Can automating your operation with hazmat shipping software really help you increase your revenue? The simple answer is “Yes.” Advanced software such as our Dangerous Goods Information System (aka DGIS) can give you the speed and efficiency to execute more hazmat shipments every day. And more shipments equals more revenue, right? Sure, we know it’s…
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How hazmat shipping automation helps you find hidden demand (and revenue).
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Want more large-format lithium battery packaging options? We’ve got good news.
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Gear Up for Change: The 2024 ERG Arrives in May
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With the growing proliferation of lithium batteries, here’s how we’ve got safe shipping covered
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Faster than coffee: Automating hazmat shipping with DGIS software
Latest Posts
DG Digest: IATA Updates DGR with Focus on Operator Variations and Lithium Battery Rules
Here we are at the end of the month. As I write this blog, a very large tornado outbreak has been taking place across the Midwest and Great Plains. I hope all of our blog readers are safe. It’s also a great reminder that the threat of severe and even deadly weather is especially prevalent…
DG Digest: Transport Canada Publishes Updates on Tank Cars, Ammonia Nurse Tanks, Class 1 Explosives Packaging
The third week of April means the spring storm season is in full swing, so make sure your workplace and home are both ready to cope with potential heavy weather. In the regulatory world, Transport Canada was a busy player last week, with several actions of note. Here’s the latest news: Transport Canada The ministry…
Want more large-format lithium battery packaging options? We’ve got good news.
Large-format lithium batteries power our world—from electric vehicles and energy storage systems to industrial robots and even aircraft. But with great power comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to safe and compliant transportation. That’s why Labelmaster’s DGeo packaging division has partnered with Action Wood 360 to offer easy-to-use collapsible wooden crates for large-format battery…
DG Digest: New PHMSA Rule Makes Multi-Modal Hazmat Shipping Easier, Aligns with International Standards
As we publish, it’s Tax Day! Are you ready? Hopefully everyone has things under control for the year. It’s always an adventure. Meanwhile, it was an eventful regulatory week as PHMSA published its long awaited HM-215Q harmonization rule. Let’s dive right in: PHMSA As just noted, the final rule updating international harmonization was published. The…
DG Digest: Shipping Accident in Baltimore: A Reminder of Safe Cargo Practices
Shipping accident in Baltimore As most people already know, last week the Singapore flagged container ship MS Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key road bridge at the mouth of the harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. The bridge subsequently collapsed, tragically killing six maintenance workers on the span. Casualties may have been far greater but for…
DG Digest: EPA Eyes Safer Disposal of Explosives, OSHA Updates Fire Extinguisher and Cadmium Rules
For many younger folks, spring break season has arrived, so if you live and work in an area that sees spring break tourism, be sure that your employees are aware of the potential for increased traffic and crowded streets. Delivery drivers and those who work out of the office or plant can be particularly affected.…
DG Digest: PHMSA Clarifies Special Permit Process, Adds Hazmat Training FAQs, and Issues Monkeypox Guidance
It’s mid-March, and the formal beginning of Spring is just a day or two away. Hopefully, every will have a chance to enjoy the improving weather and perhaps a spring break holiday. Be sure to include appropriate safety planning in your spring events! Here’s the last week’s extremely busy regulatory news: PHMSA The agency published…
Gear Up for Change: The 2024 ERG Arrives in May
One of the most popular and certainly among the most useful and used of the USDOT’s family of publications is almost due for its revised issuance. The Emergency Response Guide, typically referred to simply as the “ERG,” will make its every-fourth-year reappearance in late May. The 2024 edition will supersede the current 2020 edition. The…
DG Digest: Public Comment Period Opens on International Rules for Safe Radioactive Material Transport
Today’s blog publishes right after the “Spring Forward” event—did you remember to reset your clocks? This is the one Monday of the year when perhaps everyone might be just a little off-kilter, so remember: take your time today and don’t let the change impair your attention to health and safety. We’ll also encounter the St.…
DG Digest: PHMSA amends the HMR in HM-219D final rule, effective April 3, 2024
Today’s blog finds us in the very first week of “meteorological spring.” Just a few weeks to the equinox! Hopefully, this means warmer weather will start to make its way across the country. Of course, it also means that in many places, severe weather will be starting to make its seasonal comeback, so be sure…
With the growing proliferation of lithium batteries, here’s how we’ve got safe shipping covered
Lithium batteries power our lives—from smartphones and power tools to hoverboards and e-bikes. But their potential fire risk is so significant that airlines don’t even allow them in checked bags. The lithium battery chain is now expected to grow by more than 30 percent annually for the remainder of the decade, with a market size…
DG Digest: EPA updates fees for the Toxic Substances Control Act
The last full week of February found things just a touch slow in the regulatory world; this coming week features “Leap Day,” which happens just once every four years. So, do something special to enjoy it! Here’s the latest news: EPA The agency finalized amendments to the rule that established fees for the administration of…
Faster than coffee: Automating hazmat shipping with DGIS software
Why do so many people love single-serve coffee makers? Because they make a complex process simple and fast. That’s also why many hazmat organizations use advanced automation software. Dangerous Goods transport is one of the most complex processes in modern industry. Automation solutions that make hazmat shipping simpler and faster are essential for keeping your…
DG Digest: NEW IMDG and ADR Corrigenda Released
It’s Presidents Day this Monday, honoring all the men who have thus far served as our nation’s chief executive. Most people have a favorite president from history; do you? Given the holiday, most federal and state agencies are closed today. However, last week did feature some new regulatory action. Here’s the latest: IMDG Code The…
DG Digest: New tranche of semi-annual regulatory agendas released
Winter rolls on as we all recover from “The Big Game” on Sunday. Did your team win? Hey—there’s always next year, and baseball spring training starts later this week. Never give up, right? It was a relatively quiet regulatory week; here’s the latest news: Semi-Annual Regulatory Agendas A third tranche of new regulatory agendas has…
DG Digest: An NPRM from OSHA in reference to required emergency response measures and organization
“Punxsutawney Phil,” the famous prognosticating groundhog in Pennsylvania, did not, according to news reports, see his shadow last Friday. According to the tradition, that means we’ll see a speedy end to winter. Let’s hope that groundhog nailed it! Meanwhile, however, just in case he’s wrong, be sure your winter safety plans remain in effect until…
DG Digest: Proposed rulemaking from the CPSC regarding reducing required size of safety marks on consumer coin/button cell battery packaging
Here we are at the end of January! Whew! One more month of the worst weather to go. Hopefully, later this week, “Punxsutawney Phil” the famous groundhog in Pennsylvania will predict a quick end to winter. Hang in there and stay safe! Here’s this week’s regulatory news: CPSC The Commission published a proposed rule (via…
DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes its latest tranche of Special Permit actions
The third week of January finds us all still shivering as we endure the heart of the winter season. Hopefully, everyone is staying warm and keeping safe. January is a tough time of year, but it won’t last forever. Hang in there! Here’s the latest regulatory news: PHMSA The agency has published its latest tranche…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes its revised organizational chart for 2024.
Mid-January is living up to its billing this year—most of the country is plugging through some really bitter weather. Are your operations coping? In this kind of cold and snow, it’s important to keep putting safety first. As we go to press, this Monday is also the Martin Luther King holiday, and the Labelmaster family…
What customers are saying about Labelmaster’s new line of CurTec shipping products
Recently, Labelmaster announced the addition of CurTec high-performance plastic containers, drums and pails to our already robust packaging offering—allowing us to provide the industry’s broadest assortment of UN-certified primary containers. For Dangerous Goods (DG) pros, the lineup may be the right packaging solution to fit their needs for safe and compliant shipping. Here’s what we’ve…
DG Digest: PHMSA creates guidance document for micromobility devices powered by lithium ion batteries.
Brrrr!!! We’re getting into the coldest and snowiest part of the year in much of the country, and we have at least a couple of months to go to really see a chance of relief. So, make sure that your company’s winter weather plan is operating correctly. Snow and ice should be clear of pedestrian…
DG Digest: Federal civil penalty fees adjusted for inflation last week
Happy New Year, everyone! I’m sure that I speak for the entire Labelmaster family when I say that we hope you had a great holiday season and that you will have a safe, prosperous, and productive 2024! As is often the case during the end-of-year holiday period, the regulatory world also slowed down a little.…
DG Digest: US Postal Service proposal to impose new packaging requirements for hazmat consigned by mail.
Holiday reminder – if you’re shipping to a destination with the expectation of a pre-December 25th arrival, time is just about up! If you are consigning dangerous goods, the holiday doesn’t excuse us from ensuring compliance, so let’s all bear down through the rush and ship things in accordance with what we know is correct!…
DG Digest: United States Postal Service proposing to require the hazardous materials icon in lieu of the service icon.
Holiday time bustle continues! Many workplaces will see a little short-handedness amongst the staff as employees take seasonal vacation periods, so let’s all make sure that we help the folks that are working to do so safely, avoiding “short-cuts” that may appear to save time or make up for someone not being present, but in…
4 ways non-essential hazmat training can boost your career.
Regulations mandate that hazmat employees—i.e., people who directly handle or supervise shipments of Dangerous Goods—be trained to perform their specific functions. To comply with these regulations, you may already participate in training sessions, or be taking one or more online hazmat training courses. That training is mandatory. But what about hazmat training that isn’t mandatory?…
DG Digest: OSHA Advisory Committee to meet Dec 12th & U.S. EPA proposes including concept of ‘environmental justice’ into regulatory analysis
Welcome back all! Hopefully, everyone had a chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy the just-concluded Thanksgiving holiday period. This edition of the DG Digest is a “two-weeker,” given that there was no publication last Monday, the 19th. As one may therefore guess, any number of things popped up over the last fourteen days, so let’s…
Why lithium battery shippers must examine insurance costs and coverage
Shipping lithium batteries or battery-powered devices is an ongoing challenge. From the everyday batteries that power laptops and games to the larger batteries that power eBikes to the massive ones that power electric vehicles, complying with evolving regulations takes expertise and dedication. But regulatory compliance isn’t the only challenge. What about insurance? In recent years,…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces virtual “Research & Technology Forum” that explores new ways of dealing with hazardous materials.
