Upcoming IATA Dangerous Goods Training Classes

Sep 14 49 CFR and IATA 3-Day Initial Training Where: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: $890.00		Sep 14 Multi-Modal 4-Day Initial Training Where: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: $1,160.00		Sep 16 IATA 1-Day Recurrent Training Where: Los Angeles, CA Tuition: $350.00
Sep 21 49 CFR and IATA 3-Day Initial Training Where: Monroe Township, NJ Tuition: $890.00		Sep 23 IATA 1-Day Recurrent Training Where: Monroe Township, NJ Tuition: $350.00		Sep 24 Multi-Modal 4-Day Initial Training Where: Monroe Township, NJ Tuition: $1,160.00

Dangerous Goods Training for IATA DGR Introduction

The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) is used worldwide by air carriers who accept and transport shipments of dangerous goods. All individuals involved in the handling, packaging, transporting, offering, acceptance, loading and unloading of dangerous goods must have the proper training to do so (IATA DGR 1.5.0.1).

Shippers and freight forwarders (brokers) of dangerous goods must comply with training requirements and regulatory guidelines of the IATA DGR, often as a condition for air carriers to accept shipments of dangerous goods and hazardous materials for air transport. The Bureau of Dangerous Goods provides initial and recurrent training courses to meet these requirements with out instructor-led classroom training programs.

Additionally, anyone involved in the transportation of hazardous materials within the United States must be properly trained to do so, under the requirements described in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), Subpart H, governed by the United States Department of Transportation. For air transport purposes, shipments of dangerous goods going onboard U.S. registered aircraft, destined to or departing from the United States must additionally adhere to 49 CFR regulations.

IATA-Accredited Dangerous Goods Training Provider

As an IATA-accredited training provider, the Bureau of Dangerous Goods offers a special IATA 3-Day Accredited Initial Training dangerous goods course, designed with the freight forwarder in mind. As a requirement for freight forwarders listed by Cargo Network Services Corporation (CNS), our IATA accredited course helps to simplify, standardize and secure the transport of people, cargo and mail throughout a global airline network with the freight forwarder as an intermediary between the shipper and airline.

Visit our IATA 3-Day Accredited Initial Training dangerous goods course page for more information.

Basic Training Requirements

All hazmat employees must be trained in the following areas dealing with dangerous goods, as required in IATA DGR 1.5.2.2:

• General awareness training - provides familiarity with general regulatory requirements and allows employees to recognize dangerous goods in the workplace environment,
• Function-specific training - detailed job-specific training in preparing, handling or transporting shipments of dangerous goods,
• Safety training - includes emergency response and measures to be taken in case of an emergency or hazmat spill, and
• Security training - security risks associated with dangerous goods transport and the enhancement of transportation safety (must be included for United States purposes under 49 CFR §172.704(a)(4); recommendatory under IATA DGR 1.6.1.1).

Personnel concerned with the transport of dangerous goods must also be familiar with minimum subject matter as mentioned in IATA DGR Table 1.5.A.

Initial Training Requirements

Initial training courses must be taken and maintained for:

• Freight forwarders
• Shippers of dangerous goods, including packers and persons and organizations undertaking the responsibilities of the shipper

Dangerous goods training must be provided or verified upon the employment of personnel concerned with the transport of dangerous goods and identified with the minimum subject matter mentioned in IATA DGR Table 1.5.A.

All dangerous goods training with the IATA DGR must be followed by a test to verify the understanding of dangerous goods regulations by the student. A record stating successful completion of this test must also be kept.

Additionally, employers and employees involved with hazardous materials in the United States must adhere to the training requirements as described in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart H, governed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. For all modes and job functions, the following regulations apply (DOT 49 CFR §172.702):

• It is the employer's responsibility to ensure their employees receive training,
• The employee may not perform their duties unless they are under direct supervision of a properly trained and knowledgable hazmat employee, until they have received training,
• Employees must be trained within 90 days of hire or change in job function(s),
• The employer may provide training or use an outside source, and
• The training must include a test.

Recurrent Training Requirements

IATA DGR 1.5.0.3 Recurrent training must take place within 24 months of previous IATA dangerous goods training to ensure knowledge is current, unless a competent authority has defined a shorter period.

However, if your recurrent training is completed within the final 3 months of validity of previous training, the period of validity extends from the date on which the recurrent training was completed until 24 months (2 years) from the expiration date of your previous training.

For example, if your current training certification expires on Thursday, December 02, 2010 and you take a recurrent training course today on Thursday, September 02, 2010, your new expiration date will be Friday, December 02, 2011.

Hazmat Training Record Retention

A record of current training, including the last thirty-six months (three years), must be kept and maintained for each hazmat employee while they remain an employee, and must be made available upon request of an appropriate national authority (IATA DGR 1.5.5.1 and 1.5.5.2).

The following information must be kept in the record:

• Hazmat employee's name,
• Most recent training completion date,
• Description, copy or location of training materials used to meet the requirements of IATA DGR 1.5,
• Name and address of the person or organization providing the training, and
• Certification that the hazmat employee has been trained and tested.