On Friday, August 7, 2015, the US Department of Transportation’s new lithium battery shipping rules went into effect. In the weeks since, retailers have handled the challenges of the new regulations as best they can. Many are still scrambling, as they adapt their shipping operations to rules that never applied to their business before. The…
Archive for News
The potential costs and consequences of airlines’ lithium battery restrictions
Last week, Lufthansa enacted some of the strictest lithium battery shipping restrictions in the industry—banning some shipments from all its aircraft, both cargo and passenger, and tightening restrictions on other shipments. Lufthansa’s new rules are the latest and strictest in a long line of airline-imposed restrictions on lithium battery shipments. Billions of batteries are shipped... Read more [...]
Lufthansa becomes the latest airline to restrict lithium battery transport—and the strictest
Transporting lithium batteries by air continues to get more challenging. Lufthansa has just imposed restrictions that go well beyond international regulations. Here’s a breakdown of the new restrictions, effective August 31*: Complete embargo of excepted standalone lithium batteries from all aircraft. These shipments will no longer be accepted on any Lufthansa Group passenger or... Read more [...]
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 3
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 3 from Labelmaster
Maryland Circuit Court Case may derail hazmat confidentiality
The outcome of a recently decided court case in Maryland has the Class One railroads pondering their next move as regards keeping movement and other logistics information confidential when it comes to what the federal government has now classified as “high hazard” flammable liquids trains. On August 17th City of Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Lawrence…
Infographic | The Essential ERG (Emergency Response Guidebook)
The Emergency Response Guide—better known as the ERG— is the first resource for identifying and responding to chemical hazards in a transportation emergency. You’ll find it anywhere people have a stake in the safe handling, transport and storage of Dangerous Goods. New additions, revisions and updates make the 2016 ERG the most essential ever. Here…
Can DG shipping be fun? Take our survey and let us know what you think!
You are the heroes of Dangerous Goods Shipping. You eat, sleep and breathe DG all day long. Take a minute to have some fun and share with us your best ideas for the greater good of the Hazmat Shipping industry. There are just nine easy questions, so please feel free to let off some steam…
Why the updated 2016 Emergency Response Guidebook is more essential than ever
Every four years the United States, Canadian and Mexican governments cooperate in issuing a revised edition of a wonderfully useful and often terribly important little orange book: the Emergency Response Guidebook, commonly known as “the ERG.” The 2016 edition is coming soon, and it promises to be more essential than ever. From “quick and dirty”... Read more [...]
Costs and concerns about the FRA’s new “rollaway” rules
After the disastrous Lac-Mégantic derailment on July 6, 2013, the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued Emergency Order 28 directing U.S. railroads to take certain actions to reduce the likelihood of another unattended train “rolling away” with explosive, flammable materials on board. On July 29 of this year, the FRA announced the codification of many... Read more [...]
Malaysia Airlines Suspension on Carriage of Lithium Batteries
Labelmaster recently published a blog on the Boeing advisory relative to lithium battery cargo shipment and indicated that there would likely be implications (e.g. airlines imposing additional restrictions). Malaysia Airlines recently announced a temporary suspension on the transport of lithium batteries that went into effect on July 27, 2015. The suspension applies to lithium metal... Read more [...]
Recap of the ECOSOC Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
A New Biennium With the retirement of Mr. Hart of the UK, a new UN Sub-committee of experts on the transport of dangerous goods biennium began on 22nd June under the chairmanship of Mr. Pfund from the US. Mr. Pfund follows in the footsteps of such luminaries from the US DOT as Mr. Al Roberts…
Boeing Offers Lithium Battery Air Transport Guidance
Seldom does a guidance document from a private business causes much stir in the aviation transport community when it comes to dangerous goods; however, that is not the case after the Boeing Company released new guidance on July 17th regarding the bulk carriage of Lithium Ion Batteries (UN3480) on its passenger aircraft. Along with European maker Airbus,…
Leadership, Budget Changes Challenge PHMSA
The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) faces a summer of challenge as both leadership and budget issues face the agency. Longtime executive director Dr. Magdie El-Sabie is gone, replaced in the interim by Ms. Stacy Cummings, whose past expertise is primarily associated with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)…
Canadian Pacific Railway Continues Court Action on Lac Megantic Train Disaster Settlement
In continued litigation tied to the horrendous oil train derailment and subsequent fatal explosions and fires in Lac Megantic, Quebec in 2013, Class One railway Canadian Pacific (CP) announced that it would continue to seek protection from liability and ask for voiding court action in reference to the $432 million dollar (Canadian) settlement recently agreed... Read more [...]