This edition of the DG Digest appears just as the nation wraps up the Veteran’s Day holiday. The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in saluting those who have served. Thank you! Here’s the regulatory news from the week just concluded: PHMSA The agency’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) will hold a public Research, Development…
DG Digest: U.S. EPA seeks to address health risks of trichloroethylene (TCE)
The start of November is here; a kind of “last chance” for many regions of the country to get their winter plan in place before the snow and cold weather arrive in earnest. If your workplace is one that is affected by such weather, it’s past time to have your snowplow contractor signed up and…
A Simple Guide to 2023/24 Dangerous Goods Regulatory Books
The simple guide to 2023/24 Dangerous Goods regulatory books Don’t look now, but it’s almost winter, and it will be 2024 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…
DG Digest: EPA is working on adjustments within the universal waste regulations to improve safety standards and reduce fires from mismanaged end-of-life lithium batteries.
If you’re like many readers of this blog, you’re seeing this on Tuesday morning, after it appeared in your email overnight. If that’s you—Happy Halloween! Let’s all remember that the kids are going to be out in force for their treats in the evening, and they may not pay as much attention as they should…
DG Digest: Transport Canada publishes a new final rule with miscellaneous amendments to the TDGR.
Today’s blog finds us rolling into the last week or so of October, and we all know what that means—Halloween is coming. There’s going to be a lot of parties and events and a lot of excited kids out and about over the next week or so, so let’s all make an extra effort at…
Top 12 questions (and answers) about Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers
“Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” That’s one question we hear a lot about our new Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers. They don’t look or work like the metal can exemption shippers Dangerous Goods shippers have used for decades. But once people see all the advantages Capsuloc kits offer, they want to know as many…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 16th, 2023
Week of October 16th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance As companies look to expand – whether domestically or internationally – there is a wide range of factors to consider, including the supply chain challenges. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE Have questions about dangerous goods…
DG Digest: Final rule from the FMCSA governing how emergency exemptions published.
Mid-month October finds us in the middle of Fire Prevention Month. Fire departments across the nation are having open houses and offering information about how to help keep your home and workplace safer from fire and other dangers. Take the opportunity to tune up your fire prevention plans! It was a rather quiet regulatory week;…
8 Dangerous Goods myths and misconceptions—busted!
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…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces a meeting of the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee.
It’s the second week of October and begins with a federal holiday. Hopefully, if you have the day off, you can enjoy the break and see some fall colors! Here’s the latest news: PHMSA The agency published a renewal of a set of ICR’s that address security plan requirements and hazmat route planning. Other information…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 2nd, 2023
Week of October 2nd, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The push toward greater sustainability, automation and speed within the supply chain has led to further innovation in packaging. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE Have questions about dangerous goods transport? Call the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline…
DG Digest: FRA publishes new safety advisory to help protect workers
Uh-oh. It’s October already! How did that happen? Now’s the time to start making sure that your winter safety plans are ready to go and that your contracts with snow removal vendors are finalized. You don’t want your workplace to be the last in line for this vital service. Employee slips and falls rise dramatically…
DG Digest: PHMSA’s extends comment period for HM-265A
The last official week of the summer season was typical from a regulatory standpoint; a little of this, a little of that. Hopefully, everyone is ready for the fall and its attendant change in the weather and the nature of many activities. Be sure that whether you are at work or play, that you factor…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 18th, 2023
Week of September 18th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance It is only September, but supply chain professionals are already thinking about 2024 and beyond. Monitoring emerging trends and challenges is important in order to proactively plan for the future. Let’s examine some recent industry news on how to navigate supply…
DG Digest: STB’s Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee to meet October 18th
Amazingly enough, it’s already mid-September. Hopefully everyone is getting back into the groove of having the kids back in school and having most employees back from summer vacations. This coming week is the last of the calendrical summer, and before too long the fall will be here. If your workplace is in a location that…
How extra testing earned Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers a Special Permit
New ideas in Dangerous Goods packaging don’t come along very often. And when they do, they get a lot of extra regulatory scrutiny. Take secondary hazmat packaging kits. For decades, the only option available was the metal can, and all the packaging regulations providing exceptions were written with metal cans in mind. So, when we…
DG Digest: OSHA Requests Extension on ICR Contained in HAZWOPER Program
This edition of the DG Digest publishes on September 11th—today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terror attacks. The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in remembering those we lost on that awful day, and the first responders and military personnel that have given so much since then. It’s a short digest this week, as…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 5th, 2023
Week of September 5th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Disruptions are just a fact of life in the supply chain, and they continue to emerge – whether due to droughts, hurricanes, supplier issues or outdated systems. That’s why it’s important for organizations to be prepared for when they arise. Let’s…
DG Digest: PHMSA and FRA reverse 2020 rule, suspend authorization of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport in rail tank cars.
Labor Day has come and gone. Hopefully, you had a great summer, topped out by a relaxing long holiday! Today (if you’re reading this on Tuesday) is the traditional day when most schoolchildren return to classes. That means busier roads, crosswalks, and lots of excited little ones out much earlier than has been the case…
DG Digest: The FRA Extends Comment Period That Would Impose New Certification Requirements.
We head into the final week of August with high heat persisting in many areas of the country. Although the autumn might be just around the corner, now’s no time to let up on our precautions against heat related illness and injury. Let’s remain vigilant and help protect our co-workers until things start to cool…
DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes Incident Reporting FAQ’s
The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in mourning the terrible loss of life and devastation associated with the wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Many avenues are available to offer assistance to those affected, and we share the hope that the people of Maui will soon get the help they need. It’s also…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 21st, 2023
Week of August 21st, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Market growth across different industries presents tremendous opportunities for businesses. But it can also bring a wide range of supply chain challenges that must be addressed to capitalize on that potential. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR…
Quiz: How well do you know secondary hazmat container regulations?
Secondary hazmat containment used to mean one thing: paint cans. But now, shippers are switching to new Capsuloc™—the screw-top secondary container that’s lighter weight, more durable and easier to use than paint cans, now with a special permit (DOT-SP 21488) and accepted as exemption by UPS and FedEx. How well do you know the regulations…
DG Digest: IATA Publishes List of “Significant Changes” for the Upcoming 65th Edition of the DGR.
Here we are in the middle of August already. Where does summer fly off to? Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to enjoy it a little—if not, you have a couple of weeks left, so get on out there. It’s a “two-weeker” in the blog this time! After a super-quiet first week, the second week was…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 7th, 2023
Week of August 7th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The supply chain has evolved from being a cost center to being a differentiator that can be a real competitive advantage for businesses. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods software…
Game-inspired hazmat training rocks. What about training for the rest of your life?
Since we released our new General Awareness Hazmat Training course earlier in 2023, Dangerous Goods pros have been saying it’s the coolest, most accessible online hazmat training course ever. It’s not only a lot more engaging than most DG training, it’s actually fun. This game-inspired training module takes you inside a virtual warehouse, where you…
DG Digest: Federal agencies publish semi-annual agendas
After a busy regulatory period for the last blog entry, this last week featured a much quieter time. Meanwhile summer goes on, so keep watching those heat safety risks. And don’t forget to have a little fun—August is the last month of summer, so be sure to try and enjoy it! Here’s the latest news:…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 17th, 2023
Week of July 17th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance With 2023 halfway over, businesses are paying close attention to what is to come in the second half of the year and into 2024. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods…
Full Dangerous Goods automation: How to integrate your ERP, WMS or TMS with DGIS
If your weekly grocery shopping includes both meats and produce, life’s a lot easier if you can buy them at the same store. If your exercise regimen includes both weight work and swimming, life’s a lot easier if your health club includes a weight room and a pool. And if your operation ships both non-regulated…
Transport Canada publishes a large miscellaneous update to its TDG regulations
Here we are sweltering in late July! Much of the nation is in the grip of record-breaking heat, so all of us need to be sure to pay extra attention to heat safety—let’s keep our fellow employees protected from heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both potentially dangerous conditions that can severely injure or even be…
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks feedback on modernization of its Hazardous Materials Regulations
Now that the Independence Day holiday has come and gone, here we are in the full swing of summer. Make sure that your workplace has a solid plan in place to mitigate the effects of the inevitable hot weather, and to safely account for the absence of employees that are away on vacation—it’s “prime time”…
How our new packaging partnership makes large format lithium battery transport easier.
With electric vehicles now making up 7% of new car sales in the U.S.—and registrations 63% higher than one year ago—it’s clear that EV technology is changing how Americans drive. It’s also changing how car companies and dealers handle breakdowns, accidents and other routine automotive incidents. After more than a century of working with petroleum-powered…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes rule which requires rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials.
PHMSA published the proposed rule discussed here last week which will require rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials in train consists to first responders when potentially dangerous incidents occur. A BNSF train rolls through a curve near Rock Island, Washington in July of 2017. Image © 7/2017 by Nikki Burgess;…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 26th, 2023
Week of June 26th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Artificial intelligence (AI) is already revolutionizing the supply chain but has the potential to be even more disruptive in the future as technology advances and adoption increases. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more…
DG Digest: PHMSA to formally announce HM-263, a sharp change in the way rail carriers track and report hazmat in transport.
Heading towards the Independence Day holiday, the regulatory news is mostly about reporting requirements. The recent large train derailment in Ohio has definitely energized Congress and regulators to take a harder look at what kind of information should be available to emergency response personnel from subject carriers. Here’s the latest: PHMSA In an early notice…
Quiz: Are you a large format lithium battery transport expert? Part 2
Compliantly shipping lithium batteries large enough for electric vehicles, data centers or solar power storage is challenging. Lots of hazmat pros were stumped by our recent quiz, so we decided to give you all another shot! Don’t know all the answers? Remember, you can always work with the experts at Labelmaster. Make sure your shipments…
PHMSA terminates Explosive (EX) classification approvals for holders who can’t prove successful tests.
Here’s the latest news from what was a quiet regulatory week: PHMSA The agency announced that it has terminated the Explosive (EX) classification approvals listed in the linked-to notice. PHMSA published a Federal Register Notice on May 4, 2021, notifying the approval holders listed that PHMSA intended to terminate their approvals for failure to provide…
DG Digest: FMCSA Renewing ICR titled, ‘‘Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.’’
Even as many workplaces begin to see open docks and other work areas for the summer, wildfire smoke has become a prevalent concern. Be sure that if your site is located in an area that is affected by such smoke, that you have a safety plan in place to minimize the impacts and protect your…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 12th, 2023
Week of June 12th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Automation is not new, but it continues to become a greater area of focus across all supply chain functions in nearly every industry. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods software…
New DOT Special Permit makes Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers even more essential.
