As the nation celebrated Mardi Gras last week and then got down to the business of waiting out the rest of the winter season (I know I’m tired of it!) another slowish week in the regulatory world unfolded. It did however see an information collection request from PHMSA about shipping papers—the first action other than…
Archive for News
Hazmat experts agree—it’s time to sign up for the Dangerous Goods Symposium!
Register today! Rates go up April 1. September seems a long way off, doesn’t it? We in the Midwest are still digging out from our biggest snowfall in a couple of years, and major league baseball players are only just reporting to spring training this week. But it’s not too soon to talk about September,…
7 new lithium battery technologies; 0 new regulations
Considering the sheer impact of lithium batteries and the devices they power on today’s global economy, any new wrinkle in the regulations governing lithium battery transport creates aftershocks among: Battery manufacturers Device manufacturers Airlines and freight carriers E-commerce retailers Product recall managers Third-party logistics companies Hazmat trainers And anyone who owns a cell phone, laptop,... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA reinstates the definition of ‘specification package’
The Groundhog saw his shadow last week, so it looks like we’re in for more winter. Big surprise! However, at least it means we’re finally sliding downhill towards the spring. Things on the regulatory front in the US remain fairly quiet, but our Canadian friends are active, releasing a new round of proposals relating to…
Two (more) ways to make hazmat training stress-free
Last year, Labelmaster introduced five new online training courses to help Dangerous Goods pros relieve some of the stress of required hazmat training. Stress? What stress? Well, when you manage a shipping operation that handles Dangerous Goods, stress is part of the job description. And keeping hazmat employees compliantly trained and knowledgeable can be a…
DG Digest: TSA levies further cargo restrictions on certain Mideast countries
The end of January finds regulatory activity at low ebb, perhaps mimicking the quiet of winter. It’s a good time to catch up on those revisions and amendments you’ve not had time to study, perhaps. Always look for that positive way forward! Here’s what did happen last week: Canada TDGR Transport Canada released a new…
Confessions of a 3PL hazmat manager: “Lithium batteries are my life.”
Cody DeGrush is Hazardous Materials Manager at GEODIS. As a hazardous materials manager for a major third-party logistics (3PL) company, I’m almost a regulatory consultant within my own company. I share guidance with other organizations whenever regulations change, I gather information when onboarding a new client, and I oversee training. For the last four years,... Read more [...]
DG Digest: Confluence of circumstances led to Lac-Megantic not guilty verdicts
Believe it or not, we’re already past mid-January and heading towards the home stretch of what is typically the most troubling weather month of the year across the country. Stay safe, stay warm, and keep your eyes on the calendar! Spring will come sure enough. Meanwhile, it was a fairly active week in the regulatory…
Dangerous Goods transport technology: Wouldn’t it be cool if …
A couple of weeks ago, we published our 2018 DG Wish List, in which Dangerous Goods professionals from around the world shared their fondest dreams for the industry. Most of these wishes were pretty practical, from simplifying lithium battery shipping regulations to making sure shippers were better educated about hazmat. Others were grander in scale—like…
DG Digest: Federal Agencies Publish Semi-annual Regulatory Agendas
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday begins our week. The Labelmaster family hopes that every American will find a positive way to embrace Dr. King’s legacy and help to improve our nation. Regulatory activity remains at fairly low ebb; here’s the latest: U.S. EPA The agency published its annual adjustment of monetary penalty…
3 unexpected facts about Obexion lithium battery packaging
Since we introduced Obexion packaging technology last fall, we’ve had an unbelievable response from people who ship lithium batteries and battery devices. Many of the questions were predictable (even if the answers were amazing): Can Obexion really contain a 400°C lithium battery fire without gels, pellets or heavy liners? Yes—watch the video here. Can I…
DG Digest: Canada Releases New Guide for Incidents Involving Flammable Liquids by Rail
The second week of the year finds us all bearing down to get through the winter grind—be sure to do it safely. Cold and snow are not only inconvenient but can be potentially dangerous if we don’t keep proper precautions in mind! It was a relatively quiet week in the regulatory world, with a new…
Hazmat hopes: A 2018 wish list from top Dangerous Goods professionals
Last November, we asked our readers a simple question: What’s your biggest wish for 2018 in the entire Dangerous Goods galaxy? What regulation would you change? What stress-inducing process would you simplify? What one thing would you change to make your job easier—and the world safer? DG pros from all over responded, with wishes ranging…
DG Digest: EPA Proposes Rule to Limit Federal Oversite of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s hoping that 2018 is a safe, successful, and productive year for you and your organization. Best of luck! As you may have already guessed, the period between the two major holidays was quiet in the regulatory sense, with only minimal activity. Here’s the latest: EPA The agency issued a proposed... Read more [...]
