• Transportation agencies handling hazardous wastes must comply with DOT regulations.inhalation hazard class 2 image by k9dg from Fotolia.com
  
  Transportation agencies moving hazardous wastes must comply with federal and sometimes state regulations that address safety and environmental concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency defines hazardous waste as any liquid, solid, contained gas or sludge that has the potential to harm human health or the environment. Federal laws apply to trucks, trains, boats or airplanes moving hazardous waste from one site to another.
  
  

Identify and Classify

• Hazardous waste transporters must properly identify and classify their cargo. Substances must have proper shipping names according to the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Tables. Descriptions of the hazardous materials, the applicable hazard class and identification numbers must also be provided.
  
  The nine hazard classes designated by the DOT include explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids or substances, oxidizing substances, poisonous or infectious substances, radioactive substances, corrosives and miscellaneous dangerous substances.
  
  The supplier of the substance is responsible for determining the composition, properties and classification of the hazardous waste. Transportation agencies handling hazardous waste must acquire this information from suppliers and ensure packaging and labeling adheres to DOT regulations.
  
  

Report Incidents

• Immediate notification is required of transportation agencies for incidents that occur during any part of the process of transporting hazardous waste, including loading, unloading and accidents while the material is in temporary storage. Examples of incidents that need immediate notification include if a person is killed or has injuries that require a trip to the hospital; the general public is evacuated or a transportation artery is closed for more than an hour; a fire, spillage or contamination occurs with radioactive or infectious substances.
  
  Incidents should be reported to the U.S. Department of Transportation by telephone at 800-424-8802. A written report also is required.
  
  

Emergency Training

• Employees transporting and handling hazardous waste must receive required training every three years. New employees must be trained within 90 days of employment, and may only work with hazardous waste under the direct supervision of a trained employee until he fulfills the training requirement.
  
  There is no designated program for training, which can be offered in the form of lectures, conferences or self-paced programs done from home. Transportation agency employers choose the training programs that satisfy training requirements set by the DOT.
  
  Employee training should cover four distinct areas. General awareness informs the employee of hazardous material transportation and the purpose of communication requirements. Function specific training teaches knowledge and skills that directly apply to the employee's tasks in transporting hazardous materials. Safety training offers information on the hazards of handling the materials and personal protection procedures. Security training makes an employee aware of security risks to the environment and public health when transporting hazardous wastes and methods to increase the security of cargo. A security plan that includes procedures to do in case of a spill should be implemented and practiced.