Hazardous Materials Transportation Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Hazardous Materials

Covers what qualifies a substance as hazardous under transport regulations and why classification matters. Anchors all subsequent chapters in precise terminology.

Lesson 2 • The Hazard Classification System

Explains the nine hazard classes, divisions, and packing groups used globally. Students gain the ability to assign a preliminary class to any regulated material.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Bodies and Frameworks

Identifies the international and domestic agencies that govern hazmat transport and their jurisdictional roles. Provides the compliance map students navigate throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Identifying Materials in Commerce

Teaches use of UN numbers, proper shipping names, and hazmat lists to confirm regulated status. Connects classification theory to real shipping documents.

Lesson 1 • Corrosives, Miscellaneous, and Mixed Loads

Addresses corrosive classification criteria, Class 9 miscellaneous hazards, and the logic for mixed-load compatibility. Completes the full classification skill set.

Lesson 2 • Solids, Oxidizers, and Peroxides

Covers flammable solids, self-reactive substances, pyrophorics, oxidizers, and organic peroxides using standardized test criteria. Students classify reactive solids and assign packing groups.

Lesson 3 • Explosives: Class 1 Criteria

Covers explosive test series, compatibility groups, and division assignment for Class 1 materials. Students apply criteria to distinguish divisions and assign compatibility codes.

Lesson 4 • Gases and Flammable Liquids

Addresses classification criteria for compressed, liquefied, and dissolved gases plus flammable liquid flash-point thresholds. Builds skill in distinguishing Classes 2 and 3.

Lesson 1 • Performance-Based Packaging Principles

Introduces the performance-based approach replacing design-based specifications and explains test protocols. Students understand why packaging is tested rather than prescribed by material.

Lesson 2 • Packing Group and Quantity Limits

Links packing group assignment to maximum quantity per package and authorized packaging types. Students apply the hazmat table to select compliant packaging for each packing group.

Lesson 3 • Packaging Types and Codes

Decodes the UN packaging code system for drums, jerricans, boxes, bags, and composite packages. Students read and assign correct codes to selected packaging.

Lesson 4 • Packaging Inspection and Reuse

Establishes criteria for inspecting used packaging, reuse authorization, and rejection standards. Students can make compliant accept-or-reject decisions before shipment.

Lesson 1 • Package Marking Requirements

Covers required marks including proper shipping name, UN number, net quantity, and special marks. Students apply marking rules to packages of varying size and hazard class.

Lesson 2 • Hazard Label Specifications

Explains label dimensions, color codes, symbols, and text requirements for all nine hazard classes. Students select and apply correct primary and subsidiary labels.

Lesson 3 • Mode-Specific Marking Differences

Compares marking and labeling variations across road, rail, air, and sea transport modes. Students adapt a single shipment's identification for each mode.

Lesson 4 • Verification and Compliance Auditing

Provides a systematic method for auditing marks, labels, and placards before dispatch. Students conduct mock audits and identify and correct deficiencies.

Lesson 1 • Shipping Paper Fundamentals

Covers required data elements, sequencing, and format for hazmat shipping papers. Students draft compliant descriptions for multiple hazard classes on a single document.

Lesson 2 • Document Retention and Recordkeeping

Establishes retention periods, storage formats, and audit-readiness requirements for hazmat shipping records. Students build a compliant recordkeeping system for a simulated operation.

Lesson 3 • Emergency Response Information

Covers the requirement to provide emergency response guidance with every hazmat shipment and approved methods for compliance. Students select and attach appropriate response resources.

Lesson 4 • Sea Transport Documentation

Addresses the dangerous goods declaration, container packing certificate, and stowage requirements for sea shipments. Students integrate documentation with container packing records.

Lesson 1 • Sea Container Packing and Stowage

Covers container packing procedures, stowage categories, and on-deck vs. under-deck requirements for sea transport. Students complete a container packing plan for a multi-class shipment.

Lesson 2 • Bulk Loading and Tank Operations

Explains bulk packaging loading, tank vehicle filling limits, and vapor recovery requirements. Students apply filling ratio and ullage rules to tank shipments.

Lesson 3 • Segregation Principles and Tables

Explains why certain hazard classes must be separated and how to read segregation tables. Students resolve conflicts between incompatible materials in a single shipment.

Lesson 4 • Road and Rail Loading Procedures

Covers vehicle and railcar loading sequences, blocking and bracing, and compatibility checks for ground transport. Students plan a compliant road or rail load configuration.

Lesson 1 • Spill Containment and Mitigation

Covers containment strategies, absorbent and neutralizing agent selection, and waste disposal requirements. Students select appropriate mitigation tactics for liquid and gas releases.

Lesson 2 • Initial Response Actions

Establishes the sequence of notification, isolation, and protective action decisions for first responders. Students apply the emergency response guidebook to select initial actions.

Lesson 3 • Incident Reporting and Investigation

Addresses mandatory incident reporting thresholds, report content requirements, and root-cause investigation methods. Students complete a simulated incident report and identify corrective actions.

Lesson 4 • Hazmat Incident Recognition

Covers indicators of a hazmat release, container damage assessment, and initial scene size-up. Students identify incident type and severity from observable cues.

Lesson 1 • Building a Hazmat Compliance Program

Covers the components of an effective compliance program including policy, procedures, training, and auditing. Students draft a compliance program framework for a simulated company.

Lesson 2 • Training Requirements and Recordkeeping

Explains function-specific training categories, frequency requirements, and training record obligations. Students design a training matrix for a multi-role hazmat operation.

Lesson 3 • Security Plan Development

Covers required elements of a hazmat security plan including personnel, facility, and en-route measures. Students write a security plan addressing all required components.

Lesson 4 • Regulatory Inspections and Enforcement

Prepares students for regulatory inspections, penalty structures, and enforcement response strategies. Students conduct a mock inspection and develop a violation response plan.