Last year, we introduced Capsuloc™—an innovative new secondary hazmat container that was superior to paint can-style secondary containers in almost every way. Now, there’s no “almost” about it. On May 10, 2023, PHMSA issued Special Permit DOT-SP 21488, which gives Capsuloc relief from regulatory burdens similar to the relief received by other Special Permit packaging…
The EPA has published new guidance related to the characterization of waste related to lithium batteries.
It’s the first week of June and here comes summer! If you haven’t yet implemented your workplace’s summer heat illness and injury prevention program, now’s the time! Heat stress and heat stroke are among the most common workplace illnesses and the summertime is the biggest period of the year where they tend to occur. Help…
PHMSA publishes its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q
PHMSA As just noted above, in a major action the agency has published its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q and will align current US 49 CFR HMR regulations more closely with the current UN structure found in the ICA/IATA, IMDG, and UNMR texts. Highlights include: • Incorporation by Reference: PHMSA proposes to…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 29th, 2023
Week of May 29th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Labor shortages continue to be a challenge across the supply chain. This has businesses looking to further automate their processes and optimize their existing workforce. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous…
Prescription for Dangerous Goods anxiety? Use DGIS hazmat software regularly!
Ever wish you could take a pill that would instantly help you feel better about your hazmat shipping operation—and life in general? Unfortunately, there’s no such pill. But there is DGIS. Our DGIS solution—a.k.a. Dangerous Goods Information System—can relieve the acute anxiety you may feel about your company’s hazmat processes. If you’re depressed about outdated…
PHMSA announces ICR renewal for IBC’s and Portable Tanks
Rolling into the third week of May finds the regulatory world relatively quiet. If you haven’t had a chance yet to get your summer heat safety program set up, maybe use the break to finish it! Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency published a request for comment on its plan to request renewal of six…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 15th, 2023
Week of May 15th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance In today’s challenging supply chain environment, some companies are finding it difficult to navigate disruptions while others are more equipped to navigate those challenges. Likewise, some are increasing investment in key areas of their operations and lacking in others. Let’s examine…
Transport Canada Publishes a Revised Tank Car Construction Standard
Mid-May is here and with it both some serious stormy weather as well as some rapidly warming temperatures in various parts of the country. If your workplace hasn’t yet shifted into its “summer safety season” programs, now’s the time to make it happen. Storm damage and heat related illnesses can both be trouble for your…
DOT’s drug and alcohol testing program, now allowing the use of oral sampling
The end of the first week of May finished up with some changes coming to DOT required drug and alcohol testing programs that can affect many carriers, and an important safety advisory in reference to rail transport. So, let’s have a look at the news: DOT The agency published a rule that amends the DOT’s…
DG Digest: On this May Day, NACOSH announces public meeting for May 31st, and PHMSA announces rule making for HM-219D
This edition of the DG Digest publishes on May Day. The first day of May is traditionally a day that celebrates workers and their rights. One big right? The right to work safely. As HSE and DG professionals, one of our primary reasons for being is to help ensure that safety is always top of…
DG Digest: USPS updates Pub 52, will start collecting electronic data to ensure safe DG handling on July 9, 2023
The weekend just concluded featured the annual Earth Day commemoration. While opinions may differ on the direction of environmental policies, every company can usually benefit from ideas that help to reduce waste streams and that allow for the more effective use of consumable resources like energy and water. Both these things can help to reduce…
Top 5 reasons to attend the 2023 Dangerous Goods Symposium
The Dangerous Goods Symposium is going to be live and in person once again – Wednesday and Thursday, September 6-7 in Chicago. The DG Symposium is where the hazmat transport industry and the business community connect. This year’s event will feature two full days of domestic and international regulatory updates, a master class panel…
Ready to start calling hazmat training “Dangerous Goods gaming”?
General awareness training is the foundation of all Dangerous Goods training. Virtually everyone whose job involves handling, managing or transporting hazardous materials in any way is required to take general awareness training—and renew their training every three years. Since everyone has to take it, shouldn’t it appeal to the most people? That was the idea…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 17th, 2023
Week of April 17th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Businesses are placing greater focus on supply chain transparency to support environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts and create better end-to-end operations. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about dangerous goods software or…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces meeting regarding input to the upcoming 2024 ERG.
Mid-April finds PHMSA a little busy; the agency published a pair of notices that will help shape future policy, with one pertaining to the popular and widely used ERG. Meanwhile, spring weather continues across the country with its attendant potential for severe conditions, so be sure your workplace is ready to cope. Safety first and…
DG Digest: PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Committee to meet April 20th; OSHA submitted an ICR for its Highly Hazardous Chemical Safety Program
The first full week of April featured several significant religious holidays that many people observe, and as such, things were just a little quieter on the regulatory news scene. Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency announced a meeting of the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee for April 20th. This group is a stakeholder committee…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes a safety advisory related to the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Here we are in April! Spring Break time is here, so let’s all be sure that we have planned how we will help employees stay safe during a period when many workplaces may be shorthanded or have employees daydreaming of the beach (don’t we all!). Hopefully, warmer weather will soon give all of us a…
Adding expertise to your ERP transforms your dangerous goods shipping operation
Most manufacturing businesses have adopted software to integrate core production and finance to accelerate performance and maintain regulatory compliance. Over the past few decades, this has resulted in significant overall efficiency gains and better regulatory compliance. However, there are still areas for improvement. For example, manufacturers can often run simple shipping requests through their core…
DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes a Renewal of Its ICR Package Covering Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting Requirements.
Welcome to the first full week of spring! As we put winter behind us, let’s all start turning our focus to the safety concerns of warmer weather – things like severe storm readiness planning, keeping gutters and drains clear for heavy rain run-off, and planning for the coming summer and safeguarding our fellow employees from…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 20, 2023
Week of March 20th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Organizations looking to boost supply chain performance are investing in their warehousing systems and processes in order to automate and streamline operations. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE Learn how you can simplify dangerous goods shipping.…
DG Digest: New Information Collection Request (ICR) Proposal From OSHA Regarding the Lead Standard
This coming week will bring the official start of spring—no doubt we’re all happy about that! Meanwhile, we need to start preparing our facilities for the spring storm season in much of the country. Be sure that your emergency shelter plans and areas are ready and your employees are trained to respond to warnings correctly.…
Quiz: Are you a large format lithium battery transport expert?
Compliantly shipping lithium batteries is complex. When those batteries are large enough for electric vehicles, data centers or solar power storage, compliant transport becomes even more challenging. Think you’ve mastered the regulations for transporting large format lithium batteries? This quiz is for you! It’s not easy, so if you don’t know all the answers, remember…
DG Digest: FRA calls special meeting of its Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) to examine the train derailment in Ohio
Welcome to Daylight Savings Time! It’s “that” week again, so as HSE professionals, it’s our job to be alert for employees that may be suffering from the disjointed reaction to the change “Spring Forward” in particular can engender for some people. Let’s make sure that no one suffers and injury because they feel a little…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 6, 2023
Week of March 6th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Technology innovation can be found across the supply chain. From new and emerging technologies to enhanced capabilities within traditional systems, these innovations are already making an impact. Let’s examine some recent developments. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS OUR PERSPECTIVE To learn more about…
DG DIGEST: PHMSA Proposes Amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR)
March is here, and the beginning of meteorological spring. So, let’s all hope for a warm-up, and soon! Meanwhile, keep hanging in there. Winter safety time isn’t over just yet. Help keep your employees warm, dry, and on secure footing around your workplace. Here’s the latest regulatory news from a significant week of activity: PHMSA…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes public meeting schedule in advance of ICAO and UNSCOE TDG sessions; and U.S. agencies publish semi-annual regulatory agendas.
The end of February is here, but the grind of winter weather hangs on for a while et. Much of the country is battling snow and cold. Grit your teeth and hang in there—warmer days are coming. Meanwhile, be sure that your workplace keeps on top of snow removal, ice treatments, and keeping employees that…
DG Digest: FMCSA opens comment period for proposed changes to Safety Measurement System (SMS)
It’s President’s Day in the US today—a federal holiday. But the DG world never sleeps! There’s always something moving someplace, so it’s always a good time to stay up to date on the latest changes. That’s the mission of our blog, so read ahead to see what the latest news is: PHMSA It’s time for…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 20th, 2023
Week of February 20th, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Attention to safe and responsible supply chain practices has increased in recent years. Whether shipping lithium batteries, chemicals or some other dangerous good, it’s important to understand the risk and take steps to ensure compliance. Let’s examine some recent developments in…
DG Digest: Transport Canada has published an advisory regarding the upcoming phase-out deadlines for Class 111 tank cars used in flammable liquids service.
A short but “sweet” DG digest this week, with only one item—but this week also includes St. Valentine’s Day: a chance for a little “sweet” in one’s own life, perhaps. Be sure and do something fun to enjoy the day! Here’s our rather abbreviated digest: Transport Canada The ministry published an advisory spelling out the…
DG Digest: FAA Publishes Penalty Fee Correction Notice
The groundhog saw his shadow (at least, the “official” one in Punxsutawney, PA did) and so unsurprisingly— it’s still going to be winter for awhile! Let’s all stay focused on helping our fellow employees stay safe by keeping those walkways and drains clear of snow and ice, paying special attention to those working outdoors, and…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 6, 2023
Week of February 6, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The global electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, bringing with it supply chain challenges, especially when it comes to shipping the large format lithium batteries that power EVs. Let’s examine some recent developments in the EV battery market. SUPPLY CHAIN…
DG Digest: PHMSA Corrects Final Rule From December Federal Register Entries
January wrapped up with a pair of fairly quiet weeks on the regulatory front—maybe it’s just too cold! It was a good month to tab those multiple new regulatory texts we all procured at the beginning of the year. Staying organized and knowing how to easily find the regulatory snippets you use and rely on…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 23rd, 2023
Week of January 23rd, 2023 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Data has become one of the most important assets in the supply chain. An organization’s ability to access, analyze and use this information will be key in determining its success moving forward. Let’s examine some recent ways the industry is leveraging…
Looking Back to Move Forward: Leading Dangerous Goods Insight from Last Year
2022 was another challenging year for the global Dangerous Goods (DG) supply chain. As the leading solution provider to the DG industry, Labelmaster is committed to keeping the market informed on the latest trends, challenges, regulations and best practices to help organizations maintain safe and compliant supply chains. Here are some of the top insights…
Hazmat Quizmaster: An easy 2-minute quiz for Dangerous Goods newbies.