Airlines/ICAO React to e-cigarette Storage on Passenger Flights
As of June 15, 2015, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has banned passengers and crew from storing electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other battery-powered electronic smoking devices in checked bags on passenger airlines. This final ruling follows an advisory warning to the airline industry issued by ICAO in December 2014 regarding safety concerns related to... Read more [...]
Older Driver’s Medical Certificate Gets Six Month Reprieve
FMCSA correction of 6/22/2015 In the June 22nd, 2015 edition of the US Federal Register, the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revised its requirements to use the new MCSA-5875 Report of Examination and MCSA-5876 Medical Exam Certificate for Commercial Driver’s Licnes (CDL) holders. The docket ([Docket No. FMCSA–2012–0178])... Read more [...]
When You Violate DG Shipping Regulations, Fines Can Stack Up
Having mislabeled or incorrectly marked cargo could mean delayed shipments and fines from violations. And with ever-changing rules and regulations, things can get complicated. We can help. We have complied a list of seven types of common violations and how you can avoid them: www.labelmaster.com/common-violations
Summer Doldrums Allow a Chance to Catch up on GHS
One of the things that Labelmaster does to stay ahead of regulatory requirements for our customers is to monitor the United States Federal Register each day. If you don’t know what that is, it can be briefly described as the “book”—it’s an electronic publication, these days; that the federal government uses to give notice of…
What Exactly is GHS and How Does it Affect Me?
GHS, the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, was adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2012 to align global communications on the risks of chemicals found in the workplace. With implementation of the standard ongoing and the final deadline less than a year away, employers now need to…
US FRA Issues Safety Advisory for Passenger Train Operations
In continuing fallout from several recent passenger train accidents including fatality accidents on New York’s Metro-North commuter system and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Service, both of which incidents have been alleged to have had apparent contributing factors of excessive speed entering curves, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a formal... Read more [...]
Trucker’s Group Requests Extension of Comment Period for FMCSA Required Drug and Alcohol Testing
In an action published in yesterday’s Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the comment period on the proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which would establish a new nationwide database for reporting and tracking drug and alcohol related citations and test results for operators of commercial vehicles (CMV) holding... Read more [...]
ICAO DG Panel Working Group Agrees to Establish a Task Group on Performance-Based Standards for the Safe Air Transport of Lithium Batteries
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel Working Group was held from April 27 – May 1 in Montreal, Canada. Lithium battery regulations again consumed a majority of the discussion. A primary decision involved an agreement to establish a task group of... Read more [...]
US FRA Takes Emergency Action Limiting Some Train Speeds
At approximately 1:15 AM EST on July 6th, 2013, a unit freight train of the cross-border operating Montreal, Maine, & Atlantic Railroad (MM&A) loaded with crude oil from the Bakken Shale Formations in North Dakota in the western United States…
Infographic | GHS and the 2012 OSHA Hazcom Standard
Competing in the global marketplace is an increasingly challenging proposition when supply chains cross boarders, languages and international regulations. One way governments and regulatory agencies are helping to facilitate international trade — and improve employee safety — is through the adoption of globally harmonized standards for hazard communication. For more information on GHS and HCS... Read more [...]
