Our interest is in preventing workplace fires and in

reducing the damaging effects of fires that do occur.

The three key elements of fire safety are fire

prevention, safe evacuation in the event of fire,
and basic fire training.  Our integrated program of
fire safety regulations includes local, state and OSHA
fire safety standards.
 Naturally all fire prevention
measures are our first line of
defense, but in case there is a
fire, your safety and the safety
of everyone is our first priority.


 Click each picture to learn the

proper procedures to follow in
case of a fire. 
 Be aware of the nearest
exit to the outside
wherever you are.


 Never block fire exits with

equipment or material of
any kind. 
 This could cause delay
and panic in the event of
an emergency.
 By the end of this module, you should be able to:
 List reasons why DOT hazardous materials training is important
 Identify DOT training requirements that apply to you
 Define terms relevant to Hazardous Materials General Awareness,
including:

 Hazardous Materials
 Hazardous Substances
 Hazardous Wastes
 Marine Pollutants


 List the steps required for proper shipping of dangerous goods.

Hazardous Material
Hazaradous Material
Hazardous Waste
Marine Pollution
 Hazardous materials training is important to protect people, the
environment, and property. All of these are at risk if you violate
hazardous materials regulations.
As stated in 49 CFR 172 Subpart H, the Federal Hazardous
Materials Transportation Law requires training. In addition,
hazardous materials violations are costly. Federal regulations
provide for fines of up to $32,500 per violation, per day for failure to
comply. Willful violators are subject to the fines plus imprisonment
for up to five years. An example of a willful violation would be the
removal of the placards from a vehicle containing hazardous
materials in order to avoid an inspection. Packaging manufacturers
and shippers have also been fined for willful violations.
Take a look at this case study.
General HazMat Information
 But more important than avoiding fines is knowing that
improper labeling and transportation of hazardous materials
threatens the health, safety, and property of you and the
general public. These materials are called "hazardous" for a
very good reason.

Learning to properly package, label, and transport hazardous

materials helps protect you and the public.

 he DOT takes highway transportation of
hazardous materials seriously and that is why
training should be undertaken prior to, or
immediately upon, assignment of hazmat duties.
However the regulations provide that an
employee may work for up to 90 days under the
direct supervision of a trained employee before
training is required. Failure to provide the required
training is a violation of the regulations.
 It is crucial for a packager, handler, or shipper of hazardous materials to understand
the key elements of hazardous materials transportation safety and regulations. There
are five basic steps required for shipping any hazardous materials.
Remember these five basic steps:
 The material to be shipped must first be identified and classified to determine what
hazards are present and to determine the proper shipping name of the material.
 Once the material is identified, a packaging can be selected based on packagings
that are authorized according to the Hazardous Materials Table.
 Once packaged, the appropriate marks must be applied to the package to identify
the material and provide additional helpful information about the package and its
contents.
 The proper hazard warning labels must be applied to the package.
 The shipping papers must be completed so that the required information is
accurately communicated.
 Now that you know what hazardous materials are,
how important hazardous materials training is,
and the basic steps to prepare a hazardous
materials shipment, you are ready to practice your
skills in a laboratory exercise.
 Click here to access the Lab activity for this
section.
 For more information on hazardous materials
transportation, click here to access the DOT
Hazardous Materials General Awareness library.
DOT Hazardous Materials General
Awareness
 Hazardous Materials Preparation If you
prepare, handle, offer or accept hazardous
materials, you should be able to use the
Hazardous Materials Table to help you with
proper shipping names, package selection,
marking, and labeling.
 Classes
Class 1: Explosives
Class 2: Gases
Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Class 4: Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible,
and Dangerous When Wet Materials
Class 5: Oxidizers
Class 6: Poisonous Materials and Infectious Substances
Class 7: Radioactive Materials
Class 8: Corrosive Materials
Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials
 By the end of this module, you should be able to:
 Identify the properties that cause a material to be considered
hazardous
 List the hazard classes and divisions and explain the
fundamental properties of each one
 Use the Hazardous Materials Table to select proper
packaging, labels, and markings
 Identify the DOT rules for using the proper shipping names
 Define DOT terms related to hazardous materials packaging
 There are a number of physical properties
that can cause a material to be dangerous
to human life, the environment, or both.

To determine whether a material is

considered hazardous and is regulated for
transportation, you need to know whether it
actually has any of these hazardous
properties.
 Here are some properties that can cause a material to be
dangerous:
 Explosivity
 Flammability
 Instability/Reactivity
 Oxidizing ability
 Toxicity
 Disease bearing potential
 Radioactivity
 Corrosivity.
 Some materials may exhibit more than one of these
properties.
 If a substance meets at least one of the hazard class
definitions established in Part 173 of 49 CFR, it is considered
a regulated hazardous material for transportation. Use this
link to answer the question on the right.

The DOT Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101) lists

the hazards for a large number of substances. However,
many substances not listed may be hazardous and their
properties must be evaluated against each of the hazard
class definitions to determine if they are regulated. This may
require laboratory testing.
 The Hazardous Materials Table, and its appendices, cover
more than 200 pages of entries in very fine print. They furnish
all of the information you need for determining whether a
listed material is regulated and for shipping it safely and
legally. For quick reference, you may want to refer to this
abbreviated version, created specifically for this course.

