Improving Hazmat Safety.
Grant funding from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) enables SLSI to provide hazardous materials (hazmat) training to short line and regional railroads and first responders.
SLSI is committed to educating and training employees involved with the safe rail transportation of hazardous materials, as well as volunteer emergency responders and responders in remote locations who would respond to hazardous materials rail incidents.
In-Person Programs
Hazmat Training Program:
This program ensures employees are conversant and compliant with the latest regulations guiding the transportation of hazardous materials, provides function specific training, and reviews emergency response procedures.
First Responder Training:
This program provides hazardous materials training to emergency responders with a specific focus on rail. The program is designed to ensure that emergency responders, both volunteer and those located in remote areas, are trained in response activities concerning rail transport of hazardous materials such as flammable liquids, gases or corrosive materials.
Emergency Preparedness, Reporting & Response Exercise:
This program educates small railroad management teams on working within the Unified Command System, allowing railroaders to apply their knowledge of the HMR to real-life scenarios of actual or potential hazardous materials releases.
Transportation Emergency Response Plan (TERP):
SLSI can help railroads develop and document a response plan specific to their location and operations. After consultation with the railroad, SLSI staff produces a document with high-resolution maps and key contact information in both electronic and hard-copy formats. These are valuable training and guidance documents.
Online Resources
Hazmat Tips:
These brief educational documents provide overviews of a variety of topics such as railroad-specific hazardous materials information, federal regulations and more. Hazmat Tips are available in PDF format for use in training and communications purposes.
Hazmat Guides:
These materials include information, templates and forms railroads can use to bolster hazmat safety and incident response preparation.
Hazmat Minute Videos:
These are made to accompany Hazmat Tips and offer a brief video version of the information covered in the Hazmat Tip. Most tips feature an accompanying video.
Hazmat Fast Class Training Videos:
These are four- to seven-minute videos based on information covered in SLSI’s in-person hazmat training program. They provide a basic overview of key elements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations.
SLSI Hazmat Programs and Resources
Click each link to go directly to the listed SLSI page.
- Hazmat Training Program
- First Responder Training
- Emergency Preparedness, Reporting & Response Exercise (EPRRE)
- Transportation Emergency Response Plan (TERP)
- Hazmat Tips
- Hazmat Guides
- Hazmat Minute Videos
- Hazmat Fast Class Videos
Participants Praise Hazmat Training Programs and Other SLSI Resources
“The SLSI has provided MET [Modesto & Empire Traction Company] the ability to have a safer community. Through tools and training resources provided by the SLSI, we’ve cultivated strong safety partnerships with local first responders and customers.”
Jared Martin, Vice President-Operations, Modesto & Empire Traction Company
“The programs have had a transformative impact. We have seen a shift in employee mindset, characterized by increased transparency, removal of communication barriers, and greater individual accountability. Employees are more knowledgeable, policies have been either established or updated, and our collaboration with first responders has created safer, more resilient communities. These initiatives have led to a more informed and empowered workforce.
The resources provided by SLSI have equipped our teams with the tools and mindset necessary to make meaningful safety decisions every day. These programs are not only an investment in our employees—they’re an investment in the communities we serve and the future of the short line rail industry.”
Bobby Franklin, Chief Operating Officer, TNW Corporation
On SLSI’s Emergency Preparedness, Reporting & Response Exercise:
“The Railroad Emergency Response Training in particular is one of those unique programs that is so important for managers to have training in to be best prepared for an unexpected emergency. This class provides insight on potential challenges that the fire department and other first responders may need help with from the railroad in order to first secure and stabilize the scene for everyone’s safety. It takes a team of professionals to properly and safely respond to any dangerous incidents so it’s imperative that there is a level of mutual respect and understanding from everyone involved and that the necessary resources are made known and available in a timely matter.”