We know lots of Dangerous Goods professionals are on vacation this week, but the supply chain never takes a holiday. That’s why we’d like to take a few moments to share our thanks for everyone who helps keep our highways, skies, rails and oceans safe. Thank you to the truckers, pilots, train drivers and others…
Archive for News
What happens when you make hazmat compliance a competitive advantage?
At September’s Dangerous Goods Symposium, Labelmaster VP of Marketing Rob Finn said, “Companies who are best in class at compliance have better on-time rates and fewer surprises for their customers. It’s a competitive advantage, and it grows their business.” Dangerous Goods compliance as a competitive advantage? That’s kind of a radical concept. Historically, many organizations... Read more [...]
The ABCs of the modern supply chain: Automation, Blockchain and Compliance
Trucks drive themselves hundreds of miles on public highways. Warehouse workers’ glasses tell them which items to pick. Overseas transactions worth millions are consummated with the flick of a wand. This is not your father’s supply chain. Heck, it’s not even your older brother’s supply chain. If you find your head spinning at the pace…
DG Digest: FedEx released own carrier variations, and FMCSA published an ICR on acquiring a CDL
As the nation heads into Election Day on November 6th, regulatory activity continues at a fairly brisk pace. After such a quiet summer, it’s good to see things stay a little busier! Here’s all the latest: PHMSA The agency published a correction to its recently released update to the air rules under HM-259. The correction... Read more [...]
DOT introduces HazMatt to combat the “plain brown box”
Every year in the United States, there are approximately 1,500 reported transportation incidents caused by undeclared hazmat shipments. These rail fires, battery explosions and other incidents injure carrier employees and first responders while exposing them to dangerous chemicals and substances. Dangerous Goods regulations are useless if shippers don’t know what Dangerous Goods are. Ask any... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA issues emergency HMR relief for areas hit by Hurricane Michael, and IATA issues new guidance for personal mobility devices on passenger aircraft
The last week of October finds the nation grappling with the midterm election cycle and, again, the shadow of public violence. Certainly we here at Labelmaster offer our deepest condolences to those affected by what has happened in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. The last two weeks featured a busy surge in regulatory activity as many of... Read more [...]
Want to scare a Dangerous Goods pro? 7 costume ideas for Halloween.
A career in Dangerous Goods is not for the faint of heart. Not only might you work every day with stuff that’s explosive, flammable, poisonous and/or radioactive, but you’re also responsible for making sure that stuff gets transported safely. So you’re not going to spook a hazmat pro with a Michael Myers mask. There are…
Dangerous Goods competency assessments: A level beyond training
Should people who handle Dangerous Goods be as competent at their jobs as doctors are at theirs? Philip Mondor thinks so. “Doctors, nurses and lawyers are subject to rigorous competency assessments based on robust science. We’re seeing an emergence of similar practices in occupational areas that have regulated aspects, like logistics.” Mondor is the president... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA issues new special permits and Transport Canada proposes new fee program for packaging stakeholders
The last found a few places around our country seeing their first snowfall of the season—mostly just dustings, but a reminder that we all need to prepare for the change that is coming. Be sure your workplace safety plan is ready to protect your employees if snowy and icy walks, lots, and driveways are part…
Getting You Ready — New Lithium Battery Marks and Labels are Mandatory on January 1st
As 2019 quickly approaches, lithium battery shippers need to be aware of the mandatory label changes that become effective on January 1st. For almost 2 years shippers of small (excepted) batteries and battery-powered devices have had the option to use either the lithium battery handling “Caution” label or the lithium battery mark while operating under... Read more [...]
10,000 miles, 5 sets of hazmat regulations? Welcome to Latin America
If you work in Dangerous Goods in North America or Europe, you’ve probably complained at one time or another about the complexity of ever-changing hazmat regulations. Diego Gotelli would like you to know that, compared to Dangerous Goods pros in Latin America, you have it easy. Gotelli, director of the Argentinian emergency response agency CIQUIME,…
DG Digest: while U.S. DOT prepares for a future with autonomous vehicles, FMCSA announces listening sessions for ‘hours of service’
The first week of October found things a little slower than the end of September was, what with all the significant change documents and other items of interest that came out last month. Still, the cooler weather continues to bring “news you can use.” Here it is: PHMSA The agency announced that on Tuesday, November... Read more [...]
Your fall guide to 2019 Dangerous Goods regulatory publications
Who doesn’t love fall? The trees go ablaze with color, the air takes on that indescribable crispness, and the latest Dangerous Goods regulatory publications become available. (Alternate opening for those in the southern hemisphere: Who doesn’t love spring? The trees burst from grey to green, the air takes on that indescribable lushness, and the latest…
DG Digest: PHMSA rescinds pending rule requiring high-hazard freight trains use ECPs
September finished off with a fairly busy week. UPS and FedEx both chimed in with new tables for their Dangerous Goods services, and the FMCSA finally released a new medical form for CMV drivers—something that had been percolating all summer. A variety of other interesting news rounded out the period. Here’s all the latest: FRA... Read more [...]
