Module 1: Regulations - International Association of Fire Fighters

Student Text IAFF Training for Hazardous Materials: Technician©
Department of
Transportation
Questions
Refer to the Straight Bill of Lading on the following page to
answer the following questions:
1. What does the “RQ” before acetone mean?
2. What is the primary hazard of the cargo?
3. What does Packing Group II signify?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the
transportation of hazardous materials, including hazardous
wastes. The purpose of the hazardous materials regulations
is to identify materials that are dangerous during transportation
and to communicate the dangers and hazards associated
with such materials. In the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Uniform Safety Act (HMTUSA) of 1990,
the DOT mandated that hazardous materials employers
must provide training for all hazardous materials employees.
A hazardous materials employer is defined in 49
CFR 171.8 as
“a person who uses one or more of its employees in
connection with: transporting hazardous materials in
commerce; causing hazardous materials to be transported
or shipped in commerce; or representing, marking,
certifying, selling, offering, reconditioning, testing,
repairing, or modifying containers, drums, or
packagings as qualified for use in the transportation
of hazardous materials.”
A hazardous materials employee is
“any employee who directly affects hazardous material
transportation safety through involvement in packaging,
transport, manifesting, labeling, maintenance,
etc.”
A hazardous materials employee is also
“a person who is employed by a hazardous materials
Module 1: Regulations 1-13