Developing a Toolkit for Hazardous Materials Transportation Education

Abstract

The objective of this project was to develop model postsecondary education curricula that would address the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the safe, secure, and efficient transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat). More than 170 existing hazmat-related education and training programs and other resources offered by industry and government were identified and evaluated to assess the state of the art and to locate materials that might be used in the model curricula. Stakeholder groups that would benefit from hazmat transportation education were identified and defined, and draft materials were developed around a set of topics to meet stakeholder needs. The draft curricula were reviewed at a peer exchange workshop involving approximately 50 stakeholders representing various interests in hazmat transportation. The final model curricula, presented in the form of a toolkit that can be adapted for various audiences and educational purposes, consist of PowerPoint presentations and supporting materials covering eight topics: introduction to hazmat transportation, hazmat logistics, legal and regulatory environment, mode and route selection, risk management, hazmat transportation incident management, security of hazmat transportation shipments, and workforce development issues. The paper considered barriers to implementation of the model curricula and proposed follow-up activities to help overcome them.