DOT Hazardous Materials and Waste Labels (General Industry)

Hazardous materials are part of many general industry workplaces, and knowing how to read their labels is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from injury or long-term health effects. This course focuses on the labeling systems you’ll encounter when hazardous materials are transported or disposed of in your facility, including Department of Transportation (DOT) hazard class labels and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous waste labels. You’ll learn what information these labels contain, how they’re organized, and how to use them to recognize hazards and respond safely.

Course Highlights

• Overview of the labeling requirements set by OSHA, DOT, and EPA, and how these systems have evolved, including the integration of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) into OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard
• What information must appear on in-house chemical containers, secondary containers, and mixing vats, even when the original manufacturer’s label isn’t present
• The common requirements shared across labeling systems, including secure attachment, visibility, and legibility
• How to read DOT hazard class labels and placards, including their diamond shape, pictograms, and size requirements
• The nine DOT hazard classes, from explosives and gases to corrosives and miscellaneous hazardous materials
• How DOT color coding helps identify hazard types even from a distance or when text is illegible
• The purpose and use of United Nations (UN) identification numbers on hazardous material labels
• EPA hazardous waste labeling requirements, including waste identification numbers, proper shipping names, and accumulation labels
• Proper procedures for handling containers with mixed waste, leaking containers, and unlabeled containers

By the end of the course, you will have learned

• Why hazmat container labels are a critical source of safety information for general industry employees
• How OSHA, DOT, and EPA labeling requirements differ and where they overlap
• How to identify and interpret the nine DOT hazard classes and their associated pictograms and colors
• The significance of UN identification numbers and how they support emergency response
• What EPA hazardous waste labels and accumulation labels must include and when they’re required
• The correct steps to take if you encounter an unlabeled or leaking hazardous material container