Though many of us do not actively often think about it, hazardous materials are a fact of life. Hazardous materials are the byproduct of many industrial processes and must be able to be transported safely and carefully, as they can pose a risk if they are not. But with three billion tons of hazardous materials shipped and transported across the country in just one year.
The vast majority of these hazardous materials – around eleven billion tons (or nearly ninety five percent) – are transported through the use of trucks, though these hazardous materials in particular are, of course, only transported domestically. It is important for these truck drivers who transport hazardous materials to be well trained and up to date on the protocol for such the transport of such materials. Shipping hazardous materials typically requires OSHA hazmat training.
OSHA hazmat training is required in a number of fields but particularly those that deal directly with the transport or handling of hazardous waste and other hazardous materials, which are transported at least two hundred and fifty miles all across the United States. This hazardous cargo is typically separated into nine different categorizations, mandated by the Department of Transportation, and each category will likely require slightly different handling standards. Because of this, it is important for truck drivers in particular to undergo a thorough course of OSHA hazmat training. The mandated OSHA hazmat training is typically around forty hours long at a minimum, though state specific licenses are sometimes also required to be obtained. A dot hazmat certification is typically received after OSHA hazmat training, and allows the recipients of the certification to legally and lawfully transport various hazardous materials around the country.
Hazardous materials and working with hazardous wastes may be more common than many people realize. For example, flammable liquids such as gasoline are considered to be hazardous materials. Gasoline is of course hugely important to transport, as the vast majority of us rely on it for the continued function of our day to day lives. In fact, flammable liquids such as gasoline make up more than eighty five percent of the cost and value of hazardous materials that are transported by truck in the United States and more than eighty five percent of the total weight of hazardous transported materials as well.
Hazardous materials are common in the United States, and they can be a lucrative field, not only to sell but to transport. For truck drivers around the country who transport hazardous materials on a regular basis, the average yearly salary is more than forty thousand dollars. It is important, however, to take all of the necessary precautions, like taking the forty mandated hours of OSHA hazmat training. Though the initial OSHA hazmat training course is required, many truck drivers will seek out additional certification and training to better their professional skills as well as their career opportunities. OSHA hazmat training can be the foot in the door for the transport of hazardous materials, which are more common than the majority of people realize and include commonly used substances such as gasoline and other natural gases and flammable materials. OSHA hazmat training makes the transport of such materials as safe as is humanly possible, teaching truck drivers and the like to manage situations and avoid dangerous situation whenever it is physically possible.
