Identity crisis? Again?

• Author: Wilkinson, George
• Position: Hazardous materials employees

If you're old enough to remember listening to Wolfman Jack, you're probably old enough to think your identity crisis is over. If you're saying to yourself, "Wolfman who?" - you're probably too young to know you're supposed to have an identity crisis.

Whichever age group you belong to, Uncle Sam has created new classes for people in the workplace, and it's important for you to consider which group you're identified with. Specifically, you need to know if you are a hazmat employee. You definitely need to know if you are a hazmat employer. Could you be both? And just what are hazmat employees and hazmat employers anyway?

Hazardous material employees handle hazmat, direct hazmat shipping, are responsible for the safety of hazmat during shipping, or operate the vehicles used to transport hazardous materials. Reconditioning or certifying hazmat containers makes you a hazmat employee even if you never touch the intended contents. As you can see, hazmat employee is a broad classification.

In 1992, the federal government released final rules on training criteria for hazmat employees. Now all hazmat employers are required to provide training for all hazmat employees involved in a broad spectrum of jobs which may not at first glance appear to involve hazardous materials. The level of training required depends on the specific tasks an employee is expected to perform.

In keeping with our government's policy of inclusion, just about everything could be considered hazardous material. A snowmachine becomes hazmat once it has contained oil or gas, and aerosol cans now come under hazmat rules. A good rule of thumb might be that if, in the course of business, you deal with anything more aggressive than a Brillo Pad, you should consult a hazmat specialist for a workplace evaluation. Better safe than sorry.

Let me illustrate. Can a housewife driving home with a can of adhesive spray be cited if she's not properly certified or her station wagon isn't properly placarded? Not if she's carrying one can home for one of the kids' school projects. But let's say she has a cottage business making crafts, and is carrying home a case of spray adhesive. She is now transporting hazardous material for the purpose of commerce.

Further, let's say her business has expanded to employ friends who make the crafts. An employee transports a case of spray adhesive to the shop, formerly the garage. Our entrepreneur has now expanded her hazmat considerations. Now there is a hazmat...