Incident Reporting

More than four billion tons of hazardous materials are shipped each year in the U.S. Despite all the precautions laid out in the HMR, incidents do occur. When HAZMAT is released, it can damage property and the environment, and it can cause injuries and fatalities. If a HAZMAT incident occurs, it must be reported in accordance with the HMR. Different procedures are required depending on the type of incident. Some require immediate notification by telephone followed by a written report, while other incidents only require a written notification. Incident reporting is described in §171.15 and §171.16 of the HMR.

To learn more about DOT HAZMAT Awareness visit our DOT HAZMAT General Awareness Online Training web page.