The cost of HAZMAT shipping has amounted to more than $37.5 million in damages this year alone. This is generally due to non-compliance with federal regulations.
Non-compliance can cost you or your company hundreds of thousands of dollars. It can also cause needless injuries and deaths to the general public. These leaks, spills, or fires can even pose a threat to the environment.
Continue reading to learn what happens when a company isn't compliant with regulations. We'll also look at what needs to be considered when training employees for compliance.
HAZMAT shipping is the shipment and transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste. Several government agencies work together to establish regulations.
The regulated hazardous materials pose a serious threat to the public. They may even pose a threat to the environment through possible exposure. They are under 9 different classes based on their chemical properties.
Class 1 Explosives include materials that pose a:
Class 2 Gases include poisonous (toxic) gases, flammable gases, and non-flammable gases. This class also includes materials that are:
Class 3 Flammable Liquids include any material with a 141 F flashpoint or lower. Class 4 Flammable Solids include:
Class 5 includes organic peroxides and oxidizers. Class 6 includes infectious substances and poisonous (toxic) materials. Class 7 includes all radioactive materials. Class 8 includes all corrosive materials.
Class 9 covers all other miscellaneous dangerous goods, such as:
This means that the products can only be shipped when complying with regulations. This includes items such as nail polish, paint, hairspray, batteries, and e-cigarettes.
It is the shipper's responsibility to properly package any hazardous materials. You also need the proper shipping papers, proper labels, marking, and placarding. The shipping papers will communicate the possible risks that may arise during transportation.
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration sets requirements for anyone offering transportation for:
To transport or ship hazardous materials, these individuals and companies must be registered. Registration must occur before transporting HAZMAT shipments. The Department of Transportation and FMCSA's specific requirements include:
Registration for HAZMAT transportation must be renewed annually for a fee.
HAZMAT shipping non-compliance can be dangerous to the:
This is especially true when the materials aren't handled in a safe manner. By complying with the regulations, you can avoid penalties that harm your finances. Violations can present themselves in the form of:
These mistakes can cause issues should a fire, spill, or leak happen in transportation. These problems may cause environmental hazards or even deaths after contact with HAZMATs.
The Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) penalties for non-compliance increase every year. This is to reflect inflation costs.
The maximum civil penalty for non-compliance is $83,439 per violation per day. Once these violations cause illness, property damage, or death, the number increases to $194,691 per violation per day. The minimum penalty for failing to provide training to employees is $502 per employee.
Your company stands to lose everything if you don't comply with federal regulations. The costs will continue to pile up until the violations get resolved.
Anyone handling the shipping process needs to be properly trained. Only registered personnel can offer and accept a hazardous material shipment for transport. All hazardous materials must be packaged and labeled with the proper paperwork.
The initial training needs to be complete within 90 days of employment. Recurrent training must occur every three years (or with the change or update of a job function). When it comes to providing HAZMAT training for your employees, you need to focus on:
You can get your employees' certified with a HAZMAT shipping online training course at Compliance Training Online. However, simply providing training for your employees isn't enough. The training also needs to be properly documented.
he regulations require that all training records need to be held by the HAZMAT employer for:
This training should extend beyond simple certification to in-person training. This way, they can get the hands-on experience they need for properly packaged HAZMAT. They also need training that involves safety plans and security for transportation.
The cost of HAZMAT shipping non-compliance can cause serious illnesses and even death. It will be more than just the financial buildup from the fines. By becoming compliant, you will save your company hundreds of thousands of dollars. You will also decrease the risk of your products posing a threat to the public.
Contact Compliance Training Online today for more information about HAZMAT shipping training online and the training services we can offer you and your company.
Your time is valuable. We've designed our site to be as fast as possible.
You'll never get lost or confused with us.
There's no waiting period. Begin the course as soon as you sign up.
Internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
We update our courses as soon as new regulations come out.
