NC CDL HazMat cheat sheet

HazMat employee: any person who directly affects hazardous materials transportation safety, including drivers, loaders, and shipping-paper preparers; requires general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness training.

Training must be completed within 90 days of hire and repeated at least every 3 years; the employer must certify and keep training records.

The driver must carry a CDL with the HazMat endorsement plus a valid Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment; the endorsement requires a knowledge test and background check.

HazMat is defined as a material capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported, and includes materials meeting any hazard class definition in the regulations.

The shipper is responsible for classifying the material, selecting the proper shipping name, and providing accurate shipping papers; the driver is responsible for verifying papers and placards before accepting the load.

A driver may not accept a shipment if the shipping paper, markings, labels, or placards do not match the material or are missing; the driver must resolve discrepancies before moving.

Reportable quantity (RQ): the threshold amount of a hazardous substance released into the environment that triggers notification to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

Forbidden materials or packages leaking, damaged, or improperly marked must be refused or corrected before transport; drivers may not transport a package showing evidence of leakage or contamination.

Shipping papers must include the proper shipping name, hazard class or division, UN/NA identification number, and packing group in that order, plus total quantity and number of packages.

Emergency response telephone number must be monitored at all times during transport and must be a number that reaches a person with knowledge of the material, not a prerecorded message.

The basic description on the shipping paper must be legible, in English, and printed in a distinct color or highlighted so hazardous materials entries stand out from other entries.

Emergency response information must be immediately available to the driver and must include the nature of the hazard, firefighting and spill response guidance, and first aid measures.

When a shipping paper covers both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, the hazardous entries must appear first or be clearly identified by an X in the HM column.

Shipping papers must be kept within reach of the driver while in the vehicle, in a pouch on the driver's door, or on the driver's seat when out of the vehicle.

For international shipments, the shipping paper must include the additional information required by the country of destination, and the emergency response number must be reachable from that country.

If the shipping paper is lost or destroyed, the driver must notify the carrier and may not continue until a replacement is obtained; the carrier maintains the original for at least 2 years.

Placards are required for Table 2 materials in any quantity, for Table 1 materials at 1,001 pounds or more aggregate gross weight, and for any quantity of a material that is hazardous to the environment or a hazardous substance in a reportable quantity.

Placards must be displayed on both sides and both ends of the vehicle; for a trailer, they go on the front, rear, and both sides.

A placard must match the hazard class of the material it represents; a DANGEROUS placard may be used for two or more Table 2 hazard classes in place of individual placards when allowed.

Labels are applied by the shipper to packages and indicate the hazard class; a package may bear more than one label if it has multiple hazards.

Marking includes the proper shipping name and UN/NA number on packages and the identification number on orange panels, portable tanks, and cargo tanks.

Placards must be legible, securely attached, and free of contamination; damaged or illegible placards must be replaced before transport.

The 1,001-pound rule applies to the aggregate gross weight of all Table 1 materials in the load, not to each individual material.

Placards are not required for limited quantities or for small quantities of Table 2 materials below the threshold, but the shipping paper still must identify the material.

Cargo must be secured so it cannot shift, slide, or fall during transport; securement devices must be rated for the load weight and inspected before each trip.

Cyanides and acids must never be loaded together or stored adjacent to each other; contact can generate lethal hydrogen cyanide gas.

Oxidizers must be segregated from flammable materials, and explosives must be kept away from detonators and other initiating devices.

Load hazardous materials away from food, feed, and animal products to prevent contamination, and never load them in the same compartment as food.

When loading, check that packages are not leaking, damaged, or improperly labeled; reject or report any package showing evidence of leakage.

Heavy packages must be placed on the bottom and lighter packages on top; packages must not be stacked beyond the manufacturer's rated stacking strength.

During unloading, set the parking brake, use wheel chocks, and keep the shipping papers available; do not leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.

Segregation tables in the regulations specify which hazard classes may not be loaded together; when in doubt, consult the segregation table or refuse the load.

A bulk package has a capacity greater than 119 gallons for liquids, greater than 882 pounds for solids, or greater than 1,000 pounds water capacity for gases.

