State of Maryland

A Haz-Mat Transportation Inspector I is the intermediate level of work in the inspection of carriers and shippers to ensure compliance and initiate enforcement of State and Federal hazardous materials transportation regulations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from an Environmental Specialist or other administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends and may be subject to call-in during non-working hours in response to hazardous materials spill situations.  The work is performed primarily outdoors under varying weather conditions and requires frequent travel throughout the State.  The work requires use of safety equipment such as protective clothing, eyewear, and gloves.  Employees are regularly exposed to physical hazards such as exposure to toxic materials and fumes, radioactive agents, compressed gases, explosives or other hazardous substances.  The work requires climbing ladders, climbing on top of vehicles and crawling underneath vehicles.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Haz-Mat Transportation Inspector I and the Haz-Mat Transportation Inspector II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Haz-Mat Transportation Inspector I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Haz-Mat Transportation Inspector II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Inspects carriers and shippers to ensure that cargo containment and identification are in compliance with State and federal hazardous materials transportation regulations;

Inspects carrier operator and shipping documentation to determine compliance with State and federal hazardous materials transportation regulations;

Conducts record audits of shipping and carrier companies and terminals to determine compliance with hazardous materials transportation regulations;

Prepares reports of inspections to document compliance or violation of applicable regulations;

Initiates enforcement action by issuing notices of non-compliance, placing carriers out-of-service, or recommending the issuance of citations or summonses by the State Police;

Responds to hazardous materials spills involving vehicles and inspects the involved vehicles or reviews the case documentation prepared at the scene by the police and the Haz-Mat Emergency Response team to determine vehicle compliance with the hazardous materials transportation regulations;

Responds to inquiries from State and local police, businesses and community organizations regarding the application of State and Federal hazardous materials transportation regulations;

Testifies in court concerning hazardous materials transportation regulation compliance and enforcement actions;

Attends in-service training and seminars in order to keep abreast of changes and innovations involving areas of inspection responsibility;

May conduct mechanical safety inspections of commercial vehicles to ensure that vehicles are in compliance with State and federal motor carrier safety regulations;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of motor vehicle systems including electrical, exhaust, brakes, steering and alignment, and frames and bodies;

Ability to learn, apply and explain hazardous materials transportation and motor carrier safety regulations;

Ability to recognize regulation violations and initiate enforcement actions;

Ability to document findings of an inspection and compliance record audit;

Ability to use a variety of tools, measuring devices, and safety equipment such as radiological monitors, ultrasonic meters, jacks, pressure gauges, and geiger counters;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the State Police, local police and fire departments, federal and local agency representatives and the general public;

Ability to testify in legal proceedings.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience repairing or inspecting motor vehicles to ensure correct mechanical function or correct packaging and transport of hazardous materials.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional experience on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties involving mechanical safety inspections for compliance with State and federal motor carrier safety regulations. Employees assigned such duties will be required to become certified by Maryland State Police pursuant to Transportation Article 25-111.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit C- Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.