{"id":179,"date":"2020-07-14T15:05:17","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T15:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hazmatuniversity.com\/news\/?p=179"},"modified":"2024-03-27T03:59:49","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T03:59:49","slug":"hazmat-training-record-retention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazmatuniversity.com\/news\/hazmat-training-record-retention\/","title":{"rendered":"Hazmat Training Record Retention Requirement Tips Post-COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you\u2019re an employer whose employees meet the definition of a hazmat employee,\u00a0you may already know the importance of proper hazmat training. Not only is stringent training required by law, which is enough of a reason to make sure your employees are properly trained and certified,\u00a0this training allows your employees to perform their duties much more safely, effectively, and efficiently. What you may not know, though, are the best tips for complying with the hazmat training record retention requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

This might seem like a secondary concern. After all, isn\u2019t your main priority making sure your employees are properly trained in all of their respective functions related to the hazardous materials that will be received and\/or offered, such as the classification, identification, packaging, marking, labeling, documentations just to name a few? It is, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can afford to overlook maintaining proper records.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the era of COVID-19, adhering to record retention is more important than ever. Beyond conforming with hazmat training record retention requirements, what follows are recommended protocols for record retention in the era of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Migrating to Digital Record Retention in a Post COVID-19 World<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Replacing the physical records of your hazmat employees with digital records is a prudent idea for two reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Less Risk of Viral Transmission<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Firstly, the process of cataloging, maintaining, and accessing physical records requires human intervention at every level. At a time when a pandemic is spreading, it is not advisable to encourage any activity that requires sustained contact with people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With digital records, the whole process can be simplified and the need for <\/span>human intervention can be minimized<\/span><\/a> to a serious extent. People can access the records they want using their smartphone or computer, as long as they are authorized to do so. It can lower the risk of viral transmission through inanimate objects as well as people-to-people transmission considerably.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Emergence of Digital Workplaces<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Secondly, experts believe that the COVID-19 pandemic might cause businesses to undergo a paradigm shift in terms of how they operate. Many of the strategies that are being followed now \u2013 allowing employees to work from home, replacing in-house storage solutions with remote, cloud-based storage solutions, and minimizing the need for human intervention in business processes \u2013 might be permanently adopted by many businesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to get ahead of \u2013 or at the very least keep up with \u2013 your competition, you have to get used to the idea of a <\/span>digital workplace<\/span><\/a>, where physical records might no longer be seen as a necessity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are\u00a0Hazmat Training Record Retention Requirements?<\/h2>\n

These hazmat\u00a0record retention requirements are the legal requirements surrounding how you\u00a0maintain your employees\u2019 certification records. They can be found in\u00a0Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation, Subpart H,\u00a0<\/span> Section 172.704<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0section states, \u201cEach hazmat employer must create and retain a record of current training of each hazmat employee\u2026\u201d It goes on to list the specifications of the retention requirements, which include:<\/span><\/p>\n