Archive for News
The Anatomy of a Proper Hazmat Label
Need to move, store or assure your products? Don’t leave it to chance! Whether you need your labels to be in compliance, endure harsh conditions, visibly display your message or whatever your need may be; trust Labelmaster! Not all labels … Continue reading → Read more [...]
More Action on Crude Oil Trains: US Federal Railroad Administration Issues May 7th Emergency Order/Safety Advisory
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 … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Clock Ticks Towards June 2015: Next OSHA/GHS Hazcom Deadline
There was a bustle of activity on the hazard communication front late last year as many companies scrambled to meet a December 1st 2013 federal deadline to train their employees in the required elements of the updated Hazard Communication regulation … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Have You Registered Yet for the The 9th Annual Dangerous Goods Symposium?
Have You Registered Yet? The 9th annual Dangerous Goods Instructors Symposium is open for registration! Join September 3-5th in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona for the opportunity to network with industry peers, learn about critical regulatory updates and participate in interactive training … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Come See Labelmaster if Attending ASSE, If Not, Get your Free Expo Pass Here!
Labelmaster will be exhibiting at the Safety 2014 show in booth #1235. Join more than 4,500 safety professionals at the much-anticipated ASSE Safety 2014 Professional Development Conference. Stop by our booth to learn more about our variety of solutions to … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Interstate Commerce or Local Control? PHMSA Asked for a Decision
In two actions published in today’s Federal Register, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has made an application to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for an administrative determination on whether Federal hazardous materials laws would pre-empt requirements put … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Labelmaster Packing Services is now DGM Chicago!
DGM Chicago specializes in providing customers with safe, efficient and reliable solutions for their Dangerous Goods shipments. Our extensive regulatory expertise allows us to provide a full range of solutions to facilitate efficient Dangerous Goods shipping. DGM Chicago services include; … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Labelmaster Partnership Offers MSDS-to-SDS Conversion Service
Labelmaster is pleased to announce that we are now offering a new service to convert from the current MSDS format to the new SDS format to help in the transition to HCS 2012/GHS standard. … Continue reading → Read more [...]
US Federal Railroad Announces Intent to Issue NPRM — Mandate Train Crew Sizes, Other Measures
In a press release dated today, the Federal Railroad Administration announced the intent to regulate crew sizes of both freight and passenger trains. In October of 2011, a Union Pacific freight locomotive assisted Amtrak passenger locomotives pulling train #5, the … Continue reading → Read more [...]
USDOT/PHMSA Submits Paper for Upcoming UN Session on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) continues to respond to the disastrous train derailment in La Megantic, Quebec on July 6th, 2013. In that incident, an unmanned and unattended Montreal, Maine, & … Continue reading → Read more [...]
New Rules for Air Shipment of Lithium Batteries In Effect After March 31, 2014
After March 31, 2014, a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is now required for Section IB shipments of lithium batteries, whereas before it was optional. For the most up-to-date testing criteria reference the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Government 49 CFR Available NOW!
If you handle hazardous material or hazardous waste, or if you are a shipper, carrier or freight forwarder, Government 49 CFR DOT, 2-vol set, Parts 100-177 and Parts 178-199 are a must and it is ready to ship today! … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Labelmaster to Showcase Spacemaster® Placarding System at Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) This Week!
Labelmaster will be at the Mid-America Trucking Show beginning Thursday, March 27th. This year’s event is being held at the Kentucky Exposition Center and is the largest heavy-duty trucking event in the world. The Mid-America Trucking Show is the annual … Continue reading → Read more [...]
A Somber Anniversary—25 Years after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
It is a truism that regulations, whether related to transport, safety, building codes, etc, are to a degree “written in blood” in a turn of phrase often used by safety professionals; that is, often the genesis of a particular rule … Continue reading → Read more [...]
PHMSA Releases Special Permit Incorporations
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a final rule in today’s Federal Register which takes the important step of incorporating the terms of a number of Special Permits and/or Competent … Continue reading → Read more [...]
FMCSA Releases News on Proposed Driver’s Log Rules Change
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced the release of a supplemental proposed rulemaking which will require the use of electronic logs for commercial drivers of trucks and busses engaged in interstate … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Come visit us at booth #319 at the TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition!
This show features the latest technology to help fleets improve safety and efficiency. The show will include the latest models of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, specialty and alternative-fueled vehicles, components, safety and information technology and services. Stop by and see … Continue reading → Read more [...]
FAA Issues Request for Public Comments on Hazmat Notification
On March 4, 2014 the Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice of Availability in Federal Register (Volume 79, Number 42). The FAA notice seeks comments from the public on the Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s (ARC) recommendations … Continue reading → Read more [...]
US Postal Service Changes Certain DMM Hazardous Materials Regulations to Harmonize with USDOT Rules
Shippers of hazardous materials who ship products using the US Postal Service (USPS) may be pleased with a new ruling from that agency. In a response letter dated 31 January 2014 and addressed to the Council On Safe Transportation of … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Changes to FedEx Operator Variations (FX-18) (Updated)
FedEx Express has revised their recent changes to their Operator Variation (FX-18). As previously stated, on May 01, 2014 a significant change was to take effect for shipping dangerous goods by air with FedEx Express. In December 2013 FedEx issued … Continue reading → Read more [...]