STAY SAFE, STAY SANE AND STAY COMPLIANT! Whether you’re shipping hazmat for the first time or it’s been part of your operation for years, Labelmaster has the resources you need to keep your operation efficient and compliant. Questions? Get the answers you need from the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. Make sure your shipments are safe and…
DG Digest: New IATA handling guides for lithium batteries and more civil penalty fee updates
Brrrr! It’s cold out! As we continue to slog through the worst part of winter, be sure that your employees are ready to cope with it safely in your workplace. That applies especially to any worker who is required to labor out-of-doors. It’s easy to have frostbite and other cold weather dangers suddenly become a…
Federal agencies publish list of civil penalty fee amount adjustments
Welcome back, everyone, and Happy New Year! Here comes 2023! Hopefully, everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Now it’s time to bear down, grit our teeth, and slog through the rest of the winter. It’s also time for another year of the DG Digest, and we’ll do our best to keep bringing you…
Important lithium battery updates: PHMSA final rules on air transport, and CPSC recommendations for devices and eBikes
Here we are in the midst of the winter holiday season! Hopefully, everyone is having a chance to throttle back a little and enjoy time with friends and family. Remember—don’t overdo it! Be safe while driving and doing all the once-a-year things that often happen at this time of the year. No one needs any…
DG Digest: IATA publishes an addendum to the 64th Edition of the DGR and IMO publishes significant changes to its new Amendment.
December continues its slow slide into the official beginning of winter, with the solstice on the 21st—just a couple of days away. Stay warm and safe! The holidays are here, and no one wants to be ill or injured for them. Take the right steps to protect yourself and your fellow employees! It was a…
2022’s most important hazmat regulations—and a 2023 preview
Was 2022 a return to normal in the Dangerous Goods galaxy? By one measure, the answer is yes. For the first time since the global pandemic started in March 2020, a full year passed without any significant hazmat regulations relating to COVID-19. The world’s regulatory bodies have largely returned to their standard order of business—setting…
DG Digest: DOT enforcement relaxation cited to address conflicts with coming harmonization
Here we are in mid-December, with the holiday rush in full swing. Lots of our fellow employees are thinking about anything but work—it’s natural, this time of year. As HSE professionals, let’s make sure we help our workers stay focused on safety as they work their way through these next few weeks. The best holiday…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of December 12, 2022
Week of December 12th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance As 2022 comes to an end, businesses in all industries are looking to the trends and challenges that will shape the new year – especially when it comes to the supply chain. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS…
DG Digest: New rules will have a significant impact on shippers using the USPS to ship dangerous goods.
Here we go right into December—the beginning of meteorological (vice astronomical) winter. Brrrrr! Cold and snow are now impacting much of the nation, so let’s all make sure we help our employees cope safely, with prompt snow and ice removal at our workplaces, careful attention to employees that have to work outside, and keeping an…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of November 28th, 2022
Week of November 28th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Uncertainty around the supply chain remains a stressor for companies in almost every industry. From retail and pharma to commercial printers and tech companies, everyone is looking for ways to keep the supply chain moving. Let’s examine some recent industry news.…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces special permits, EPA finalizing list of NAICS codes under the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
The Thanksgiving holiday is now over, and the major retail season is in place for around the next month. Many large retailers and their distribution hubs are busy handling and shipping a variety of dangerous goods—there seems to be more lithium batteries than ever out there — so if you’re in the middle of the…
DG Digest: The FRA announced a meeting of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee regarding safety issues including the transport of hazardous materials
It’s Thanksgiving week. The Labelmaster family takes this time to wish you and your families a safe, happy, and enriching holiday. Watch out for all that holiday shopping traffic! Here’s this week’s rather limited regulatory news: EPA The agency published a supplemental proposed rulemaking that modifies and clarifies its initial NPRM regarding the implementation of…
Competency-based hazmat training: What you need to know for 2023
On January 1, 2023, new IATA provisions will come into effect that mandate a competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) approach for Dangerous Goods training. What is CBTA, and what does it mean for your operation? That’s why we’re here! Competency-based training has been a hot topic of conversation for several years in the hazmat shipping…
DG Digest: FRA issues ICR on positive train control reporting requirements
Mid-November is here—where is the autumn going? Most areas of the country are seeing the last of their fall leaves drop, so now’s your chance to ensure your workplace clears them out and keeps those storm sewers and entranceways nice and clean to avoid flooding or tripping hazards. Snow is on the horizon, too, so…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of November 14th, 2022
Week of November 14th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Keeping goods moving safely, compliantly and on time — even when disruptions arise and demand surges — is imperative for businesses. That’s why so many are placing greater emphasis on supply chain resilience. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN…
DG Digest: PHMSA International Division holding meetings this week to discuss ICAO papers in advance of UN Subcommittee of Experts later this month
November is here and with it comes the acceleration of the approaching holiday season. Many employees will be starting to think about holiday gatherings, shopping, time away from work, and other things that may take their minds off safety. As HSE professionals, let’s all make sure we help our fellow employees enjoy a safe and…
DG Digest: PHMSA released web app for ease of research on rulemaking and to make interpretations more user-friendly
This blog publishes on Halloween, 2022; so, Happy Halloween! Hopefully your day is filled with treats rather than tricks. Remember that the kids will be out in force today, and not necessarily paying much attention to traffic and other safety issues, so it’s up to us adults to take extra care to protect them and…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 31st, 2022
Week of October 31st, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The holidays are just around the corner and shippers, carriers and consumers all have their eyes on the supply chain and getting goods to shoppers. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS This Black Friday Promises the Gift of…
DG Digest: IATA published revised acceptance checklists for the 64th DGR effective in 2023
We move into the last week of October, and snow is beginning to fall in many northern areas of the country. Be sure your snow removal vendor is all set up—don’t get caught out! Most vendors will only take on a certain number of clients, so be sure you retain yours before their docket fills…
6 ways Capsuloc™ secondary hazmat containers can make your operation more efficient
No one really likes paint can-style secondary hazmat containers, but we’ve been putting up with them (and all their related headaches) for decades. Why? Because there hasn’t been a better alternative. Now there is. New Capsuloc™ finally gives Dangerous Goods shippers an alternative to the paint can, and lots of shippers are already kicking the…
DG Digest: CVSA and Federal Inspectors cite 1,700 truckers for hazmat violations in June ‘blitz’.
Mid-October already—where does the time go? Hopefully, everyone is enjoying a pleasant fall season. As the cold weather begins, be sure your workplace is ready. Many businesses use this “not quite there yet” time to do things like make sure their snow removal vendors are contracted for the season, so if this impacts your operation,…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 17th, 2022
Week of October 17th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a lot of talk about the “new normal.” As we head into 2023, there is greater discussion about what the global supply chain will look like moving forward. Let’s examine some recent…
DG Digest: How will the 49 CFR change as a result of PHMSA’s HM-215P (International harmonization)?
The second week of October is here, and the autumn leaves are falling. We should all remain cognizant of the need to keep our workplaces’ outdoor walkways and stairwells clear of leaves that could contribute to tripping hazards, as well as the need to keep storm sewers open to drain off rainfall. Safety first! Here’s…
DG Digest: FMCSA makes changes to agency rules, also corrects errors and removes obsolete references from its regulations.
Welcome to October! Not only is the fall season now rolling in; October is National Fire Prevention Month. Does your workplace have good suppression equipment, a solid emergency plan, and a well-trained employee team ready to deal with fire and fire prevention? This is the month to especially focus on and address these issues. As…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 3rd, 2022
Week of October 3rd, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Ongoing global supply chain disruptions continue to put pressure on organizations, and executives have been vocal regarding the key challenges they face and their top priorities moving forward. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Dangerous Goods Transport Survey…
Why Capsuloc™ hazmat containers have shippers kicking the can. Literally.
Paint can-style secondary hazmat containers have been a necessary evil for decades. They’re essential for shipping certain Dangerous Goods, but no one really likes them. Given a better alternative, most DG operations would kick the paint can shipper like a bad habit. With the introduction of Capsuloc™ — now with special permit DOT-SP 21488 and…
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks fee increases to fund grant programs; FMCSA wants to require interstate CMVs to be equipped with electronic IDs.
The third week of September brought in the formal beginning of Autumn and was another busy one in the regulatory world. The FMCSA released a consequential new proposal for CMV identification technology, and PHMSA proposed a new fee revision. Let’s dig right in to all the action below: PHMSA The agency published an ANPRM to…
DG Digest: IATA publishes list of changes to the 64th Edition of the DGR
Welcome to mid-September already! This coming week will see the official end of the summer, so as the fall season rolls in, be sure that your company safety plans account for it. For example, storm drains that rid your property of water can often become blocked by falling leaves, and lead to water damage of…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 19th, 2022
Week of September 19th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Capacity constraints, potential labor strikes, port congestion and other supply chain disruptions have companies looking at alternative ways to ship their goods. But shifting transportation modes can be especially challenging for companies shipping hazmat. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY…
DG Digest: With federal mediation efforts underway, Class 1 Norfolk Southern (and other operators) face looming strike
Here we go, rolling into the last full official week of summer. Despite the advance of the calendar, however, much of the country, especially in the West, is still coping with high temperatures and fire danger. Be sure your workplace continues to monitor conditions and has the needed protocols in place to keep employees working…
DG Digest: OSHA invites stakeholder and public comments on their Process Safety Management (PSM) standard later this month
The Labor Day holiday is over and with it the comes the traditional end of summer. Hopefully, everyone had a safe and happy season. The coming week sees children return to school across much of the country, so be on the lookout for lots of extra traffic and excited kids that may not always be paying…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 5th, 2022
Week of September 5th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Even as organizations struggle to address current supply chain challenges, many are looking ahead at the technologies and strategies they need to implement now to be successful in the future. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Future-Proof Your…
DG Digest: PHMSA announced regulatory enforcement discretion for medical waste generated from patients with monkeypox.
The last full week of August is over! Wow. Here comes the new school year—most schools will be back in session in the next week or two. Watch out for those school buses that will soon be on the move in the morning and late afternoon, and the many places where increased foot and car traffic…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes 49 CFR correction, FMCSA releases draft Medical Examiner’s Handbook, and OSHA extends comment period on lead exposures
Summer continues its ebb as we enter the last full week of August. Many colleges and universities are going back into session or have students reporting back this week, so if you live in a “college town,” be sure you keep an eye open for the increased activity and traffic that comes with it. Here’s…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 22nd, 2022
Week of August 22nd, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) activity continues to be hot throughout retail, manufacturing, logistics and other industries. This can have a tremendous impact on how businesses manage their supply chains. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS ABB Set to…
Stop cursing your paint can hazmat containers. Meet Capsuloc™.
