From wondering what is considered a confined space to what working with hazardous wastes and other such hazardous materials really entails, there are many questions that those beginning their required training for shipping hazmat materials likely have. There is a lot to learn when you’re interested in working with hazardous wastes, and it’s important to ask questions like what is considered a confined space and the like when going through hazmat training to get your hazmat certification. Before you can work with hazardous wastes, of course, answering the question of what is considered a confined space through OSHA confined space training is critical.

But the training that those entering this profession are required to undergo answer far more than just the question of what is considered a confined space. In fact, it is currently mandated by OSHA that hazardous waste workers to be undergo at least 40 full hours of training before they can get their DOT hazmat certification. In addition to this, many states have specific requirements that must be met as well, meaning that it is likely that the typical person training in the field hazardous waste management will need to exceed the 40 hours of OSHA mandated training before actually beginning their jobs.

Fortunately, taking these courses and answering questions like what is considered a confined space has truly become easier than it has ever been before. This can be directly attributed to the fact that hazmat training online has become much more commonplace, allowing people to fit in their training into the other confines of their lives. For many people, working as a hazmat professional is ideal, as the starting salary is often above $40,000. While this isn’t an immense some of money by any means, it’s a good starting place and one that can certainly help to form the foundation for a lucrative career full of upward mobility.

After all, the need for people with hazardous waste management certification training is consistently on the rise here and all throughout the United States as the transport of hazmat wastes and materials becomes more important each and every day. After all, up to 11 billion tons of freight is shipped via truck on a yearly basis, with up to one third of that freight (3 billion tons) made up of hazardous wastes and other such hazardous materials. This means that nearly 95% (around 94%, to be a little more precise) of all hazardous materials and waste products generated in this country are transported by truck and not some other form of transportation (such as by train, to name just one potential example).

And while many of the hazardous materials that are shipped throughout the country are waste products that need to be safely and sufficiently disposed of, many hazardous materials are quite useful as well. Take the shipment of flammable materials, which make up the largest category of hazardous materials transported in this country. When we look at this category of flammable materials, we find that gasoline makes up the majority of it. And, as we all know, gasoline is hugely important for life here in the United States.

In fact, many of our lives would be changed incredibly and even irrevocably if we suddenly no longer had access to gasoline and gasoline products. For many people, gasoline is necessary on a day to day basis, as cars and other such motor vehicles can sometimes provide the only reliable form of transportation around – particularly in more rural areas of the country, where walking from place to place is not really possible (especially during inclement weather) and public transportation systems are few and far between.

Fortunately, more people are joining the workforce of hazardous waste professionals each and every year, learning the answers to questions like what is considered a confined space as well as many more. For many workers, such a career path provides not only an important service to their communities and the country as a whole, but a stable and secure track with which to grow professionally and meet the basic needs of their lives and families.