Archive for News
Why lithium battery shippers must examine insurance costs and coverage
Shipping lithium batteries or battery-powered devices is an ongoing challenge. From the everyday batteries that power laptops and games to the larger batteries that power eBikes to the massive ones that power electric vehicles, complying with evolving regulations takes expertise and dedication. But regulatory compliance isn’t the only challenge. What about insurance? In recent years,...
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DG Digest: PHMSA announces virtual “Research & Technology Forum” that explores new ways of dealing with hazardous materials.
This edition of the DG Digest appears just as the nation wraps up the Veteran’s Day holiday. The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in saluting those who have served. Thank you! Here’s the regulatory news from the week just concluded: PHMSA The agency’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) will hold a public Research, Development...
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DG Digest: U.S. EPA seeks to address health risks of trichloroethylene (TCE)
The start of November is here; a kind of “last chance” for many regions of the country to get their winter plan in place before the snow and cold weather arrive in earnest. If your workplace is one that is affected by such weather, it’s past time to have your snowplow contractor signed up and...
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A Simple Guide to 2023/24 Dangerous Goods Regulatory Books
The simple guide to 2023/24 Dangerous Goods regulatory books Don’t look now, but it’s almost winter, and it will be 2024 before you know it. That means new Dangerous Goods regulations will soon be coming into force—and you’ll need new regulatory publications to keep track of them. Of course, sometimes it’s hard just keeping track...
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DG Digest: EPA is working on adjustments within the universal waste regulations to improve safety standards and reduce fires from mismanaged end-of-life lithium batteries.
If you’re like many readers of this blog, you’re seeing this on Tuesday morning, after it appeared in your email overnight. If that’s you—Happy Halloween! Let’s all remember that the kids are going to be out in force for their treats in the evening, and they may not pay as much attention as they should...
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DG Digest: Transport Canada publishes a new final rule with miscellaneous amendments to the TDGR.
Today’s blog finds us rolling into the last week or so of October, and we all know what that means—Halloween is coming. There’s going to be a lot of parties and events and a lot of excited kids out and about over the next week or so, so let’s all make an extra effort at...
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Top 12 questions (and answers) about Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers
“Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” That’s one question we hear a lot about our new Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers. They don’t look or work like the metal can exemption shippers Dangerous Goods shippers have used for decades. But once people see all the advantages Capsuloc kits offer, they want to know as many...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 16th, 2023
Week of October 16th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance As companies look to expand – whether domestically or internationally – there is a wide range of factors to consider, including the supply chain challenges. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE Have questions about dangerous goods...
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DG Digest: Final rule from the FMCSA governing how emergency exemptions published.
Mid-month October finds us in the middle of Fire Prevention Month. Fire departments across the nation are having open houses and offering information about how to help keep your home and workplace safer from fire and other dangers. Take the opportunity to tune up your fire prevention plans! It was a rather quiet regulatory week;...
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DG Digest: PHMSA announces a meeting of the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee.
It’s the second week of October and begins with a federal holiday. Hopefully, if you have the day off, you can enjoy the break and see some fall colors! Here’s the latest news: PHMSA The agency published a renewal of a set of ICR’s that address security plan requirements and hazmat route planning. Other information...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 2nd, 2023
Week of October 2nd, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The push toward greater sustainability, automation and speed within the supply chain has led to further innovation in packaging. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE Have questions about dangerous goods transport? Call the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline...
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DG Digest: FRA publishes new safety advisory to help protect workers
Uh-oh. It’s October already! How did that happen? Now’s the time to start making sure that your winter safety plans are ready to go and that your contracts with snow removal vendors are finalized. You don’t want your workplace to be the last in line for this vital service. Employee slips and falls rise dramatically...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 18th, 2023
Week of September 18th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance It is only September, but supply chain professionals are already thinking about 2024 and beyond. Monitoring emerging trends and challenges is important in order to proactively plan for the future. Let’s examine some recent industry news on how to navigate supply...
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DG Digest: STB’s Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee to meet October 18th
Amazingly enough, it’s already mid-September. Hopefully everyone is getting back into the groove of having the kids back in school and having most employees back from summer vacations. This coming week is the last of the calendrical summer, and before too long the fall will be here. If your workplace is in a location that...
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How extra testing earned Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers a Special Permit
New ideas in Dangerous Goods packaging don’t come along very often. And when they do, they get a lot of extra regulatory scrutiny. Take secondary hazmat packaging kits. For decades, the only option available was the metal can, and all the packaging regulations providing exceptions were written with metal cans in mind. So, when we...
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DG Digest: OSHA Requests Extension on ICR Contained in HAZWOPER Program
This edition of the DG Digest publishes on September 11th—today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terror attacks. The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in remembering those we lost on that awful day, and the first responders and military personnel that have given so much since then. It’s a short digest this week, as...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 5th, 2023
Week of September 5th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Disruptions are just a fact of life in the supply chain, and they continue to emerge – whether due to droughts, hurricanes, supplier issues or outdated systems. That’s why it’s important for organizations to be prepared for when they arise. Let’s...
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DG Digest: PHMSA and FRA reverse 2020 rule, suspend authorization of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport in rail tank cars.
Labor Day has come and gone. Hopefully, you had a great summer, topped out by a relaxing long holiday! Today (if you’re reading this on Tuesday) is the traditional day when most schoolchildren return to classes. That means busier roads, crosswalks, and lots of excited little ones out much earlier than has been the case...
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DG Digest: The FRA Extends Comment Period That Would Impose New Certification Requirements.
We head into the final week of August with high heat persisting in many areas of the country. Although the autumn might be just around the corner, now’s no time to let up on our precautions against heat related illness and injury. Let’s remain vigilant and help protect our co-workers until things start to cool...