Ask any Dangerous Goods pro about “paint can” secondary containers, and the response may require a parental warning for language. You’ll hear about lids that won’t stay closed, or that can’t be pried open. You’ll hear about leaks in transit, smashed fingers from errant mallets, and ring locks that won’t come off without a power…
DG Digest: As the EPA charts its progress towards ‘100% electronic manifests,’ the advisory board will meet virtually this fall
Mid-August already—where does summer go? Nevertheless, we still have several weeks of hot weather and staffing absences to deal with as vacations continue and some of summer’s hottest weather still is on the calendar. Let’s keep those safety plans rolling and make sure our employees finish the summer in proper form. It wasn’t a super busy…
Why every auto-related business needs a large format lithium battery plan
Electric vehicles are here to stay. This is not breaking news. In 2021, global sales of electric cars doubled to a new record of 6.6 million—close to 10 percent of all new cars sold. In the U.S., electric vehicle registrations shot up 60 percent in the first quarter of 2022, and EVs now make up…
DG Digest: Federal Agencies publish semi-annual regulatory agendas
The end of the first week of August is here, and in some parts of the country, summer heat is at its maximum. It’s also the heart of hurricane season in the Southeast and Gulf states. Be sure that your severe weather plans account for the safety issues that your site requires. Meanwhile, here’s the…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 8th, 2022
Week of August 8th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance As supply chains, along with the goods being shipped, continue to evolve, companies are placing even greater focus on using more innovative packaging solutions. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Three Ways Smart Packaging is Solving Pharma’s Distribution Challenges:…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases HM-215P final rule, with changes to lithium battery exceptions — and much more.
Welcome to August! Summer continues to roll on by. Every year, it seems to go a bit faster, too! August is often the month that sees businesses have the largest number of employees off on vacation. Because of this, short staffing can sometimes be an issue and the employees that are still busy working can…
Raise your confidence—and your performance—with Dangerous Goods automation
Every year, our Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook surveys supply chain professionals from around the world and shares the results. It’s an important resource for any organization in the hazmat supply chain. Why do supply chain leaders care so much about confidence? Two reasons: (As evidence of #2, one result from the 2022 DG Confidence…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 25th, 2022
Week of July 25th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Ongoing issues have made the supply chain top of mind for organizations in nearly every industry as CEOs and other senior leaders now recognize the impact it has on their overall business. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS…
Why online hazmat training is essential for new supply chain workers
We all know that training is mandated by law for any workers involved in the transport of Dangerous Goods. But what about supply chain workers who aren’t involved in hazmat transport? Should they undergo training as well? For many forward-thinking supply chain organizations, the answer is yes. Now, you might well ask, “Why would we…
DG Digest: PHMSA published ICR for the transport of radioactive materials in commerce
Here we are at mid-July already! Where does the summer go? Hopefully, your workplace is operating its warm weather safety plan effectively. Remember that heat stress and heat stroke can represent serious safety concerns at this time of year, especially for workers outdoors or in spaces that lack air conditioning. Make sure your workplace addresses…
Large format lithium battery transport partners: Who you need and what to look for
Dangerous Goods is a team sport. Whether you handle one hazmat shipment a week or several thousand a day, you likely rely on partners to help you stay compliant with optimal efficiency. Your need for partners is especially acute when your business involves large format lithium batteries—and the bigger the battery, the more help you’ll…
DG Digest: PHMSA requests comments on potential move to electronic shipping papers
Welcome back to the DG Digest after a brief summer hiatus! The last few weeks have been eventful, with perhaps the biggest news item being one of general interest: the Supreme Court decision in the matter of “West Virginia vs. USEPA.” This ruling, the subject of which was a Clean Air Act regulation not specifically…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 11th, 2022
Week of July 11th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The future of the supply chain is intertwined with the evolution of technology. And technology innovations and continue to emerge across all areas of the supply chain. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS How Technology has Evolved in…
How Dangerous Goods automation helps deliver record revenue and profits
No matter what business you’re in, there are two basic ways to grow profits—reducing costs and increasing revenues. In Dangerous Goods transport, a lot of the focus tends to be on reducing costs. And that’s a good place to focus, since there are often inefficiencies and hidden costs which can be identified and smoothed over.…
9 improvements you can expect from smarter online hazmat training
Ever ask a sulky teenager to execute a household chore? They’ll do the bare minimum, but it’s easy to see that it could have been done better. There’s a similar dynamic with Dangerous Goods training. The law says employees have to be trained if an organization ships or handles hazardous materials, and many companies do…
DG Digest: OSHA published ICR on hygiene plans for laboratories
Today’s federal holiday is the commemoration of Juneteenth: the recognition of June 19th, 1865, when emancipation of the enslaved African American people of Texas was announced by the Union Army, finally formally ending the institution of chattel slavery in the rejoined United States following the end of the Civil War. The Labelmaster family joins with…
How to solve large format lithium battery transport problems before they become problems
Organizations that are successful over the long term generally have one thing in common—they solve problems before they become problems. We see this in the supply chain every day. Disruptions happen. Companies that are prepared to handle those disruptions come out ahead of those that aren’t prepared—and the difference usually comes down to planning for…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 13th, 2022
Week of June 13th, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Achieving greater supply chain visibility has been a focus across the industry for years. In the face of growing disruptions, material shortages, shipping costs and customer demands, businesses must take an even closer look into the specific areas of the supply…
DG Digest: PHMSA extends comment period on converting historic letters of interpretation into FAQs on its website
Mid-June rolls in with Hurricane season beginning to ramp up. This can produce severe storms in affected regions, and flooding rains even in areas far from the storm zone itself. Be sure your business has severe weather plans to prepare the response needed! Meanwhile, it was a usual week in the regulatory world, with several…
Shipping lithium battery devices or other hazmat via USPS? These new rules are effective immediately.
The U.S. Postal Service has announced new final rules, effective immediately, that significantly impact the shipping of lithium batteries and other hazardous materials by mail. USPS cites “a consistent and alarming rise in incidents involving mailed packages of both lithium batteries and other hazmat, including … unlabeled or improperly labeled air-ineligible hazmat being accepted for…
DG Digest: USPS final rule revises ‘Pub 52,’ requiring mailers separate ‘hazmat’ into identifiable containers
June kicks off the summer vacation season for many people. As HSE professionals it’s important for us to help our fellow employees deal with the “short staffing” that sometimes occurs as vacation times impact workplace operations. Let’s make sure that we remind our colleagues not to cut corners on safety and normal precautions to keep…
DG Digest: OSHA to hold virtual public meetings in advance of International meetings this summer.
The Labelmaster Family joins all Americans in taking time to recall and honor those who have fallen in our nation’s defense, and to hope for a time when violence and bloodshed, regardless of where it takes place, will no longer be considered an acceptable means of human interaction. Here’s the latest regulatory news: PHMSA The…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 30, 2022
Week of May 30, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Inflation, surging diesel prices, high shipping costs and more are impacting businesses around the world, including those shipping dangerous goods. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Five Strategies for Dealing with Rising Supply Chain Costs: In an inflationary…
Make supply chain disruptions less disruptive—with Dangerous Goods automation
The global supply chain has seen enough disruptions over the last couple of years to last a lifetime. A worldwide pandemic. Labor shortages. Material shortages. Unstoppable eCommerce demand. A container ship wedged across the Suez Canal for weeks. A war in Europe. Massive fuel cost increases. And don’t look now, but labor conflicts, severe weather…
DG Digest: PHMSA published handling and treatment guidance for end-of-life lithium batteries
Here we are with the end of May beginning to approach already. The Memorial Day holiday will mark the unofficial beginning of the summer for many people. Be sure that you plan your holiday safely and be sure as well to take time to remember the reason the holiday exists, and the sacrifices so many…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 16, 2022
Week of May 16, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Navigating compounding supply chain risks has become the new normal. Even so, there are several new potential disruptors on the horizon with the potential to shake up operations for many companies. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Port…
DG Digest: PHMSA published final rule that its employees can refer relevant potential criminal acts to DOT Inspector General
Here we are in Mid-May already! Where does the time go? Hopefully everyone is enjoying the warming spring weather and looking forward to the coming summer season. As HSE professionals, remember that it’s our job to have a solid heat plan in effect to help protect our fellow employees from any heat-related illnesses. It will…
Key regulations to know for shipping large format lithium batteries
Compliantly shipping lithium-ion batteries of any size means navigating a complex set of regulations. And, generally speaking, the bigger the batteries get, the more challenging they are to transport compliantly. When you’re moving large format lithium-ion batteries—like the ones for electric vehicles, solar power storage, data centers and other heavy-duty purposes—you have to consider a…
DG Digest: Supply Chain Shortages Force PHMSA to Relax Some Rules for Sealing Tapes
Sunday was Mother’s Day, and the Labelmaster joins to wish all those hard-working Moms out there the credit they deserve. We hope you had a great and special day and a wonderful year coming up! Here’s the latest news from the last two weeks: PHMSA The agency published a notice of discretionary enforcement allowing inspectors to take…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 2, 2022
Week of May 2, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Demand for pharmaceutical goods continues to increase, even as businesses are forced to navigate ongoing supply chain challenges. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Automation to Drive the Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry Forward: With the growing challenges facing the…
DG Digest: PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee to meet on May 4th, 2022
The third week of the month was a bit of a “post-holiday” period, apparently, at least among the regulatory bodies. It was pretty quiet. As such, it’s a small digest this week, although PHMSA announced a meeting dealing with lithium batteries—always a popular subject of interest. Here’s the latest news. PHMSA The agency announced a…
4 Secrets of Compliant Dangerous Goods Shippers
By Katy Schroedl, ProShip, Inc.: With hazardous material shipments accounting for roughly 20% of the total volume of all shipments, Dangerous Goods (DG) shippers recognize the value in these shipments. While DG shipments can seem to be a complex and restrictive subset of the supply chain, they are a necessary challenge for so many brands…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 18, 2022
Week of April 18, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance Supply chain issues continue to be a major challenge for businesses across most industries. Along with those problems comes an increased focus on solutions – from automation and collaboration to inventory management and transportation mode shifts. Let’s examine some recent industry…
DG Digest: FMCSA seeks to add ‘Safe Driver Apprentice Program’ training for CDL drivers
It’s mid-April already! Hopefully, everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the holiday weekend. Let’s hope that April showers are busy bring spring flowers to us in May. Meanwhile, it was a pretty quiet regulatory week. Here’s the latest news: PHMSA The agency published its latest set of special permit actions, covering what one might call the “usual…
DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes Q2 Newsletter; OSHA to Invite Stakeholders to Meet on Heat-related Worker Hazards