USDOT Issues Further Emergency Order Related to Crude Oil Transport and Classification
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 … Continue reading → Read more [...]
BNSF Railway Becomes First US Rail Carrier to Purchase Newly Compliant Tank Cars for Crude Oil Transport
Unprecendented order for 5000 cars On Thursday, February 20th, BNSF Railway, owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway investment group and thus the only fully privately held Class I railroad in North America, announced that it would purchase a fleet of … Continue reading → Read more [...]
New NPRM Focuses on Creation of CDL Driver Test Database for FMCSA Required Drug and Alcohol Testing
The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a 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 … Continue reading → Read more [...]
EPA’s Final Rule on Solvent-Contaminated Wipes
2013 Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Final Rule Used in combination with solvents, “wipes” are typically used for cleaning and other industrial applications by a variety of manufacturing facilities. Large quantities of both reusable wipes and disposable wipes are used daily and generators … Continue reading → Read more [...]
FAA safety advisories/rule changes impact US air regulations
The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently took two steps to increase safety aboard commercial aircraft, one impacting the flight crew and the other affecting the general flying public. In the first action, on Thursday, January … Continue reading → Read more [...]
OSHA Letter of Interpretation limits small container labeling options
Manufacturers and Distributors who face a quandary over how to display required GHS based Hazard Communication (Hazcom) labeling on their small containers will find little to cheer about in a June 4, 2013 Letter of Interpretation recently made public by … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Crude Shippers face fallout from “Operation Classification”
Shippers of crude oil have now faced the initial fallout from the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT)/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency’s (PHMSA)/Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) new “Operation Classification,” a spot inspection regimen designed to verify the accuracy of … Continue reading → Read more [...]
FedEx Dangerous Goods Shipping Regulations Updated
On May 01, 2014 a significant change will take effect for shipping dangerous goods by air with FedEx Express. In December 2013 FedEx issued an addendum to their Operator Variations which included the elimination of FX-12 and revision of FX-18. … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Transport Canada Proposes TDG Changes to Impact Railway Tank Cars/DG Classification
On the 11th January 2014, Transport Canada’s regulatory arm proposed changes to the regulations governing the construction of railway tank cars in Canada, as well as for the cars operating there which may not have been constructed in country (i.e., … Continue reading → Read more [...]
US FMCSA Extends Paper Medical Certificate Retention/Carriage Date for CDL/CLP Holders
In the January 14th, 2014 edition of the US Federal Register, the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended by one year the requirement that holders of Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) or Commercial Learner’s … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Bob Richard to Participate in TRB Panel on Reverse Logistics
Bob Richard, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Labelmaster Services will participate in a panel discussion at the Transportation Research Board’s 93rd Annual conference in Washington DC on January 15th. Bob will lead of the discussion with a presentation on the … Continue reading → Read more [...]
New Requirements for Battery Powered Equipment and Electronics Imported to India
There are new requirements for Battery Powered Equipment and Consumer Electronics imported to India. These new requirements apply to inbound shipments of consumer electronics to meet standards imposed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Department of Electronics and Information Technology in … Continue reading → Read more [...]
Happy Holidays — From Labelmaster!
The team at Labelmaster wish you all happy and safe holidays. Our offices will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Enjoy the season!
2013 Year-end Compliance Highlights (Part 1 of 3)
Over the next few days, Labelmaster will compile a roundup regulatory compliance highlights from 2013 that will impact workplace and transportation practices. Today’s highlight: OSHA’s HazCom 2012 Training Deadline. The 2012 changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) brought the United … Continue reading →
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USDOT Revises Drug & Alcohol Testing Rates for 2014
On Thursday, December 5th, 2013, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released its revised Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Rate directives for its component agencies. In practice, this means that employers whose operations fall under the aegis of those … Continue reading →
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FRA/PHMSA Expand on Emergency Order 28 in Response to Quebec Derailment
FRA/PHMSA conduct “Operation Classification” enforcement action. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) continue to respond to the disastrous railroad derailment in La Megantic, Quebec on July 6th, 2013. In that incident, an … Continue reading →
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Reminder: The GHS Training Deadline Looms
Much of the “buzz” in the US Regulatory Community this year, at least as regards the area of Hazardous Communication, has been about a three letter acronym that may still be a mystery to many: “GHS.” What does this acronym … Continue reading →
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FAA Okays Electronics Use during All Phases of Commercial Flight
Here is the FAA’s press release: http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254
PHMSA Releases Halloween Revisions to the 49 CFR
With the end of the government’s partial shutdown, USDOT/PHMSA has returned to full operation and has joined the ranks of government agencies promulgating new, revised, or corrected regulatory information. On October 31st, 2013, the Federal Register contained a set of … Continue reading →
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Frustration Mounts for Lithium Battery Shippers
In the October Issue of Battery Connections Magazine, we explore the the continuing challenges faced by professionals and organizations who are trying to make sense of the rules of so many stakeholders: http://batteryconnections.net/issue1/index.html (see pages 28-29).