Will the updated IMDG Code help prevent another maritime DG disaster?
A common frustration of working in the Dangerous Goods supply chain is “keeping up with constantly changing regulations.” Why do the rules change so often? One reason regulations change? It’s to prevent incidents like the devastating 2012 explosion aboard the container ship MSC Flaminia, in which three crew members were killed. Earlier this month, the... Read more [...]
DG Digest: In a busy week for the agency, PHMSA pre-empts California’s new rule governing driver rest break periods
PHMSA Interested in providing the agency with feedback on its service provision to the DG industry here in the U.S.? Now’s your chance! PHMSA has announced an information collection aimed at prompting just such data submissions from its clients—that’s us! If you’ve been waiting to have your say and want to participate, here’s your... Read more [...]
DG Digest: IMO lists significant changes for the 39th Amendment of the IMDG Code
As the nation transitions into the fall season, regulatory activity in the US sector remains minimal. FRA and FMCSA both issued actions, many of them concerned with a variety of hours-of-service issues for employees; we’ll cover those. However in big international news, the IMO has released its update of changes that will be incorporated into... Read more [...]
Five biggest surprises in the 2018 Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook
At the recent Dangerous Goods Symposium, representatives from Labelmaster, Hazardous Cargo Bulletin and IATA previewed the results of the third annual Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook—the industry’s most comprehensive survey. Gathering responses from 500 hazmat professionals on five continents, the DG Confidence Outlook is the definitive snapshot of our industry. And, now that we have... Read more [...]
Lithium Battery Friday—a.k.a. 2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium, Day 3
There’s a special charge in the air on Friday at the Dangerous Goods Symposium, because Day 3 is Lithium Battery Day. Everyone’s favorite regulated material gets an all-star panel and a no-(cargo) holds-barred Q & A session, so there’s a high capacity for shock. As IATA’s Dave Brennan said, “Lithium batteries are a very emotional…
DG Digest: FMCSA to hold listening session on HOS, PHMSA announces new special permits
The Labor Day week is over, and the last of the summer holidays has passed. Along with the return to school for children, this time of the year often portends a busier regulatory schedule as regulators, like everyone else, get back to being busy. We’ll see how this fall goes, but meanwhile, here’s the last…
2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium, Day 2—visions of a more automated future
Sometime in the not-too-distant future, someone will fill out the last paper shipping declaration—ever. After Day 2 of the 2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium, it’s clear that the era of manual, paper-based Dangerous Goods processes is in its twilight. Here are some highlights from a day of revelations and insight. Blockchain and its coming role in…
2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium, Day 1—a compliance evolution
Why are we here? On one level, that’s an easy question. It’s Day 1 of the 2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium, and we’re here at the Loew’s Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois because this is the world’s premier event for Dangerous Goods shippers, trainers and regulators. We’re here to learn from each other and become more effective…
DG Digest: Listing the Significant Changes to the 60th Edition of the IATA DGR
Welcome to Fall! The nation celebrated Labor Day and the unofficial end of the summer season this last Monday; hopefully our readership had a safe and enjoyable last summer fling. The regulatory world’s summer ended with a bit of a bang, as IATA published its list of significant changes to the upcoming 60th Edition of…
2018 DG Symposium moderator Geoff Leach on “The Global Regulatory Landscape”
Geoff Leach, founder and director of The Dangerous Goods Office, Ltd., will moderate a panel on The Global Regulatory Landscape at the 13th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 5–7, 2018, in Rosemont, Illinois. As one of the Dangerous Goods industry’s most recognizable veterans, Geoff Leach is a natural choice to moderate Thursday’s panel on recent... Read more [...]
DG Digest: FMCSA proposes rule tweaks for short-haul and multiple crew teams
This week marks the unofficial end of summer; the last few days before the pending Labor Day holiday. That holiday typically signifies the end of the slow vacation season and a return to a busier regulatory release schedule. However, things were slow at this time last year, so how things actually go this year remains…
IATA’s James Wyatt to demo automated DG acceptance tool at 2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium
James Wyatt, Assistant Director of Dangerous Goods Publications at IATA, will speak on advanced automation—and give a live demo of IATA’s new acceptance solution—at the 13th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 5–7, 2018, in Rosemont, Illinois. Who determines what’s safe to load onto an airplane—and what isn’t—when it comes to the world of Dangerous Goods... Read more [...]