The first full week of April found a number of interesting regulatory items. We’ll cover them all below. Meanwhile, April tends to be the lead-in month for much of the stormy springtime weather that many sections of our country experience. Be sure that your workplace severe weather plans are up to date and employees know…
Don’t design your large format lithium battery crate until you answer these 5 questions
If you’re transporting large format lithium batteries—like the ones for electric vehicles, solar power storage, data centers and other heavy-duty purposes—you’re going to need a large packaging solution. But if you start focusing on your packaging solution without doing the necessary intelligence work first, you could set yourself back weeks, or even months. Not to…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 4, 2022
Week of April 4, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance It’s both an exciting and challenging time in the automotive industry as businesses are driving innovation forward while dealing with parts shortages and supply chain challenges. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Auto Suppliers Call for Dialogue…
DG Digest: OSHA proposal would require some employers electronically submit injury and illness information to the agency
Regulatorily speaking, March goes out a bit like the proverbial lamb, with a quiet week featuring little in the way of fresh news. Sometimes it’s good to have a break! Meanwhile, April is here with improving Spring weather, so hopefully our readers will all have a chance to enjoy a little more time outside with warming days…
DG Digest: PHMSA to publish FAQs for Hazardous Materials Regulations on their website
Heading into the end of the month of March, we find that PHMSA is releasing an interesting new feature for DG shippers—a “Frequently Asked Questions” list related to some of its Letters of Interpretation or LOI. Looks like the agency is trying to avoid some of the inevitable repetition that occurs with stakeholders ending up asking…
DG Digest: U.S. DOT adjusts civil penalties for inflation
Welcome to Spring! I’m sure that we’re all glad to start putting the winter behind us. As our workplaces begin to transition to warmer weather, as HS&E professionals let’s be sure that any damage to things like outdoor break or lunch areas gets taken care of before our fellow employees start to use them more heavily…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 21, 2022
Week of March 21, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance In recent years, many conversations and headlines around the supply chain have also included the term “shortage.” From drivers to shipping containers and truck drivers to cardboard boxes and labels, supply chain-related shortages continue to impact businesses across a wide range…
For Women’s History Month: Women in the supply chain—past, present and future
Would today’s supply chain run more smoothly if we had more women in charge? The last couple of years may have been the most stressful period the modern supply chain has ever seen. Between the ongoing pandemic, the explosion of eCommerce, maritime misadventures, raw material shortages, labor shortages and other disruptions, it’s never been more…
DG Digest: FMCSA amends rule that CMV drivers submit list of traffic convictions annually to their employers
The coming week features St. Patrick’s Day! For most people it’s a chance for fun and a commemoration of our nation’s rich Irish cultural heritage. Be sure to celebrate safely! Here’s last week’s regulatory news: PHMSA The agency issued a new set of Special Permit actions last week. See the actions here: 2022-04944.pdf (govinfo.gov) 2022-04947.pdf (govinfo.gov) 2022-04948.pdf (govinfo.gov)…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 7, 2022
Week of March 7, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The push towards greater automation and transparency within the supply chain has brought with it an increased focus on integration – between systems and partners. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Supply Chain Integration Issues Costing 38% of…
DG Digest: FMCSA to increase commercial vehicle interior windshield size to accommodate on-board safety technology
The end of the first week in March finds the world watching a full-scale war in the heart of Europe. Exactly what impact that will have long-term beyond the obvious human tragedy remains to be seen, but short term, it is going to add many challenges to an already pandemic stressed supply chain. Labelmaster will do…
DG Digest: U.S. EPA proposes revised emission limits for facilities involved with lead acid battery manufacturing
It’s the last day of February—March rolls in tomorrow with its promise of the coming Spring. I’m sure all of us are ready after another winter battling the pandemic and now with the very troubled international situation taking shape in Europe. Let us all hope for better times soon. It was a quiet regulatory week; here’s…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 21, 2022
Week of February 21, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The supply chain has become increasingly data-driven. Whether it’s improving visibility, identifying trends, driving automation or another business benefit, data is at the core of today’s supply chain strategies and technologies. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Operationalizing…
DG Digest: IAEA Considering Radioactive Materials Transport Revisions, Could Impact 49 CFR and Other Modal Regulations
Winter rolls on. It’s the third week of February and if you’re like most folks, you’re pretty probably tired of the damp, dark, and cold. Hang in there! This too shall pass. Meanwhile, bear down and keep focusing on those winter safety plans. It’s easy for many employees to start paying less attention to things…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes latest round of Special Permits
It’s Valentine’s Day! Hopefully there is something sweet in store for you and your family for it. Enjoy it! In a regulatory sense, mid-February finds things relatively “business-as-usual,” with some of the typical items promulgated over the last week. Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency published it’s latest raft of Special Permit actions, with some of the typical…
DG Digest: U.S Coast Guard issues final rule amending how waterfront facilities handle LNG
The first week in February is here, and the groundhog saw his shadow—six more weeks of winter! Be sure your winter safety plan stays active until we all get through to the new Spring. There was a variety of news from various federal agencies last week, including an ICR dealing with COVID issues from the…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 7, 2022
Week of February 7, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance The global electric vehicle (EV) market presents tremendous growth opportunities for automakers, distributors and the companies that supply and serve the auto industry. It also brings a supply chain challenges for everyone involved. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN…
DG Digest: Federal Agencies Release Semi-annual Agendas
Here we are at the end of January already! One month gone from the New Year. Hopefully, your resolutions are still sticking. Meanwhile, time flies, but at least we’re all a month closer to the new Spring. Let’s all get through the rest of the winter safely—keep your cold weather plan up to date and…
DG Digest: FMCSA Proposal Would Reduce State Fees by 27% in 2022
It’s the middle of what is typically the worst month of winter weather over much of the country—let’s stay focused on keeping our employees safe, especially if your facility has work outside. Falls and frostbite are nothing to sniff at, and as HS&E professionals we need to stay on top of things. Keep walkways clear of…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 24, 2022
Week of January 24, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance 2021 may be in the rearview but supply chain challenges most organizations faced last year remain. With industry experts predicting continued disruption throughout 2022, organizations will continue to adopt new processes and solutions to navigate short-term challenges and position themselves for…
How to ship lithium batteries by air—in 2022 and beyond
Since 2016, when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) implemented drastically more restrictive global regulations on shipping lithium batteries by air, shippers have adapted and done their best to comply. Meanwhile, regulatory agencies continue to update regulation in an effort to keep lithium battery transport by air as safe as possible. The most recent change…
DG Digest: US Agencies Adjust Civil Penalties for 2022
As the week begins the nation honors the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Labelmaster family joins all Americans in recognizing the gigantic importance of Dr. King’s work and his lasting legacy. Mid-January finds the nation finished with the winter holidays and struggling with the inevitable resulting surge in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 10, 2022
Week of January 10, 2022 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance 2022 is in full swing, and so is the post-holiday return season. The influx of return shipments adds yet another supply chain challenge as businesses are trying to navigate the effects of winter storms, labor shortages, rising COVID cases and more.…
ShipERP customers get real-time UN code validation with DGIS integration
How many different materials go into a modern, high-end sports car? A few hundred? Maybe a thousand? Actually, it’s orders of magnitude larger than that—10,000, 20,000 or more. Let’s say ten percent of those are classified as Dangerous Goods. There’s probably a lot of overlap, but you’re probably talking about several hundred different UN numbers,…
DG Digest: U.S. DOT Releases Draft (FY 2022-2026) Strategic Framework
Happy New Year! The week just ended finds the nation entering 2022 and finishing up another busy holiday season—now it’s time to bear down, get through the rest of the winter, and head into what we certainly all hope will be a springtime marked by progress and improvement. If your resolutions include keeping up more…
DG Digest: A busy final week of 2021 with updates from TSA, FMCSA, EPA and more
Here we are at the very last DG Digest of the year. It’s been another year of difficult days for everyone as we all continue to cope with the pandemic, which now seems set to take us into a third year of dealing with it. Especially for those of us working as part of the…
Our top 10 posts of 2021: Dangerous Goods sanity for a crazy year
2021 started with the world in the grip of a pandemic and ended … with the world in the grip of a pandemic. In between, the global supply chain struggled with labor shortages, shipwrecks, material shortages, capacity crunches, chronic disruptions and the most stressful holiday shipping season in memory. In our corner of the Dangerous…
Could Santa pass a PHMSA inspection? A Dangerous Goods Christmas story.
TIME: December 24, 2021, 21:33 AKST PLACE: PHMSA Inspection Station, Utqiagvik, Alaska The following conversation was recorded between a junior PHMSA inspector (INSP) and an unidentified aircraft operator (OPER). INSP: Good evening! OPER: Good evening! INSP: I don’t see any identification on the exterior of your, um, aircraft here. What’s your port of origin?…
DG Digest: Transport Canada proposes new competency-based training requirement.
This blog appears at the beginning of the week prior to the Christmas holiday. The Labelmaster family would like to take this time to wish all our clients, friends, and readers a very happy holiday and a safe and peaceful gathering time with those you treasure. Here’s the latest regulatory news, including major news about…
Dangerous Goods 2021: Regulatory highlights and their implications for 2022
If 2020 was the year of the pandemic, the global supply chain may remember 2021 as the year of the capacity crunch. With the pandemic still impacting workforces and travel, a perfect storm of other factors combined with surging demand to disrupt supply chains as never before. The Dangerous Goods regulatory world, while naturally affected…
DG Digest: Transport Canada aligns new infectious substances and medical waste standards with latest UN Model Regulations
Here it is mid-December already. As the nation prepares to celebrate the end-of-year winter holidays, be sure that you help employees stay on task with safety. It’s easy to become distracted with everything going on. It was a fairly quiet week in the regulatory world; here’s the latest: Transport Canada The ministry published a new…
New opportunities for hazmat shippers in India: Pando integrates DGIS
If you work in the Dangerous Goods supply chain, you’ve probably heard something like this before: “The challenge our customer faced was one where the packing and transportation systems were siloed. The systems didn’t really talk to any of their upstream or downstream systems. They managed Dangerous Goods on Excel sheets. The problem in front…
DG Digest: FMCSA requests to revise and renew CDL and Test Standards to ensure accuracy and completeness
The nation enters the month of December facing a new challenge from the ongoing pandemic as the “Omicron” variant has now entered the lexicon. Let’s all keep doing what we need to do to keep ourselves, our families, and our fellow employees as safe as possible as we all hope to see an eventual end…
How Your Systems Can Simplify Hazmat and Multi-Carrier Shipping Compliance to Fuel Growth
Businesses today are in a constant struggle to grow revenues, control costs, and (for shippers of dangerous goods) reduce business risks. Thanks to advancing technology, managing your hazmat shipping processes is easier than ever, but it takes proactive planning and thought to apply the right technology to the right points in your enterprise, especially in…
Infographic: Who needs Dangerous Goods training? And what kind?
