Remember Mythbusters? A couple of former Hollywood effects pros created one of the top shows on cable TV by debunking popular myths and misconceptions. They proved—over and over—that just because “everyone knows” something doesn’t make it true. If there were a supply chain TV network, Dangerous Goods professionals could probably run their own version of…
Archive for News
DG Digest: EPA continues to refine TCSA and FRA proposes new truck safety standards
Welcome to 2020! It’s the first DG Digest of the New Year and new decade; here’s to a safe and successful year for you and yours. We’ll continue to bring our readers all the latest regulatory news of interest right here, so let’s get started. The last week of 2019 was typical of a holiday…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 6, 2020
Week of January 6, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance 2020 is here and technology is poised to continue transforming the supply chain. This is especially true for dangerous goods shippers as they much adapt to the continued growth of e-commerce, evolving consumer demands, increasing regulations and much more. To help companies keep…
Hazmat hopes 2020: If Dangerous Goods professionals ran the world
Every fall, we invite everyone who attends the Dangerous Goods Symposium (and lots of other hazmat pros) to answer one simple question: If you could wish for one thing in the entire Dangerous Goods galaxy, what would it be? Now, for the third straight year, we’ve compiled those answers to kick off our year with…
DG Digest: Semi-annual regulatory agendas & the new PHMSA Lithium Battery Committee
The final DG Digest of 2019 finds regulatory activity at a surprisingly high and extensive level for the holiday period; it’s usually a slow time, but not this year! 2019 is over; what will 2020 bring to the regulatory scene? Perhaps the biggest unresolved question in the United States remains the final status of the…
8 minor miracles in honor of the first-ever hazmat Hanukkah
It’s the holiday season, so naturally it’s time for a holiday post. And this time we’re doing something different. We’ve done holiday gift guides. We’ve also done Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Independence Day and, of course, Halloween. But as far as we know, no one’s ever done a Hanukkah-themed post about Dangerous Goods... Read more [...]
Revisiting the most important 2019 hazmat regulations—and previewing 2020
The biggest regulatory news in 2019 may have been something that didn’t happen—PHMSA’s HM-215O International Harmonization rule, which would have aligned U.S. regulations with the most recent UN Model Regulations, ICAO Technical Instructions and IMDG Code. HM-215O will almost certainly be formalized in 2020. Meanwhile, here’s a look back at the significant regulatory developments that... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA special permit to allow liquified natural gas on railways
Mid-December finds regulatory activity about average, with several actions. At this time of year, our employees can feel very distracted with holiday plans and parties, shopping, and other preparations. Let’s all be sure to help them stay focused on safety both in the workplace and off the job. No one wants a holiday accident to…
DOT’s Check the Box making progress against undeclared Dangerous Goods
Hazardous Matt is on a roll, and the “plain brown box” is in retreat. This time last year we took a first look at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Check the Box program, a multimedia campaign that addresses the ongoing problem of undeclared Dangerous Goods—also known as the “plain brown box.” The star of the…
DG Digest: IATA releases addendum for the 61st DGR
We move fully into the month of December and its approaching holiday period with the biggest news being a brand-new Addendum for the 61st Edition of the IATA DGR; that’s the new volume that will become effective on January 1st, so change is in the air for it already. The EPA as well as our…
Why the new lithium battery test summary rules are nothing to stress out about
On January 1, 2020, a new regulation goes into effect that will impact every organization that manufactures or distributes lithium batteries and/or the equipment they power. These companies will be required to share information, known as a “test summary,” that proves their batteries meet the testing standards as defined in sub-section 38.3 of the UN... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks comments on IRC for high-hazard flammables trains
Welcome back from the long weekend! Hopefully everyone enjoyed a nice rest and safe travels. As one might expect with the shortened week containing the Thanksgiving holiday, regulatory action over the last seven days was relatively minimal. Here’s the action to begin December: PHMSA The agency published a request for comment on a proposed revision... Read more [...]
DG Digest: EPA announces public meeting on implementation of the TSCA New Chemicals program
The nation enters the Thanksgiving holiday period this week with regulatory activity remaining relatively minor. The Labelmaster family wishes you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day! Here’s the latest news: EPA On December 10, 2019, EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) will hold a public meeting to engage with interested... Read more [...]
Hazmat Quizmaster: How well do you know today’s Dangerous Goods industry?
