Although the majority of hazardous waste courses are designed to train professionals who have to handle these materials, there is one notable exception. FEMA offers a hazardous material course through its website that is aimed at private citizens. Every person's home is filled with toxic chemicals and materials, and disposing of them safely is a concern. This web-based course teaches people to handle and dispose of hazardous material safely, as well as covering basic material about how hazardous materials can enter and affect your system.
Hazardous waste management courses are offered by several different bodies, but more courses are now available online, eliminating the need for on-site training. For example, the Environmental Resource Center offers an eight-hour online training course in hazardous waste management. It trains workers in the classification, handling and storage of waste materials. Emergency response is covered, and adherence to government guidelines is covered in depth to make sure everyone who takes the course stays adherent at all times.
Every state has its own guidelines for training first responders to be prepared in the case of any event that involves hazardous materials. Illinois has training programs in place for all public employees who could encounter hazardous waste so they know how to deal with it. Washington state offers free-of-charge courses to first responders in several specific areas of hazardous waste emergency management, ranging from basic awareness and safety courses to a course on the chemistry of hazardous spills.
The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has a training and outreach program. It conducts seminars at regular intervals that train people in all the common DOT regulations that apply to hazardous material and waste transportation. There are one- and two-day seminars available. The two-day courses provide a more in-depth look at certain focus areas. Courses are divided into basics, essentials and safety courses scheduled throughout the two days. This allows employers to direct where their employees' attention is focused.