Updated with three new training modules! Who needs Dangerous Goods training? That’s easy. Training is mandated by law for anyone involved in the transport of Dangerous Goods. There are very few exceptions to the rule. But who needs what kind of training? That’s a more complicated question. Employers are responsible for making sure every employee…
DG Digest: Federal Highway Administration to Invest in EV Charging Accessibility, Per Recent Infrastructure Law
Hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! That holiday takes us into the busy end of year season with multiple other holidays and lots of people shopping, entertaining, and traveling. Be sure your employees have a chance to stay on task while in the workplace. As HSE professionals, let’s help our company keep work time safety time. No…
This Thanksgiving, DG also stands for “Deepest Gratitude.”
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…
DG Digest: OSHA emergency temporary standard ratified to protect unvaccinated workers of large employers
It was a quiet week in the regulatory world last week, perhaps a fitting entry into the holiday period. The Labelmaster family would like to take this opportunity to wish each of our readers a healthy, safe, and happy Thanksgiving. There were some technical legal developments in the ongoing actions surrounding the federal OSHA directed…
DG Digest: Court upholds suspension of OSHA Covid-19 vaccine mandate for many U.S. workplaces
Here we are in mid-November. Winter is rolling in quickly, so make sure your workplace has its cold weather plan ready. Snow removal needs are already here for some northern and high elevation locations, with much of the rest of the country sure to follow soon. Don’t get caught unprepared! The week saw relatively limited…
Top 7 ways to handle the stress of hazmat supply chain disruptions
This is not the easiest time to be a supply chain pro. A perfect storm of complications—an ongoing pandemic, the explosion of eCommerce, maritime misadventures, raw material shortages, labor shortages, and actual storms—are causing global disruptions like we haven’t seen in decades. Just in time for peak holiday shipping season. If you work in the…
DG Digest: PHMSA to suspend LNG transport in rail tank cars; OSHA to require proof of vaccination (or weekly testing) in January
The first full week of November is wrapping up with the release of OSHA’s long awaited Interim Final Rule in reference to COVID vaccine and/or testing mandates in the workplace. The measure is not without controversy. However, here we’ll only cover the rule’s contents. People doubtless have their own opinions in reference to the rule.…
Webinar: Can technology help you survive today’s supply chain?
In times like these, your shipping operation really can’t afford any stubborn inefficiencies. The capacity of the global supply chain is strained to its limits. Unpredictable disruptions happen every day. It’s never been harder to find qualified workers. And peak holiday shipping season is here, which makes all of the above even scarier. If your…
DG Digest: OSHA to initiate rules to protect workers from extreme heat
Welcome to November! Hopefully, everyone had an enjoyable Halloween weekend. November tends to be the month where most of the country starts to experience cold weather, so make sure your workplace plans for such operations are ready to go. It’s only going to get colder for several months, so be prepared! It was a fairly…
What will lithium battery shippers do without Section II Packing Instructions?
On January 1, 2022, the new, 63rd Edition IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations will take effect. One of the most significant changes from previous regulations is that Packing Instructions PI 965 and PI 968 have been revised to remove Section II. Readers of this blog will now likely have one of the following reactions: What the…
DG Digest: USPS sets strict limits on mailing of nicotine delivery systems
Here we are approaching the end of October! You know what that means—Halloween will be at the end of the coming week. Let’s review some basic safety for the holiday: If your workplace allows costuming, be sure any such outfits don’t compromise safe work practices, especially loose clothing that could get caught in powered machinery and most…
Common hazmat shipping errors to avoid this holiday season
Two things most shippers are (or should be) keenly aware of right now: The global supply chain is enduring disruptions like we haven’t seen in decades. The holidays are coming. Yes, we’re heading into peak shipping season—which strains supply chains even in the best of years—at a time when inventories are already thin, shortages strike…
DG Digest: Transport Canada issues proposal to revise standards for aerosol production and disposal
Mid-October is here, and with it, lovely fall colors are on display across the nation. Although the country continues to battle the pandemic and deal with sundry other issues, it’s always important to remember that nature continues its yearly journey through the seasons, and we should all remember to stop and take time to appreciate the…
Which sites have the best hazmat information for eCommerce shippers?
During the recent Dangerous Goods Symposium, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Hazardous Materials Program Specialist Vinny Desiderio described the ongoing challenges USPS has with eCommerce shippers who don’t know (or act as if they don’t know) they’re shipping hazmat. Some of them—purveyors of ammunition, smoke grenades and chemicals such as calcium carbide—almost certainly know better. The…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases Lithium Battery Handling Guide in attempt to simplify disparate regulations across the U.S.
Did your workplace mark Fire Prevention Week? The annual reminder to take fire danger seriously is based on the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred 150 years this year from October 8th through the 10th in 1871 and destroyed a 3.3 square mile area—at that time, a span encompassing most of the city. The tragedy…
What if Dangerous Goods regulatory publications were made into movies?
Why aren’t people more excited about the release of new Dangerous Goods regulatory publications? Sure, they’re long and intimidating, but that didn’t stop the Game of Thrones series from becoming best-sellers. And no, they’re not very entertaining, but they are completely essential for their role in keeping hazmat shipments safe and compliant. Every organization in…
DG Digest: OHSA corrects minor mistakes to the Incorporation by Reference for Maritime
The year keeps speeding by; here we are entering October. The pandemic keeps speeding through as well, unfortunately. Let’s all keep doing our part to limit its impact on the health of ourselves, our families, and our co-workers. We can end this thing if we work together. The week past was very quiet in a…
2021 DG Symposium recap, part 3: Final thoughts and a secret message
The 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium delivered everything a supply chain professional could want. 18 virtual sessions over two weeks addressed every significant Dangerous Goods regulatory update—domestic and international, via land, sea and air—along with deeper dives on training, e-commerce, anti-terrorism measures, C-suite priorities and, naturally, lithium battery transport. (Want to go back and watch a…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces virtual Research, Development & Technology Forum – starting October 12, 2021
Amazingly enough, we’ve just finished the last weekend in September. Where does the time go? Cooler fall weather is beginning to settle in across the country; now is a great time to start thinking about your company’s cold weather plans for things like snow clearance, keeping walkways safe, and making sure heaters, boilers, and furnaces…
2021 DG Symposium recap, part 2: 8 things we learned about lithium battery transport
To the surprise of absolutely no one, lithium batteries became a primary focus of the 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium as it moved into its second week. Two key sessions focused exclusively on battery-related regulations and issues, and the topic came up in others as well. Here are the recordings of those two sessions, which you…
DG Digest: PHMSA reinstates pandemic relief of test & recertification of pressure cylinders; IMO releases chart outlining current and future IMDG Code amendments
Hopefully, everyone has had a chance to enjoy all or part of the ongoing Labelmaster Dangerous Goods Symposium. As usual, the employees creating and coordinating the event are doing their amazing best. Many thanks to them, to all of the speakers, and to everyone participating. (You can register for this week’s sessions here.) Hopefully, next year’s event can…
2021 DG Symposium recap, part 1: From the C-suite to the loading dock
The 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium got off to a rousing start this week, with four sessions covering everything from nuts-and-bolts regulatory updates to high-level ideas from leading executives on prioritizing DG compliance in a rapidly evolving supply chain. Here’s a quick recap of those sessions, with links to watch the recordings on demand. Further down,…
DG Digest: Biden directs OSHA to develop vaccine mandate – or weekly testing – for employees in organizations with more than 100 employees
Here we are rolling around into mid-September already. The fall season brings its own joys and challenges, one of which is the earlier coming of nightfall—before too long, many workers may be heading home at day’s end in darkness. Make sure your workplace has a plan in place to keep doorways, parking lots, and walkways free of…
2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium preview: Every can’t-miss session
The 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium starts next week—and you don’t even have to book a trip to Chicago! This year’s event is all-virtual, hosted on the DG Exchange. (You’ll need a free DG Exchange membership to participate.) And that means three big benefits for you: It’s free. You can join as many (or as few)…
DG Digest: PHMSA’s Lithium Battery Air Safety Committee to Meet September 22
The Labelmaster Family hopes everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and was able to enjoy a safe and healthy end-of-summer holiday. As we all return back to work and our children head back to school, let’s keep working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic. And remember—in many places, many more children will be out and about…
Dangerous Goods at the speed of eCommerce: 2021 DG Symposium speaker Cathy Roberson
Cathy Roberson believes more of her clients should ask her about Dangerous Goods. And she’s right. Roberson runs Logistics Trends & Insights, LLC—a research and consulting company devoted to the global logistics market. Her research helps shippers cut through the noise to understand and address their most critical issues, yet many don’t even know how…
DG Digest: IATA releases significant changes for the upcoming 63rd Edition of the DGR
It’s the end of August. Hopefully, everyone had a safe, healthy, and productive summer. Next weekend will be the long end-of-summer holiday; make sure your plans include ways to enjoy it while still being mindful of the pandemic and its attendant risks. Now is no time to let our guards down. The week was not super busy in…
How to grow your hazmat shipping operation during a labor shortage
The labor shortage that began during the pandemic shows few signs of easing. Some experts say hiring challenges will persist for years, and the global supply chain will continue to struggle to find and retain workers. For supply chain organizations, worker shortages hurt two ways—delays from your shorthanded supply chain partners, and the difficulty of…
DG Digest: OSHA issues ICR on respiratory protection and fitness requirements that go with them
As the nation enters the latter half of August, hot weather and the pandemic continue to dominate concerns about safety. Be sure that at your workplace, your hot weather plan remains in place, and that as a safety professional, you demonstrate good hot weather habits—plenty of liquid, rest after work in hot areas, and watching…
2021 DG Symposium panelist Dave Crist on risk, reputation and leadership
Do your company’s leaders understand what you do? Are they aware of the unique challenges of the Dangerous Goods supply chain, and do they take compliance seriously enough to do more than is minimally required? Our recent Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook revealed that: 31% of DG pros feel their company’s senior leaders are not…
DG Digest: PHMSA HM-215P Proposes Greater Harmonization; Comment Period Open until 10/12/21
It’s the middle of August, and hot weather and storms have been a dominant feature of the landscape so far this month in man places across America. Be sure you have your plan for safe work practices in place to help handle what Mother Nature is sending our way. The week’s biggest regulatory news by…
DG Digest: DHS amends regulations relating to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
The first week of August concludes with the COVID-19 virus rapidly surging again, account the prevalence of the new Delta variant. As HSE professionals let’s make sure we do all we can to help our fellow employees be as safe as they can be as the country continues to deal with this challenge. At the same time,…
Infographic: Results of the 2021 Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook
The global supply chain has never endured a period like the last 18 months. How have Dangerous Goods organizations fared—and what are the most important factors for their future success? You’ll find the answers to those questions and many more in the below infographic. It contains the results of the 6th annual Global Dangerous Goods…
DG Digest: Agencies Publish Semi-annual Regulatory Agendas
The nation enters August with a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Delta variant of the virus. As DG/HSE professionals committed to safe practices, let’s all work together to remain aware of any changed policies in our local jurisdictions—they may differ significantly from place to place—and be ready to help our employers with understanding and…
Will PHMSA receive Dangerous Goods research ideas that actually make DG simpler?
