Hazmat Training for Air Shippers

The US DOT requires hazmat employee training to cover all applicable modal requirements. If you ship hazmat/dangerous goods by air, you likely need to comply with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

IATA DGR Initial Training Requirements

Under the IATA DGR, personnel must receive training before they perform covered work.

Learn about US DOT’s initial hazmat shipper training requirements here.

I Have IATA DGR Training. Do I Need DOT Training Too?

Yes. If you are preparing dangerous goods for transportation according to the IATA DGR, there are still many DOT requirements in 49 CFR that your shipment must meet, as well as administrative and operational requirements that shippers must comply with, such as training and cargo security rules. At a minimum, you must be trained in these additional requirements.

The DOT allows hazardous materials to be shipped under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for any shipments traveling by air, provided the shipment complies with the additional DOT requirements (listed at 49 CFR 171.22, 171.23, and 171.24) and the shipper complies with all administrative rules in 49 CFR.

How Often Is Air Shipper Training Required?

Hazmat air shippers must comply with stricter employee training rules. The IATA DGR requires recurrent training at least every 24 months [IATA 1.5.0.3]. This deadline is not enforced by the DOT, but the world's largest air carriers (i.e., IATA members) can refuse your dangerous goods shipments if you have not received training within the previous 24 months.

What Must Be Included in IATA DGR Training Records?

When shipping to or from the US, all training records must include the following DOT-mandated elements:

1. The hazmat employee’s name.
2. The most recent training completion date of the hazmat employee’s training.
3. A description, copy, or the location of the training materials used.
4. The name and address of the person providing the training.
5. Certification by the hazmat employer that the hazmat employee has been trained and tested, as required.

IATA training records must include additional IATA-mandated elements:

• “A copy of the certification received when the individual was trained, which shows that a test has been completed satisfactorily.”

How Long to Keep IATA DGR Training Records

The IATA DGR mandates training records to be retained by the employer for a minimum period of 36 months from the most recent training. Training records must be made available upon request [IATA DGR 1.5.1.4.3].

Who Enforces the IATA DGR Hazmat Training Mandates?

The DOT enforces all hazmat transportation training in the United States. Although air carriers require training on the international rules, where applicable, the US DOT requires training and training records only to comply with 49 CFR training rules. However, in order to do business with many air carriers, you must still comply with any stricter standards in the IATA DGR.

Tags: dangerous goods, hazardous materials, hazmat shipping, IATA, IATA DGR