Cargo tanks must be marked with the proper shipping name and the UN/NA identification number on both sides and the rear, and the tank must display the correct placard.

Cargo tank drivers must know the tank's maximum working pressure, the lading's vapor pressure, and the required outage (ullage) to allow for expansion.

Portable tanks must be inspected and tested at intervals specified by the regulations; a tank with an expired test date may not be filled or transported.

Before loading a cargo tank, verify that the tank is approved for the material, that valves and fittings are closed, and that the tank is not leaking.

Cargo tanks transporting flammable liquids must have a vapor recovery system and proper grounding during loading to prevent static ignition.

Bulk packages must be loaded so that valves and fittings are protected from damage; bottom outlets must be closed and secured before transport.

The driver must check the cargo tank's internal valve and emergency shutoff before departure and must know how to operate the emergency shutoff in an incident.

In an incident, first protect people: stop traffic, move upwind and uphill, and keep bystanders away; do not attempt rescue without proper protective equipment.

Notify the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 for any release of a hazardous substance in a reportable quantity, and notify local emergency responders by calling 911.

Use the Emergency Response Guidebook: identify the material by the UN/NA number, then use the guide number to determine isolation distance and protective actions.

Isolation distances in the ERG are initial guidance; for large spills or fire, use the larger isolation distance and evacuate in the direction the wind is blowing toward, not into.

Do not move a leaking package unless necessary to prevent further damage; contain the spill with absorbent material if trained and equipped, and prevent it from entering storm drains or waterways.

Report the incident to the carrier immediately and complete required written reports; the carrier must notify the Department of Transportation when required.

For a fire involving hazardous materials, do not fight the fire unless trained and equipped; evacuate and let professional responders handle it, and warn them of the material involved.

After an incident, the driver must not resume transport until the vehicle and load are inspected and determined safe by a qualified person.

Explosives are divided into divisions 1.1 through 1.6 based on mass explosion hazard, projection hazard, fire hazard, and sensitivity; division 1.1 has the greatest mass explosion hazard.

Radioactive materials require special shipping papers, package labels (White-I, Yellow-II, Yellow-III), and transport index limits; the driver must not open radioactive packages.

Poisonous materials (Division 6.1) include inhalation hazards; materials marked with a POISON INHALATION HAZARD label require special handling and must be kept away from food and ventilation intakes.

Corrosive materials (Class 8) can destroy skin and metal; they must be loaded so that leakage does not contact other cargo, and the driver must wear protective equipment when handling.

Explosives must never be loaded with detonators or other initiating devices, and vehicles carrying explosives must be attended at all times or parked in a secure area.

Radioactive packages must be kept away from workers and other cargo according to the transport index; the driver should minimize time near the packages and maximize distance.

Poisonous and infectious substances must be segregated from food, feed, and animal products, and the vehicle must be cleaned and decontaminated after any spill.

For corrosive materials, check that containers are upright and that caps are tight; a leaking corrosive can damage the vehicle and other cargo, so inspect before loading.

Security awareness means recognizing and reporting suspicious activity, unauthorized access, or unusual inquiries about hazardous materials shipments to the carrier and, if warranted, to law enforcement.

Do not discuss the nature of the load, routes, or schedules with strangers; keep shipping papers and placards secure and out of public view when parked.

Park in secure, well-lit areas, lock the vehicle, and avoid leaving a loaded vehicle unattended; if unattended, use a secure lot or terminal.

Plan routes to avoid high-theft areas and congested urban areas when possible; vary routes and times to reduce predictability.

Maintain a safe following distance, reduce speed in curves and on ramps, and brake smoothly to prevent load shift; hazardous loads have a higher center of gravity and longer stopping distances.

Use the vehicle's mirrors and check blind spots before changing lanes; large cargo tanks have limited visibility and wide turning radii.

Report any attempted theft, tampering, or suspicious package to the carrier and law enforcement immediately, and do not confront suspects.

Keep the vehicle's emergency equipment, including fire extinguisher and warning devices, accessible and inspected before each trip.