MAKE COMPLIANCE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Competitively Compliant companies use superior compliance processes to grow revenues and improve profitability. Want to know where you stand? Take the free Total Value of Compliance assessment. Make sure your shipments are safe and in complete compliance with a full line of solutions from Labelmaster—a full-service provider of goods and services... Read more [...]
DG Digest: OSHA to meet on policies to help improve worker safety in December
Mid-November found regulatory activity at minimal levels. Meanwhile, as the nation begins its transition into the holiday season, be sure that safety remains an important part of your employee population’s schedule. Here’s the latest news: OSHA The agency announced a meeting of its National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, which, as its name... Read more [...]
Meet Jay Johnson: an enthusiastic proponent of hazmat compliance
The next time anyone suggests to you that Dangerous Goods regulations are dry and boring, introduce them to Jay Johnson, our new Senior Manager at Labelmaster Services. “I am really passionate about Dangerous Goods. I’ve been a shipper, a courier, a trainer and a UN specification packaging developer —I’ve worn all the hats,” he says.…
DG Digest: DOT appoints members to first Lithium Battery Advisory Committee
It’s November 11th; today the nation pauses to remember and express its gratitude to our military veterans, so many of whom have given so much for all of us. The Labelmaster family joins the rest of our country in saying, “Thank you, veterans!” Unexpectedly severe cold and snow also grips the nation as this issue…
CHEMTREC Hazmat Summit: Safety all the way to the end of the supply chain
Last week, three Labelmaster team members attended the first-ever CHEMTREC® International Hazmat Summit in Houston—a “one-of-a-kind forum for all interested parties involved in the safe transportation, handling, and use of hazardous materials, including shippers, carriers, and emergency and spill clean-up responders.” We partner with CHEMTREC as their exclusive supplier for hazmat shipping labels, markings and... Read more [...]
DG Digest: Inflationary pressures force U.S. DOT to adjust civil penalties for some agencies
As October becomes November, snow and cold begin to be more of a factor across much of the nation. If your company is located in a zone where this is an issue, be sure you have your winter safety plans up to date. Snowplow contractors can get busy, so be sure you have yours lined…
Shipping hazmat to (or from) China? Here are 5 things you must know
One of the most fascinating presentations at the latest Dangerous Goods Symposium was from Terry Guo, CDGP, DGSA, Regulatory Specialist and China Representative with IHMM. His presentation on “Hazardous Materials Transport Requirements in China” was an excellent primer on a very complex subject. You can download his full presentation here, but we also spoke with... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA to permit LNG/Methane transport in DOT-1113 rail tank cars
It’s the last week of October and everyone knows what that means: the Halloween holiday. Remind your employees to be extra careful when traveling home from work on Thursday as our nation’s streets fill with excited children, many of whom may also be wearing costumes that restrict their peripheral vision. Employees too may be less…
Labelmaster remembers Abe Samuels
The entire Dangerous Goods community lost a dear friend last week when former Labelmaster National Sales Manager Abe Samuels passed away at age 98. “Abe touched everyone who met him in a remarkable way. From the devotion he had to his family, to the collegial relationships to which he dedicated himself — and the industry…
Hazmat Quizmaster: How well do you know the Western U.S. states?
Call 800.621.5808 or visit labelmaster.com/ship-west to learn more about our great prices and lower shipping charges for shipping out West. Make sure your shipments are safe and in complete compliance with a full line of solutions from Labelmaster—a full-service provider of goods and services for hazardous materials and Dangerous Goods professionals, shippers, transport operators and EH&S... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA special permits announced and U.N. GHS 8th Revision now available for download
Mid-October finds the regulatory scene continuing to be fairly active as the season advances. The leaves are falling; be sure to keep your workplace’s sidewalks and other walkways clear to avoid leaves hiding cracks, bumps, or other imperfections that could pose a trip hazard for employees and visitors. Here’s all the latest news: PHMSA The... Read more [...]