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DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes Incident Reporting FAQ’s
The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in mourning the terrible loss of life and devastation associated with the wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Many avenues are available to offer assistance to those affected, and we share the hope that the people of Maui will soon get the help they need. It’s also...
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Quiz: How well do you know secondary hazmat container regulations?
Secondary hazmat containment used to mean one thing: paint cans. But now, shippers are switching to new Capsuloc™—the screw-top secondary container that’s lighter weight, more durable and easier to use than paint cans. How well do you know the regulations for secondary hazmat containers? This quiz is for you! It’s not easy, so remember: You...
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DG Digest: IATA Publishes List of “Significant Changes” for the Upcoming 65th Edition of the DGR.
Here we are in the middle of August already. Where does summer fly off to? Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to enjoy it a little—if not, you have a couple of weeks left, so get on out there. It’s a “two-weeker” in the blog this time! After a super-quiet first week, the second week was...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 7th, 2023
Week of August 7th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The supply chain has evolved from being a cost center to being a differentiator that can be a real competitive advantage for businesses. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods software...
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Game-inspired hazmat training rocks. What about training for the rest of your life?
Since we released our new General Awareness Hazmat Training course earlier this year, Dangerous Goods pros have been saying it’s the coolest, most accessible online hazmat training course ever. It’s not only a lot more engaging than most DG training, it’s actually fun. This game-inspired training module takes you inside a virtual warehouse, where you...
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DG Digest: Federal agencies publish semi-annual agendas
After a busy regulatory period for the last blog entry, this last week featured a much quieter time. Meanwhile summer goes on, so keep watching those heat safety risks. And don’t forget to have a little fun—August is the last month of summer, so be sure to try and enjoy it! Here’s the latest news:...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 17th, 2023
Week of July 17th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance With 2023 halfway over, businesses are paying close attention to what is to come in the second half of the year and into 2024. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 10th, 2023
Week of July 10th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Drone delivery has been a hot topic in the supply chain for years, and it continues to gain steam. But how big of an impact it will have (and when) is still unclear. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN...
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DG Digest: PHMSA seeks feedback on modernization of its Hazardous Materials Regulations
Now that the Independence Day holiday has come and gone, here we are in the full swing of summer. Make sure that your workplace has a solid plan in place to mitigate the effects of the inevitable hot weather, and to safely account for the absence of employees that are away on vacation—it’s “prime time”...
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How our new packaging partnership makes large format lithium battery transport easier.
With electric vehicles now making up 7% of new car sales in the U.S.—and registrations 63% higher than one year ago—it’s clear that EV technology is changing how Americans drive. It’s also changing how car companies and dealers handle breakdowns, accidents and other routine automotive incidents. After more than a century of working with petroleum-powered...
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DG Digest: PHMSA publishes rule which requires rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials.
PHMSA published the proposed rule discussed here last week which will require rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials in train consists to first responders when potentially dangerous incidents occur. A BNSF train rolls through a curve near Rock Island, Washington in July of 2017. Image © 7/2017 by Nikki Burgess;...
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Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 26th, 2023
Week of June 26th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Artificial intelligence (AI) is already revolutionizing the supply chain but has the potential to be even more disruptive in the future as technology advances and adoption increases. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more...
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DG Digest: PHMSA to formally announce HM-263, a sharp change in the way rail carriers track and report hazmat in transport.
Heading towards the Independence Day holiday, the regulatory news is mostly about reporting requirements. The recent large train derailment in Ohio has definitely energized Congress and regulators to take a harder look at what kind of information should be available to emergency response personnel from subject carriers. Here’s the latest: PHMSA In an early notice...
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Quiz: Are you a large format lithium battery transport expert? Part 2
Compliantly shipping lithium batteries large enough for electric vehicles, data centers or solar power storage is challenging. Lots of hazmat pros were stumped by our recent quiz, so we decided to give you all another shot! Don’t know all the answers? Remember, you can always work with the experts at Labelmaster. Make sure your shipments...
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PHMSA terminates Explosive (EX) classification approvals for holders who can’t prove successful tests.
Here’s the latest news from what was a quiet regulatory week: PHMSA The agency announced that it has terminated the Explosive (EX) classification approvals listed in the linked-to notice. PHMSA published a Federal Register Notice on May 4, 2021, notifying the approval holders listed that PHMSA intended to terminate their approvals for failure to provide...
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FMCSA Renewing ICR titled, ‘‘Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.’’
Even as many workplaces begin to see open docks and other work areas for the summer, wildfire smoke has become a prevalent concern. Be sure that if your site is located in an area that is affected by such smoke, that you have a safety plan in place to minimize the impacts and protect your...
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New DOT Special Permit makes Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers even more essential.
Last year, we introduced Capsuloc™—an innovative new secondary hazmat container that was superior to paint can-style secondary containers in almost every way. Now, there’s no “almost” about it. On May 10, 2023, PHMSA issued Special Permit DOT-SP 21488, which gives Capsuloc relief from regulatory burdens similar to the relief received by other Special Permit packaging...
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PHMSA publishes its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q
PHMSA As just noted above, in a major action the agency has published its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q and will align current US 49 CFR HMR regulations more closely with the current UN structure found in the ICA/IATA, IMDG, and UNMR texts. Highlights include: • Incorporation by Reference: PHMSA proposes to...
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Prescription for Dangerous Goods anxiety? Use DGIS hazmat software regularly!
Ever wish you could take a pill that would instantly help you feel better about your hazmat shipping operation—and life in general? Unfortunately, there’s no such pill. But there is DGIS. Our DGIS solution—a.k.a. Dangerous Goods Information System—can relieve the acute anxiety you may feel about your company’s hazmat processes. If you’re depressed about outdated...
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DG Digest: PHMSA’s extends comment period for HM-265A