The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a series of regulations governing training programs for what are termed HAZMAT Employees. The DOT training program is sometimes referred to as HM-126 training. The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) mandate training requirements for persons who prepare hazmat for shipment or who transport hazmat in commerce. The intent of the regulations is to ensure that each hazmat employee is familiar with the HMR, is able to recognize and identify hazardous materials, understands the specific HMR requirements applicable to the functions he or she performs, and is knowledgeable about emergency response, self-protection measures, and accident prevention methods. The regulations are performance based to provide a baseline set of training requirements while acknowledging the need for flexibility due to the diversity of the hazmat workforce.
HAZMAT EMPLOYEE means a person who is employed by a hazmat employer and who directly affects hazmat transportation safety including:
- an owner-operator of a motor vehicle which transports hazmat;
- a person (including a self-employed person) who:
- loads, unloads, or handles hazmat;
- tests, reconditions, repairs, modifies, marks, or otherwise represents packaging as qualified for use in the transportation of hazmat;
- prepares hazmat for transportation;
- is responsible for safety of transporting hazmat; or
- operates a vehicle used to transport hazmat.