DG Digest: IATA updates dangerous goods acceptance checklists for the upcoming 61st DGR
The first week of October found regulatory activity rising quickly from its now-passed summer doldrums, with a variety of new actions. The FMCSA was quite busy in the US, while the issuance of the 21st Edition of the UNMR gives industry professionals a new model to consider. See all the action right here: IATA The…
Labelmaster answers battery recyclers’ questions at E-Scrap 2019
What happens to your laptop once you shut it down for the last time? That’s a central question at the E-Scrap conference and Trade Show, the biggest event of the year for the electronics recycling industry. E-Scrap attendees and their companies are the folks who strip your old laptop of its reusable parts and raw…
DG Digest: PHMSA rejects Oregon hazardous waste petition
Fall began with a roar across the country as heavy weather rolled in—a good reminder to have your workplace ready to cope. In regulatory news, the FMCSA takes the lead this week with a large technical update to its core regulations. Here’s all the latest: FMCSA The agency published an amendment making technical corrections throughout…
How “extreme” labels and placards are becoming real-world solutions
Because Mother Nature has no respect for your Dangerous Goods compliance record, we introduced hazmat labels, placards and marks for extreme conditions a few months ago…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases special permits and OHMS will hold a round table on safety and innovation
As we begin the fall season, now’s the time to review your workplace’s plan to cope with its weather. Be sure to keep drains and gutters clear of leaves so leaks and puddles don’t add to safety risks. It’s getting dark sooner—make sure your employee team focuses on safe driving and being aware pedestrians. The... Read more [...]
A 6-step recipe for successful lithium battery reverse logistics
Among the many complications of our new e-commerce world, reverse logistics may be the most headache-inducing. In a recent Reverse Logistics article, I wrote that, “products bought at brick-and-mortar stores are returned around 9% of the time, while the return rate for online purchases is nearly three time higher.” Most of those millions of returns…
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 11
Summary: Volume 11 of the Dangerous Goods Report focuses on how today’s “I want it now” e-commerce consumer has forced every supply chain organization to rethink and re-engineer how they do business. How do Dangerous Goods professionals ensure compliance in the new decentralized, omnichannel e-commerce environment? Hazmat transport in today’s “get it tomorrow” world. How top... Read more [...]
Postal rates may increase if U.S. departs Universal Postal Union
Although it does not have the current traction in the news that many other topics do, a technical arrangement that governs the US Postal Service’s relations to other international postal bodies may leave US-based shippers facing higher fees. A meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on September 25-26th is more or less the last chance for the…
DG Digest: IATA releases changes to the 61st edition of the DGR
Mid-September finds the regulatory world getting ready for a busy fall season, with annual revisions to the various modal regulations expected, the HM-215O 49 CFR harmonization still pending finalization, and a host of other potential actions that may or may not occur before the end of the year. Be sure and “stay tuned” to this…
DG Symposium Day 3: learning from Lithium Battery Friday
You know you’re in a conference full of Dangerous Goods pros when a panelist says, “Hey, how about that electric violin at Labelmaster Fest last night? What do you suppose the watt-hour rating on those rechargeable batteries is?” Yes, it was Lithium Battery Friday at the Dangerous Goods Symposium—a annual tradition where a panel of…
DG Symposium Day 2: A spotlight on advanced hazmat technology
Technology was one of the dominant themes of the 4th annual Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook, the results of which were revealed during Day 1 of the 2019 Dangerous Goods Symposium. Among the survey’s findings: 55% of companies rely on manual processes, at least in part, for shipping hazmat. 45% called their ability to centrally store…
DG Symposium Day 1: Three distinct levels of hazmat compliance
Lots of people in the Dangerous Goods supply chain view hazmat compliance is a black-and-white issue. You’re either compliant, or you’re not. But during Day 1 of the 2019 Dangerous Goods Symposium, nearly 300 hazmat pros from all over the globe were shown new research demonstrating that a basic level of compliance is only the…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases pair of useful guides, FMCSA may reduce State fees collected from motor carriers
Although the calendar says that summer doesn’t end until September 22nd, for all practical purposes summer ended yesterday with the Labor Day holiday. Hopefully everyone had a safe and happy long weekend! The last week of the traditional summer season was unusually busy from a regulatory standpoint, with a number of actions rolling in to... Read more [...]
The simple guide to 2019/2020 Dangerous Goods regulatory books
Don’t look now, but it’s almost fall, and it will be 2020 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 of the latest Dangerous Goods regulatory publications themselves. That’s... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA extends comment period for its Liquefied Natural Gas by rail NPRM
The penultimate digest week of the year finds regulatory activity much busier than one might have otherwise expected it to be, with several actions of interest. Meanwhile, this week begins the heart of the holiday season. The Labelmaster family wishes you and yours a safe and joyous holiday! Here’s all the latest: PHMSA The agency…