DG Digest: IATA will begin to use its 59th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations
Holiday greetings! Hopefully everyone enjoyed their day. Normally, the period between Christmas and the New Year is very quiet; this year, we have a new IATA Corrigendum to consider! See the details below as well as the rest of the week’s news—and have a safe and happy New Year’s Day celebration: IATA Corrigendum to the…
Our Top 10 hazmat humor posts of 2017
There is nothing funny about Dangerous Goods shipping and handling. Hazmat regulations keep people safe, and DG professionals are 100% serious about their dedication to compliance. So why is hazmat humor so popular? Maybe the process of learning staggeringly complex, endlessly changing regulations warps people’s brains. Maybe you have to be a little warped to…
DG Digest: FAA Proposes its Largest-to-Date $1.1 Million Dollar Lithium Battery Fine
As the winter holidays loom close, regulatory activity has slowed accordingly. Canada remains busy though, releasing a new revision to its maritime rules. Otherwise things are a bit slow. Have a wonderful holiday next Monday! Here’s the latest: Canada TDGR Our neighbors to the north have completed and published a long awaited revision to their... Read more [...]
Lithium batteries and new technology dominate our top 10 posts of 2017
If you’re a Dangerous Goods professional, just keeping up with changing regulations can be a full-time job. But you also have to make sure all your team members are compliantly trained, and you might even have to prove to your upper management (over and over again) that hazmat compliance is an area that justifies serious…
DG Digest: IATA to Explore New Limits on Some Lithium Battery Shipments and the FBI Issues IRC under The Bioterrorism Act
As busy holiday preparations overtake most of the country—have you finished YOUR shopping?—the regulatory scene remains relatively quiet in terms of “heavy hitters,” although quite a few items of interest certainly did pop up this week. Perhaps the recently concluded UN meetings in Geneva will lead to increased action in the new year—if so, we’ll... Read more [...]
Don’t use hazmat software? Here are some things you might need
Of all the shocks in our 2017 Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook, the biggest might have been this one: 26% of DG pros say they use no DG software – they use manual processes for any hazardous materials they ship or handle. Since we offer DGIS, the most sophisticated hazmat software available, we’d like to…
DG Digest: IATA releases updated checklist to compliment the 59th DGR
As we roll into the holiday rush period, regulatory activity continues to be fairly slow—more time for all those last minute holiday projects, shopping, or travel, perhaps! Be sure that whatever you do, you do it safely—holidays tend to make us a bit less careful as we all get busier. At any rate—here’s what’s happening…
Remember these disasters? “Dang Good” training made sure they never happened.
This post is adapted from a presentation given at the 2017 Dangerous Goods Symposium by Gene Sanders, founder and manager of W.E. Train Consulting. Since we can abbreviate the words “hazardous materials” to “hazmat,” I say we shorten “Dangerous Goods training” to “Dang Good training.” It saves time, and it describes what we trainers hope... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA Proposes Elimination of M- & R-Number Approvals and IATA Addresses PED’s in Passenger Aircraft Cabins
This week brings the Thanksgiving Holiday. On behalf of the Labelmaster family, please allow me to wish you a safe, peaceful, and happy Thanksgiving. We hope you spend it surrounded by those you care about. The week’s regulatory news was fairly sparse. Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency is acting to streamline the way it... Read more [...]
Hey hazmat pros—what’s #1 on your 2018 Dangerous Goods wish list?
Back in 2016, if you’d asked people who ship lithium batteries and battery-powered devices what they wished for in 2017, they might have said “We wish there was a simple cardboard box that contained lithium battery fires without gels, pellets or heavy liners. Then we might be able to compliantly ship our products via commercial…
Fall meetings highlight changes in Dangerous Goods air transport
The fall season in odd-numbered years has traditionally been a busy time for people who handle Dangerous Goods by air, and 2017 was no exception. Consider this timetable: Labelmaster’s 12th Dangerous Goods Symposium, Chicago, Sept. 6–8 IATA’s Dangerous Goods Board, 111th meeting in Brussels, Sept. 18–21 IATA’s Lithium Battery Seminar in Barcelona, Oct. 3–5 ICAO’s... Read more [...]
