The Tech Box
Reviewing your Training and Development Plans?
An excellent place to start is the 2022 edition of the FBA USDOT Hazmat Packaging Training Program
The first few months of the year are an excellent time to review training and development plans for your plant. As mentioned in
November's Tech Box
, 48% of America's working population is actively searching or watching for new job opportunities. Learning and development (L&D) programs can be an appealing benefit for team member retention and recruitment. It shows your employees that you care enough to provide the tools they need to succeed at their jobs. It can also keep you out of trouble with regulatory agencies.
The corrugated industry offers many training tools, including the TAPPI Academy, AICC – The Independent Packaging Association's Packaging School, and Fibre Box Association (FBA) programs. In particular, one training program that's extremely useful and was just
updated is FBA's Hazardous Materials Packaging Training Program.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's hazardous materials regulations (HMR) require that all Hazmat Employees be trained and tested on awareness of the HMR; how their jobs are affected by the regulations and can impact a hazmat order; on safety around hazardous materials; and security awareness.
FBA has been offering a hazmat training program specifically for box plants since the 1990s. And since the focus is on box plants, all the tests, e-cfr tutorials, supplemental information, and modifiable templates will make it easier for you and your team members to know and understand your responsibilities regarding hazmat requirements.
The updated 2022 edition is the most comprehensive hazmat packaging training program for box plants. New videos (say goodbye to hairstyles from the 2000s) with new material make this version one your employees will be excited to watch. And, with training divided into three groups with different training videos, supplemental information, and tests, you can ensure that your team members get the proper training for their specific hazmat responsibilities.
Group 1
Group one provides awareness of the regulations and the fundamentals of how the HMR affects manufacturing hazmat packaging by the corrugated industry and our responsibilities as hazmat package manufacturers. The focus in group one targets the understanding of regulatory standards like proper UN markings and the appropriate way hazard warning labels and symbols must appear. Ultimately, the hazmat training program provides you with more trained eyes on the final product before it leaves your facility.
Group 2
Group two is ideal for Hazmat Employees who interface between the box plant and hazmat shippers and need to know more of the HMR details but are not considered hazmat experts. This group training provides more specifications like
marking requirements, hazard warning label use, and understanding the Hazardous Materials Table. Group two employees should also participate in group one training videos and tests.
Group 3
Group three provides excellent information for your hazmat experts and team members that design or sign off on hazmat packaging specifications with your customers. Your group three team members must understand box construction standards, size, limited quantity requirements, exemption, or special permit authorization requirements. Group three employees should participate in all three training videos and tests.
This general awareness and function-specific training used in tandem with your plant's existing safety and security training with just some minor security recommendations will cover the USDOTs hazmat training requirements for the next three years. Don't forget that you have 90 days to complete training for all new hazmat employees, including temporary and contract workers.
Just order the hazmat training program on the
FBA Store
, have your team members watch the training videos, take the test(s), go over the correct answers, and fill out the sign-in sheet. The tests offered by FBA make an excellent hard copy or digital document for your records. Be sure to keep the training records handy with HR, the Quality Manager, or EHS professional, just as long as you have easy access to the documents if the DOT makes a house call.
We've provided the training videos, tests, and sign-in sheets; you just need to bring some pens and snacks.
Thanks,
Chase
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Chase Kammerer is the Manager of Technical Services at Fibre Box Association (FBA). If you have technical questions about the corrugated industry, you can reach him directly at
ckammerer@fibrebox.org
.