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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The objective of this research was to develop model post-secondary education curricula that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by the public and private sectors for the safe, secure, and efficient transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat). Hazardous materials have a critical role in the nationâs industry and commerce, and there is a need to ensure that hazmat transportation occurs safely, securely, and efficiently. Despite the importance of this activity, there has been little coverage of this topic in post-secondary education curricula in the United States. The formal instruction that does exist is focused primarily on training shipper and transportation company operations personnel in how to conduct hazmat transport safely within the current regulations, and training emergency responders for incident management. Others with key responsibilities for hazmat transportation have access to less training and virtually no âeducation.â They include corporate managers; supply chain professionals; transportation officials in the public sector; and other public officials involved in planning, enforcement, and economic development. As a result, employees with responsibility for ensuring the safe, secure and efficient transportation of hazmat typically must learn the requirements through on-the-job training. Few higher education programs address proactive and sound management principles and strategies. Further, as the current cadre in industry and government with hazmat transportation expertise retires from active employment, a knowledge gap in the workforce must be addressed. This report is organized around the six major stages of the research, as follows: ⢠Review literature and other sources to assess current industry and government practices and the availability of hazmat transportation education materials ⢠Develop draft curricula to meet the educational needs of the various hazmat transportation stakeholder groups ⢠Assess gaps and constraints for hazmat transportation education ⢠Obtain input from key stakeholders through a peer exchange workshop ⢠Develop of a set of educational materials organized in the form of a toolkit for hazardous materials transportation education ⢠Identify and analyze curricula implementation strategies The results of completing these research tasks are presented in the ensuing chapters, and the final curricula materials accompany this report. 3