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 9
Summary: Volume 9 of the Dangerous Goods Report looks at an innovation that may change how we transport lithium batteries and battery devices, despite all the safety and regulatory hurdles involved. We also assess the unique challenges facing seven industries that ship Dangerous Goods, and review the eye-opening findings of our first-ever international DG compliance…
Mom, can I be a hazmat pro for Halloween?
One sunny morning in mid-October, Anne poured the milk for her kids’ cereal and asked, “Hey guys—what do you want to be for Halloween this year?” Seven-year-old Kyle said, “Spider Man!” Nine-year-old Jenna said, “Wonder Woman!” And eleven-year-old Zack said, “A hazmat professional!” “A hazmat professional?” Anne shut the refrigerator and peered at Zack. “Is... Read more [...]
No chemical release today from Flint Hills plastics | Free | newstrib … – LaSalle News Tribune
LaSalle News TribuneNo chemical release today from Flint Hills plastics | Free | newstrib ...LaSalle News TribuneArea firefighters stage inside Flint Hill Resources on Water Street in Peru with the Illinois Valley Regional Airport foam truck after a fire and hazmat call Friday ...No chemical release at Peru plant | Local | mywebtimes.comMyWebTimes.comall 3 news articles » Read more [...]
Is Obexion the lithium battery shipping breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?
To the surprise of absolutely no one, lithium battery shipping once again dominated the agenda at the recent 2017 Dangerous Goods Symposium. The story, in a nutshell: There will continue to be more and more lithium batteries and battery-powered devices to transport, and transporting them safely and compliantly will continue to be challenging. The big…
DG Digest: PHMSA and the FRA to Publish Revised RIA in Response to FAST Act
Mid-October finds regulatory activity back at slow ebb, with action “nibbling at the corners” vice featuring heavy rulemaking. Hopefully everyone is getting a chance to catch up with their autumn chores—winter will soon be with us! Here’s this week’s news: PHMSA PHMSA and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are publishing a revised Regulatory Impact Analysis... Read more [...]
Why do supply chain pros need a basic talk on hazmat shipping?
On September 21, I gave a presentation on hazmat transport compliance at The Logistics Council of Milwaukee. I’ve spoken at the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council and the Dangerous Goods Symposium, but this was my first time speaking in front of a more general audience. The Logistics Council of Milwaukee is a not-for-profit association of supply…
DG Digest: PHMSA Suspends Parts of HMR in Puerto Rico and OSHA Publishes its Top 10 Violations for 2016
The first week of October has wrapped up and in contrast to the last week of September, things returned to the more typical quiet that has characterized regulatory activity in general since the advent of the new administration last January. Gives us all more time to rake leaves! Here’s the latest: Chemical Hazard & Safety... Read more [...]
Is your operation ready for a lithium battery device recall?
Chris Harvey is Director of Recall Solutions at Stericycle Expert Solutions. This post is based on the white paper Taking Charge: Effective Management of Lithium-ion Battery Recalls. With complex and rapidly shifting regulatory requirements, lithium-ion batteries and devices present one of the greatest challenges of all product recalls. As a manufacturer in this environment, it... Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA Issues Pair of ICRs, USPS to Hold Webinar on LiBat Shipping, and BNSF Seeks O.K. to Use Drones
This morning’s blog finds our nation reeling from yet another senseless and horrific act of gun violence. As we mourn the most recent wave of victims, let us all hope that someday, peace and reason and hope will replace fear and ignorance and anger as the way that all of us choose to relate to…
Global survey demonstrates DG pros’ commitment to compliance
Can Dangerous Goods professionals make compliance a greater priority within their organizations? What’s holding them back? Those questions—and some intriguing clues to the answers—emerge in the results of the first-ever global survey of Dangerous Goods professionals. The survey, a joint effort of Labelmaster and Hazardous Cargo Bulletin, polled more than 400 hazmat pros in North... Read more [...]
DG Digest: U.S. DOT Opens Comments on Draft Strategic Plans through 2022