DG Digest: Multiple updates from FMCSA, including a new “Hazardous Materials Route Registry.”
The middle of August finds much of the nation blanketed in smoke from western wildfires. If your business is located in an area where this is an issue, be sure to take steps to protect your employees from breathing problems. Many people who are fine on average weather days struggle in poor quality air. If…
Do you need the industry’s most complete IATA online training course?
There are hazmat regulations, and then there are hazmat air transport regulations. However complex and burdensome you might find the regulations for transport of any given material by road, rail or vessel, you can bet the regulations for shipping that same material by air are tougher to comply with. The reason for the disparity is…
2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium speaker Peter Mackay: Survey data is ammunition.
Peter Mackay, editor-in-chief of HCB, will introduce the results of the 2018 Dangerous Goods Confidence Survey during the 13th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 5–7, 2018, in Rosemont, Illinois. Revealing the results of the annual Dangerous Goods Confidence Survey has become a mainstay of the Dangerous Goods Symposium. Co-sponsored by Labelmaster, HCB and—for the first... Read more [...]
DG Digest: US Department of State Announces Pre-Meeting for UN-IMO Container Conference
Holy smokes it’s slow this week! The only news on the regulatory front is an announcement for the pre-meeting on the upcoming IMO Cargo and Container Conference. With that being, it IS the middle of summer and typically the hottest time of the year. Are your employees coping? Heat stress and stroke can be real…
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 10
Summary: Volume 10 of the Dangerous Goods Report introduces a new framework that helps businesses realize a positive return on investment from their hazmat compliance programs—Total Value of Compliance. It also examines how advanced packaging technology simplifies the transport of damaged, defective or recalled lithium batteries and battery devices, and looks at the safety considerations…
DG Digest: OSHA proposes changes to electronic injury reporting system
OSHA The agency promulgated a proposed rule that will provide regulatory relief to certain railroad construction and repair activity involving cranes. The American Association of Railroads worked with OSHA and the FRA to craft the rule. See its parameters here In the week’s biggest news, OSHA is seeking comment on a proposal to remove the…
2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium speaker LaQuita Donald on training millennials.
LaQuita Donald, CHMM, CDGP, the Environmental & Hazmat Compliance Manager at Motion Industries, Inc., will speak about “Training Millennials” during the 13th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 5–7, 2018, in Rosemont, Illinois. You may never talk with anyone who’s more enthusiastic about her role in the Dangerous Goods industry than LaQuita Donald. Yet she’s concerned... Read more [...]
What are Materials of Trade, and why should you care?
In last week’s post about non-hazmat employees who should receive hazmat training, Labelmaster Director of Global Learning Rhonda Jessop recommended 49 CFR training for employees who transport “Materials of Trade,” which she defined as: “… specific amounts of regulated substances that are transported for use on the job, such as painters carrying commercial-sized containers of... Read more [...]
DG Digest: FMCSA announces listening session on automating CMVs on U.S. roadways
Summer vacation time brings a typical slowdown of regulatory activity and that is much the case this week, although EPA and FMCSA both issued notices dealing with withdrawals of certain regulatory actions taken during the Obama Administration. Here’s the latest: FMCSA The FMCSA announces a public listening session on July 12, 2018, to solicit information... Read more [...]
2018 Dangerous Goods Symposium speaker Dave Brennan on IATA and innovation
Dave Brennan, Assistant Director of Cargo Safety & Standards at International Air Transport Association, will share updates from IATA during the 13th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 5–7, 2018, in Rosemont, Illinois. Longtime IATA veteran Dave Brennan says, “It’s been one of the quieter years for updates.” Yet even in a quiet year, he... Read more [...]
Besides hazmat employees, who else should get hazmat training?
Every organization handling Dangerous Goods knows (or ought to know) that employees meeting the definition of a “hazmat employee” need to be trained in accordance with 49 CFR, Part 172, Subpart H, unless otherwise excepted. Who’s a hazmat employee? The short version of the definition, from Part 171.8, is: “A person who … directly affects…
DG Digest: USPS poised to overhaul rules for mailing liquids, Pub 52, including non-hazmat types
The week after the 4th of July holiday finds the nation settling into the typical summer period of somewhat lessened regulatory activity, with one major exception; the US Post Office has issued an NPRM that if adopted with impose major changes on its handling of non-hazardous liquids in the US Mail. Many companies mail liquids…
DG Digest: OSHA announces intent to harmonize with 7th Revision of GHS in 2019
Need we say it? Be safe with fireworks! This week’s holiday is no reason to endure a tragedy. The safest course is to leave that kind of celebrating to the industry professionals, and just sit back and watch them do their thing. The week’s news was surprisingly busy in what is often a sparse period;…
