Why ALL Hazmat Employees Need Function Specific Training

"More than one-third of the Department’s enforcement actions pertaining to violations of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations involve the failure of hazmat employers to provide training or maintain test records," according to Alan I. Roberts, former Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation. He goes on to state, " in most cases violations are attributed to failure to provide function specific training."  The US DOT also states that "85 percent of of all US Hazmat incidents are caused by human error".

If so many violations are because of  lack of  function specific training, why are public general awareness seminars, computer based and video training so popular?

First, we need to define general awareness and function specific. According to the Hazardous Materials Regulations, general awareness is training designed to provide familiarity with the appropriate regulations and hazard communication standards. Function specific training is training on the specific parts of the regulations that are applicable to the functions the hazmat employee performs.

For example if your employee prepares shipping documents, he/she needs training on preparation of shipping documents. If the hazmat employee packages hazardous samples, he/she needs to be trained on how to properly package hazardous samples.

Public general awareness programs are great for the basics. What happens when you ship Intermediate Bulk Containers and the seminar does not cover IBCs?  No public program can cover all your training needs. How many people really ship explosives, radioactives or infectious substances? Who cares about dry ice shipments, if all you ship is paint.   Does your company use the same packaging as every other company?  Is your marking and labeling just like everyone else?  Public seminars can not focus on the most important person, YOU.

Function specific training must be designed for your company, your shipments, your employees and your needs. This can and is being done with on-site training. This is a more effective and economical way to correctly educate your hazmat employees.  Safety Specialists, Inc. offers this option.

Is on-site training more expensive?  No, you can train all Haz Mat employees in your facility. You pay one flat fee.  No per person fee. You do not have large employee travel expenses or lost travel days to and from seminar locations. Your team can train together. It can be done at a time convenient for your schedule, not the seminar provider. Early mornings, evenings and weekends are possible. Individualized training saves time, money and gets employees back to work quicker. The added benefit is that we send a hazardous materials expert at your company to look at your situation. Our trainers have years of on the job experience and training.  Sensitive questions can be asked and honest answers given. This is difficult in a room with 30-60 strangers.

The non-instructor options videotapes, CD-ROMs, books, slide shows, etc. are great tools but none of these tools can answer your questions about your products or functions. On-site function specific training helps employees learn quicker, retain more of what they learn and is more practical. 

We provide support to customers after training.

Education prevents incidents, accidents and penalties.