Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods (PSDG) - Sample Training Materials
Do you want to deliver high-quality training on packing and shipping dangerous goods? This page provides eLearning, job aids, and sample materials for designing and delivering general awareness/familiarization training on packing and shipping dangerous goods, including Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice.
These materials are intended for clinical and public health laboratory professionals based in the United States whose job responsibilities include training others to pack and ship dangerous goods.
eLearning Training
Before delivering training on packing and shipping dangerous goods, instructors should complete the following eLearning.
Creating Next-Level Laboratory Training (CNLT)
CNLT is a series of eLearning courses and resources developed to help clinical and public health laboratory trainers enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities to create and deliver high-quality training.
Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods: What the Laboratory Staff Must Know
This course offers a detailed study of packing and shipping Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice according to DOT and IATA regulations.
Sample Training Materials
The following sample training materials assist laboratory instructors in the design, delivery, assessment, and evaluation of training on packing and shipping dangerous goods, including Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice. It is the instructor's responsibility to ensure that training materials are up to date with international, federal, state, and local regulations and agency policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs dangerous good training?
Clinical and public health laboratory professionals who pack and ship Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice (dangerous goods) must be trained and certified. Training must be completed within 90 days of the first day of employment or the first day of a change in job function. Until training is completed, a hazmat employee must be directly supervised by a person who has been trained. Furthermore, each hazmat employee must be provided with recurrent training.
References: Training. 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart H (1992). Accessed April 8, 2026.
International Air Transport Association. Section 1.5 – Training Requirements. In: IATA, eds. Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). 66th ed. 2025.
What is the difference between dangerous goods and hazardous materials?
Division 6.2 infectious substances and dry ice are often referred to as hazardous materials or dangerous goods, depending on whether the infectious substance is transported by air, land, rail, etc.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) defines hazardous materials, or “hazmat”, as substances or materials capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce. Similarly, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) defines dangerous goods as articles or materials capable of posing a hazard to health, safety, property, or the environment.
References: Definitions and abbreviations. 49 CFR Part 171, Subpart A (2005). Accessed April 8, 2026.
International Air Transport Association. Section 1.0 – Definition of Dangerous Goods. In: IATA, eds. Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). 66th ed. 2025.
Who is responsible for training and certifying staff to pack and ship dangerous goods?
Each hazmat employer is responsible for developing a hazardous material, or “hazmat", training program. Training may be provided directly by the hazmat employer or by other public or private sources. Regardless of who provides the training, the hazmat employer is responsible for ensuring that appropriate testing occurs and that the training is effective, appropriate, and successful in achieving the intended objectives of providing employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their job functions safely.
To meet regulatory requirements, there are currently instructor-led and on-demand training opportunities for packing and shipping dangerous goods offered by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), state/local agencies, and private companies.
Reference: Training. 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart H (1992). Accessed April 8, 2026.
What are the components of a hazmat training program?
The required components of a hazmat training program include:
- General awareness/familiarization
- Function-specific training
- Safety training
- Security awareness
Reference: Training. 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart H (1992). Accessed April 8, 2026.
Who can deliver training on dangerous goods?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) have set specific guidelines for instructor qualifications.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
1.5.3.1 Unless otherwise provided for by the appropriate national authority, instructors of initial and recurrent dangerous goods training programs must demonstrate or be assessed as competent in instruction and the function(s) they will instruct prior to delivering such a dangerous goods training program. Note: “competence in instruction” can come from a variety of methods. A list of instructional techniques is found in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Training Program Development Kit.
1.5.3.2 Instructors delivering initial and recurrent dangerous goods training programs must provide such a course at least every 24 months or attend recurrent training. Organizations must ensure that the instructor receives updates to the regulations and training material annually with the issuance of each edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or as the Regulations are modified. Instructors must receive and understand updates to dangerous goods information and be made familiar with those changes by training or other means annually or as the regulations are modified.
Reference: International Air Transport Association. Section 1.5 – Training Requirements. In: IATA, eds. Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). 66th ed. 2025.
US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Except for certain FAA-required 14 CFR training, the U.S. DOT does not review or certify training programs for pre-approval purposes. The employer must determine a trainer’s qualifications based on the employer’s needs.
Reference: Hazmat Transportation Training Requirements. PHMSA. October 1, 2016. Accessed April 8, 2026.