Hazmat Training Online Courses - General Awareness - English

Hazardous materials (hazmat) can be a risk to health, safety, and property when shipped. The Department of Transportation (DOT) decides what items are considered hazmat. Four examples of hazmat are gasoline, oxygen, propane, and fireworks.

The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) are a set of rules created by The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Hazmat workers need to follow the rules to make sure all hazmat is packed and handled safely during shipping. The rules help communicate the possible hazards of any material being shipped to everyone involved. This includes motor carriers, hazmat workers, and emergency crews.

The HMRs require every hazmat employer to train, test, and certify every hazmat employee within 90 days of employment, within 90 days of any change in job function, and every three years as a refresher in four areas: general awareness/familiarization training, safety training, security awareness training, and function-specific training. In addition, drivers who transport hazmat are also required to take modal-specific training.

The Hazmat Training Program consists of 13 modules:

Please note: 49 CFR 172.704(d) of the HMR requires each hazmat employer to create and retain a record certifying the current training of each hazmat employee. It is the responsibility of the hazmat employer to complete additional company-specific training (including in-depth security training) in order to formally certify each learner. Trainers may use the J. J. Keller-issued certificate for compliance with the recordkeeping requirements in Section 172.704(d)(3). The trainer and the trainer’s company are considered the “person providing the training” in Section 172.704(d)(4). Because of this, trainers should maintain additional records documenting a description or copy of the additional company-specific training materials provided to each learner.