You may never encounter many of the materials in the

Hazardous Materials Table and its appendices. However,
knowledge of the hazard classes and divisions will help you
identify any hazardous material and also help first responders
deal with them in transportation emergencies.
 When a packing group is associated with a hazard class, its
purpose is to indicate the degree of danger posed by a
hazardous material:
 Packing group I = great danger
 Packing group II = medium danger
 Packing group III = minor danger.

Packaging standards for non-bulk packagings are published
in Subpart L of 49 CFR Part 178 (178.500 through 178.523).
Packagings that meet these standards bear specification
markings or codes that verify that the packaging conforms to
the regulations.
 One of the keys to proper hazardous
materials transportation is the concept of
the proper shipping name. You might ask,
"What's in a name?" The DOT would
probably answer, "Everything, especially
when you are dealing with hazardous
materials."

Consider a substance like hydrogen sulfide.

 Selecting a proper shipping name from Column 2 in the Hazardous
Materials Table (abbreviated) is very important because this is the key for
determining all the other information required to properly package, mark,
label, and prepare shipping documents for hazardous materials. Legal
proper shipping names are those names listed in the Hazardous Materials
Table in Roman type (not italics). One example is "Acetone".
Note: Always check the hazard class and packing group (if any) listed after
this shipping name to make sure they are the same as the product you are
shipping. If not, it is NOT the proper shipping name for the product. The
only exception to this is for shipping names in the Hazardous Materials
Table with a plus (+) symbol in Column 1. This indicates the proper
shipping names and hazard class that must be used for that material,
regardless of whether the material, its mixtures and solutions, meet the
definition of the hazard class listed.
 The Hazardous Materials Table cannot show the specific shipping name for every
possible hazardous material, solution, and mixture being shipped. Generic names
are used for materials that are not specifically listed in the Hazardous Materials
Table but are still considered hazardous.
If a generic shipping name is preceded with a "G" in Column 1 of the Hazardous
Materials Table, add the required technical name or names (in parentheses)
following the proper shipping name. An example would be "Flammable Liquid, n.o.s.
(Ethylhydroxylamine)". Note the use of n.o.s. to indicate the use of a generic
shipping name.
Generic materials include:
 Those identified by a chemical group name rather than the name of the individual
chemical, such as alcohols or amines (example: "Alcohols, n.o.s")
 Those that have a generic end-use, such as medicine or paint (example: "Cleaning
compound, liquid, n.o.s")
 Those that fall into a particular hazard class, such as flammable or corrosive
(example: "Flammable liquids, n.o.s").
 However, there are times when a hazardous
material, mixture, or solution is not listed in the
Hazardous Materials Table by technical name and
this requires the shipper to determine the hazard
class or division and packing group criteria.
When a hazardous material meets the criteria of
more than one packing group (hazard class), and
is not specifically listed in the Hazardous Materials
Table by technical name, classification according
to the listing in Section 173.2a and the
Precedence of Hazards Table is required.
 DOT regulations specify what packagings can be used for
shipments of hazardous materials. The DOT uses the term
packaging to refer to a receptacle and any other
components or materials necessary for the receptacle to
performits containment function according to minimum
standards. Packaging can be as small as a bottle and as
large as a railroad car or the hold of a ship. The DOT uses
the term package to refer to a packaging and the
hazardousmaterial that is inside. See 49 CFR 171.8 for
additional information regarding definitions. he purpose of
hazardous materials packaging requirements is to assure
that hazardous materials stay in the package during normal
transportation and also to prevent harm to the crew or
passengers of the vehicle during transport (49 CFR 171.2).
he purpose of hazardous materials packaging requirements
is to assure that hazardous materials stay in the package during normal
transportation and also to prevent harm to the crew or passengers of the
vehicle during transport (49 CFR 171.2).
 Reasons that selecting the right packaging is so
important include:
 Some hazardous materials are not compatible
with some packaging materials. For example,
acids usually will eat through anything but glass
containers.
 Packages have to be protected. You can't
guarantee that the package won't be dropped or
handled roughly.
 Selecting the proper packaging for shipping a hazardous
material involves determining:
 Mode of transportation to be used
 Specific packaging authorized by the regulations, as
indicated in Column 8 of the Hazardous Materials Table (
abbreviated)
 Exceptions for limited quantities (49 CFR 173.4) and
materials of trade (49 CFR 173.6), as indicated in Column 8A
of the Hazardous Materials Table
 Special provisions which may limit the use of certain
packages, as indicated in Column 7 of the Hazardous
Materials Table
 Needs of the customer.
 n addition, the DOT publishes minimum
packaging standards that apply to all hazmat
packagings. These standards for "General
requirements for packagings and packages" can
be found in 49 CFR 173.24. They address such
things as compatibility and filling limits, among
others.

