalty of $481 for violations relating to training.
49 CFR​ §107.333 Criminal penalties generally:
A person who knowingly violates §171.2(l) of this title or willfully or recklessly violates a requirement of the Federal hazardous material transportation law or a regulation, order, special permit, or approval issued thereunder shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, except the maximum amount of imprisonment shall be 10 years in any case in which the violation involves the release of a hazardous material which results in death or bodily injury to any person.
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