Short Line Safety Institute launches free hazmat instructor training

Written by Railway Age Staff
hazmat training

Photo: Twitter/Rockford (Ill.) Fire Department

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) announced the launch of Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT), a program for short line and regional railroads.

The training will be provided at no cost to Class II or Class III railroads.

The SLSI, a division of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) “is uniquely positioned to provide hazmat education and training with its experience in assessing safety culture strengths and needs of small business railroads,” the group said. During SLSI Safety Culture Assessments, many small railroads identified hazmat training as an area where additional resources would add value.

“The Hazardous Materials Instructor Training program complements the training currently being offered by a railroad to their employees,” said Tom Murta, Executive Director of the SLSI. “Through this program, SLSI will provide the resources necessary to ensure railroad employees understand the requirements for transporting hazardous materials. We are offering a meaningful solution to an industry challenge.”

The short line HMIT program was developed and will be deployed under a $500,000 grant by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The curriculum for the program was designed with input from hazmat experts from Class Is, short lines, and rail hazmat transportation experts. The implementation and development team has more than 500 years combined hazmat industry experience.

The training is flexible, able to meet the needs of any size railroad. Additionally, the materials can be presented directly to a single railroad, for a group of railroads or as a drill or exercise. Most of the offerings in this phase will be train-the-trainer format. The training is designed to supplement the existing training at the railroads for their hazmat employees.

“We developed the program materials with the needs of small railroads in mind,” said Murta. “The program is free to short line railroads, and the implementation is very cost-effective for small railroads. We can also modify the program for a railroad to meet their unique training needs.”

For more information, or to schedule a HMIT program, contact Michele Malski, Manager of Safety Programs, SLSI, at 202-567-2820 or e-mail [email protected].

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