The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) regulates the transportation and handling of hazardous materials. They do so by educating shippers, enforcing safety regulations and evaluating risks. They work directly with the Department of Transportation to aid in the administration of the program.
The PHMSA covers two types of regulatory areas. The first is hazardous materials, which are defined as any materials that have the capacity to cause human harm. The second is pipelines; the pipes that carry the hazardous, yet vital, materials to their designated locations. Assuring safety in handling and transporting these materials is the PHMSA's primary responsibility.
The PHMSA offers a number of seminars and workshops that are available to professionals in the field as well as civilians. Registration for these classes can be done online through the PHMSA website. The workshops will provide information on the transpiration and handling of hazardous materials.