A list of terms and their specific meanings can be

found in the DOT regulations (49 CFR 171.8).
 Except as specifically authorized by the DOT, all non-bulk packaging must have the
following markings to identify the type of hazardous materials contained, as well as
to provide information for handling and emergency response purposes:
 Proper shipping name(s) of the material(s) in the package found in Column 2 (
example) of the Hazardous Materials Table
 Technical name of the hazardous constituent(s) if the proper shipping name is
preceded by the letter "G" in Column 1 of the Hazardous Materials Table.
 Identification number(s) of the material(s) in the package found in Column 4 (
example) of the Hazardous Materials Table.
 The letters RQ must be marked in association with the proper shipping name if the
package contains a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance listed in
Appendix A of Part 172.101. Also, the name of the hazardous substance must be
marked in ( )'s if it is not identified in the proper shipping name (example).
 Name and address of the consignor and/or the consignee. The consignor is the
person who ships the package, and the consignee the recipient.

Click here to find out how large quantities of non-bulk packages must be marked.
 Except as specifically authorized by the DOT, all non-bulk packaging must have the
following markings to identify the type of hazardous materials contained, as well as
to provide information for handling and emergency response purposes:
 Proper shipping name(s) of the material(s) in the package found in Column 2 (
example) of the Hazardous Materials Table
 Technical name of the hazardous constituent(s) if the proper shipping name is
preceded by the letter "G" in Column 1 of the Hazardous Materials Table.
 Identification number(s) of the material(s) in the package found in Column 4 (
example) of the Hazardous Materials Table.
 The letters RQ must be marked in association with the proper shipping name if the
package contains a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance listed in
Appendix A of Part 172.101. Also, the name of the hazardous substance must be
marked in ( )'s if it is not identified in the proper shipping name (example).
 Name and address of the consignor and/or the consignee. The consignor is the
person who ships the package, and the consignee the recipient.

Click here to find out how large quantities of non-bulk packages must be marked.
 You do not have to mark an identification number on
package that contains only one material if the material meets these exceptions:
Limited quantity shipments, as authorized in Column 8A (example)
of the Hazardous
Materials Table (provided the proper shipping name is marked on the package)
Materials authorized for shipment as consumer commodities or ORM-D
(other regulated materials - domestic).

Marks must be clearly visible, in English and in a contrasting color.

 You do not have to mark an identification number on a
package that contains only one material if the material meets
these exceptions:
 Limited quantity shipments, as authorized in Column 8A (
example) of the Hazardous Materials Table (provided the
proper shipping name is marked on the package)
 Materials authorized for shipment as consumer commodities
or ORM-D (other regulated materials - domestic).

Marks must be clearly visible, in English and in a contrasting
color.
 Special marking requirements apply for each of the following when carrying
certain types of materials:
These Shipping MethodsThese Types of Materials
 Cargo tanks
 Tank cars and multi-unit tank car tanks
 Portable intermodal tanks
 Vehicles transporting portable tanks or other bulk containers.
 Radioactive materials
 Poisonous hazardous materials
 Elevated temperature materials
 Hazardous substances
 Hazardous Wastes
 Marine pollutants.
 Bulk packagings that must be marked when full must remain
marked when empty until they have been cleaned of residue and
purged of vapors.
A bulk package marked with the proper shipping name and/or
identification number of a hazardous material cannot be offered for
transportation or transported unless it actually contains the
hazardous material identified or its residue (49 CFR 173.29).
The only exception to this occurs when all of the following are true:
 Such packages are transported in an enclosed transport or freight
container
 The packages are not visible from the outside
 The vehicle or container is loaded by the shipper and unloaded only
by the shipper or consignee.
 Labeling requirements are published in 49 CFR 172 Subpart E (172.400
through 172.450). Labels must be displayed on hazardous materials
packages in order to:
 Identify the hazard class or division to which the material belongs
 Provide a visual graphic warning about the hazards posed by the material.

See the following links for additional information regarding labeling
requirements:
 Labeling Requirements in Column 6
 Other Labeling Requirements
 Subsidiary Hazard Labels
 Labeling Restrictions
 Placement of Labels
 Other Hazard Warning Labels
 Generally, only one of each different required label must be
displayed on a package. However, you must display one or
more duplicate labels on the following:
 Non-bulk packages or overpacks with a volume of at least 64
cubic feet.
 Non-bulk packages containing Class 7 (radioactive) material.
 Portable tanks with a capacity of less than 1,000 gallons,
unless the tank is placarded.
 Freight containers or aircraft unit load devices with a volume
of at least 64 cubic feet but less than 640 cubic feet, unless
placarded.
 The following packages may have the label displayed on a tag
attached to the package, instead of on the package itself:
 Packages with dimensions smaller than the required label size
 Compressed gas cylinders
 Packages with irregular surfaces to which a label cannot
successfully be attached.

However, any package of Class 7 (Radioactive) materials must be
large enough to have a label attached directly on the package.
Click here to see the special provisions for labeling packaging that
contains more than one hazard class.
 Now that you know about hazardous materials
classification, marking, labeling, and packaging
you are ready to practice your skills in a
laboratory exercise.
 Click here to access the Lab activity for this
section.
 For more information on hazardous materials
transportation, click here to access the DOT
Hazardous Materials General Awareness library.