Avoiding the Deadline Crisis: Understanding the HCS and its Deadline Schedule and Mandates
The annual angst over Income Tax Deadline Day isn’t the only federal date mandate causing concern this April. There is a seeming whirlwind of confusion amongst American businesses about the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard’s (HCS) deadline dates for compliance with what nearly everyone calls “the GHS.” It’s not really the... Read more [...]
Airlines Imposing Additional Restrictions on Lithium Battery Shipments
There have been a number of recent news media accounts related to the transport of lithium batteries aboard aircraft. While the air transport of lithium cells and batteries is fundamentally safe there have been incidents that should raise concern. In almost all of the incidents that have occurred there has not been conclusive evidence to…
Regulatory Issues Addressing Crude Oil / Ethanol Shipments by Rail
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. CT It is more important than ever for companies that ship crude oil and flammable products to ensure they are compliant. In this webinar you will learn about: Proposed tank cars for North America. Compliance with DOT/TSA regulations – shipper and carrier requirements Exceptions taken by DOT inspectors…
A Better Labelmaster Blog is On The Way…
Dear Labelmaster Blog Subscriber: We are pleased to announce an improved Labelmaster blog experience! Later today, we will be transferring our blog to a new host, and add a bunch of new features along with a compelling design! (See below for a few screen … Continue reading → Read more [...]
UPS Imposes New Lithium Metal Battery Restrictions
In an action which is assuredly no April Fool’s jest, United Parcel Service (UPS) today announced new restrictions on and requirements for the transport of Lithium Metal Batteries. Effective July 1st, 2015, shipments of UN3090 Lithium Metal Batteries via UPS … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Guest Blog: ‘Tis the Season For Deadlines — Annual Taxes Overlap with Regulation Changes
By Amanda Yerke, Logic Quantum There are only six weeks between the April 15th tax deadline and the June 1st OSHA deadline this year. The volume of paperwork, research, and regulatory red tape involved in both deadlines can be daunting for … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Summary of USPS Publication 52: Shipping Lithium Batteries
I. Introduction On Monday, January 26, 2015, the United States Parcel Service (USPS) published a notice in the Federal Register that describes revisions to USPS Publication 52, Hazardous Restricted, and Perishable Mail. These revisions closely align USPS requirements for … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Canada Revises WHMIS to Incorporate GHS
Health Canada (more-or-less the Canadian government’s equivalent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States) has officially published their adoption of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals (GHS) … Continue reading → Read more [...]
PHMSA Announces Mandatory Compliance Date Extension to HM-224F for Non-Air Transport of Lithium Batteries
Announced via the website of the Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT PHMSA): as a result of numerous stakeholder comments, PHMSA will respond to concerns regarding difficulty in achieving full compliance by the original date set … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Postal Service Revises Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries
Keeping pace with U.S. DOT’s PHMSA (U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) the U.S. Postal Service announced changes to their respective hazardous materials standards affecting the safe transportation of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries. According … Continue reading → Read more [...]
USDOT/PHMSA Releases Final Rule HM-215M, Harmonizing Requirements with UNMR, ICAO, IMDG Code Changes
In the January 8th 2015 edition of the US Federal Register, the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule under Docket # PHMSA-2013-0260 (HM-215), RIN 2137-AF05 under which the agency … Continue reading → Read more [...]
NTSB Issues Safety Alert Regarding Adjacent LED/Incandescent Signal Aspects on American Railroads
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a Safety Alert to railroads operating in the United States which cautions them about potential confusion or other risks associated with the presence of both LED and incandescent bulb type … Continue reading → Read more [...]
ICAO releases Corrigendum #1 for the 2015 – 2016 edition; addresses the carriage of Lithium Metal Batteries aboard passenger aircraft
On December 10th, 2014, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issued an Electronic Bulletin (EB 2014/72) which announced the release of Corrigendum #1 (itself dated November 20th, 2014) to their 2015 – 2016 edition of the Technical Instructions for the … Continue reading → Read more [...]