PHMSA wants you to get creative. As Labelmaster Senior Regulatory Specialist Nikki Burgess, CDGP, DGSA, reported in the July 12 DG Digest, “The agency has posted a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit concepts and innovative ideas for leading-edge research and techniques to advance the safe transportation of hazardous materials.” The request specifically covered these…
DG Digest: CPSC asks for public comment on how hazard warnings are communicated to consumers
The “Summer Lull” continues apace in the regulatory world, with minimal action last week. Meanwhile, this new week will see a “heat dome” settle over much of the country. Be sure to help your employees cope; it’s important to remember that many employees look to HSE and other regulatory personnel for guidance and support in…
2021 DG Symposium speaker Richard Masters: What DG pros can learn from maritime incidents
Two maritime incidents in 2021 highlight a fact well-known to most Dangerous Goods professionals—that one relatively small lapse can trigger large scale negative consequences. At the 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium, maritime Dangerous Goods veteran Richard Masters will discuss the Ever Given Suez Canal crash and the catastrophic fire aboard the X-Press Pearl. Other than these…
DG Digest: DOT publishes ‘Chart 17’ for guidance on labels, marks, and placards enforcement
Mid-July is here already, and in keeping with the idea that summer is supposed to be a little lazy, not too much went on this week in terms of the regs. So let’s all enjoy the break together! Here’s the latest: U.S. DOT The department has published ‘Chart 17.’ The DOT Chart series provides guidance…
Webinar: Is missing information hurting your hazmat shipping operation?
Say you have a building you want to repaint. You contact a distributor who says they can ship you all the paint you need by air, so you’ll have it tomorrow morning. You hire a crew and wait for the paint. And wait. And wait. And when you call to find out where the heck…
DG Digest: PHMSA Seeks Leading-edge, Innovative Ideas to Advance the Safe Transport of DG
Amazingly, it’s already almost mid-July! Crazy, how quickly the summer goes. Hopefully everyone is having a chance to enjoy a little down time; be sure that if and when you do, you remain attentive to safety, especially for big chores around the house and most especially, driving. Summer trips often mean unfamiliar territory, extra road…
2021 DG Symposium speaker Laura Denk: How trainers can be more convincing
One of the most popular presentations at the 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium might be delivered by someone with no Dangerous Goods experience. Meet Laura Denk, of eChoice Innovations—a Chicago-based firm that solves business challenges with innovative marketing programs. “When you’re talking to someone about what training they or their organization might need, you want them…
This July 4th, what is the most patriotic hazardous material?
Here’s a question that should have American Dangerous Goods pros debating hotly as July 4th approaches: What is the most patriotic hazardous material? Okay, it’s actually kind of a silly question, but it’s worth considering—especially since so many Dangerous Goods are normal, household items that American shippers often don’t realize are regulated hazmat. So, let’s…
DG Digest: FMCSA to extend compliance date for some provisions of Medical Examiner’s Certification for three years.
Believe it or not, it’s already the lead up week to the Independence Day holiday. We all know what that means—increased use of both legal and, unfortunately, some illegal fireworks by the general public. Be sure to remind your employees that they should behave extra safely around fireworks—after all, as DG professionals, we know what these explosive…
Time to get excited about the 2021 Dangerous Goods Symposium!
Does DG stand for “Delirious Groupies”? Based on this new video, the answer is “yes.” Okay, maybe you’ve never been that excited about an upcoming Dangerous Good Symposium. But there are lots of good reasons to be excited about the 16th annual Symposium this year. What do you most want to see on this year’s…
DG Digest: FMCSA Posts Revisions to NHMRR and OSHA Issues Emergency Protections for Health Workers from Exposure to COVID-19
It’s now meteorological summer; time to dust off those hot weather work plans and make sure our fellow employees are acting safely under them—plenty of water, breaks when needed, limit time in closed and stuffy spaces, and most importantly, everyone looks out for each other. Let’s have a safe working summer! The regulatory news for…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 21st, 2021
Week of June 21st, 2021 Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance As businesses around the world continue to navigate compounding supply chain challenges, some are beginning to take even more drastic steps. Let’s examine some recent industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Brands Turn to Air Cargo as Inventory Delays Continue: Inventory delays…
The new father’s guide to Dangerous Goods shipping
“Shipping Dangerous Goods as a rookie is a lot like your first year of fatherhood,” said the old DG trainer. “There are a lot more details to worry about, and if you screw up, you’re gonna have a mess on your hands.” With apologies to all the mothers out there—whose parental sacrifices and Dangerous Goods…
DG Digest: Biden DOE Releases National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries 2021- 2030
Believe it or not it’s nearly mid-June already. The long hours of daylight and warm weather this time of year often lead workplaces to tackle those outdoor projects that may have been lagging all winter. If your site plans such work, be sure to do your homework first—secure necessary permits, plan your safety, especially fall protection…
How Labelmaster e-procurement can lower your costs of hazmat compliance
How you buy your Dangerous Goods transport resources isn’t as important as how you use them. But it can still make a difference in your operation’s compliance. For example: e-procurement. Many Labelmaster customers already take advantage of our support for e-procurement platforms including Ariba, Coupa, Hubwoo (Perfect Commerce), Smart by GEP, SAP S/4 and many…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces corrections for civil penalties introduced last month
Meteorological summer has begun; the warm season always brings extra attention to heat related illness in the workplace. Make sure your facility has a plan to help keep employees cool and safe this summer. The first week of June kicks off with busy action at PHMSA; Special Permit and other agency actions are in the news. There were…
In Dangerous Goods, every month is National Safety Month.
Since June is National Safety Month, we thought it would be a good time to reiterate the most important reason Dangerous Goods professionals do what we do. Yes, it’s safety. Why do we help shippers understand and comply with Dangerous Goods regulations? Safety. Why do we consistently point out areas where shippers may need extra…
DG Digest: Transport Canada to impose new fees for dangerous goods packaging producers
Transport Canada In action impacting Canadian producers of dangerous goods packaging, the Ministry is holding a webinar on the proposed regulations that introduce new fees for companies required to be registered under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate’s Means of Containment Facilities Registration Program. The Ministry is proposing to introduce new fees and service…
How a Dangerous Goods pro enjoys the Indy 500
The 135,000 race fans attending this Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 will be the largest crowd at a U.S. sporting event since the COVID-19 pandemic started last March. Even though that’s just 40% of the capacity of the mammoth Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’ll be exciting to see so many people in the same place celebrating the same…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes multi-part ICR on requesting changes, exemptions in relation to the HMR
We head into May’s final full week with a holiday weekend set to happen at its end. Make sure that your holiday plans include not only the usual safe practices related to travel and work around the house, but that we all remain mindful of the ongoing issues surrounding the pandemic. Let’s all keep doing what…
Lithium batteries will be everywhere this summer! Are we worried?
Most normal people greet spring and summer with unbridled joy—and this year, with public life re-opening after a year of pandemic precautions, people are excited for warmer weather like never before. Dangerous Goods pros feel that enthusiasm, too. But we’re also prone to see summer approaching and say Holy shipment! There are lithium batteries freaking…
DG Digest: TSA published requirements to become a Certified Cargo Screening site
Mid-May already! Time does fly. The middle of the month finds us in a quiet period for the regulations, with only minimal activity. Meanwhile, the vaccine programs march on. As an HSE professional, be sure you do your part to help facilitate the efforts to inoculate the employees at your workplace who express interest in getting the vaccination. …
Poll results: How would you rate your Dangerous Goods expertise?
With the pandemic accelerating seismic shifts in the global supply chain, operations that manufacture, handle or ship Dangerous Goods have leaned on their experts like never before. In recent weeks, we at Labelmaster have been examining the topic of DG expertise pretty closely ourselves. We’ve written about finding and training internal subject matter experts, and…
DG Digest: DOT to perform ‘Regulatory Review’ in light of recent Executive Orders
The second week of May is here, and the Spring storm season is in full swing—a annual risk we all need to recall even as we continue to cope with the pandemic. If your facility is located within the broad swath of the country facing possible exposure to severe weather, be sure your emergency plans…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 10th, 2021
Week of May 10th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Automation continues to drive the supply chain forward…and will become an increasingly important focus moving forward. What does this mean for dangerous goods companies? Let’s examine the recent supply chain technology and industry news. SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS Shifting Your Business From Manual…
8 hazmat experts share their Dangerous Goods origin stories
We’ve never yet met anyone who dreamed of being a Dangerous Goods expert when they were a kid. No one enters the work force with a DGSA in their sights. And yet, they’re out there, thousands strong. How did they discover Dangerous Goods, and how did they acquire their expertise? Were they groomed for subject…
DG Digest: Agencies Adjust Civil Penalties; DHS Delays REAL ID Enforcement Until May 2023
Happy May greetings! Hopefully this new month will bring not only the traditional “May Flowers” but also mark a turning point in our nation’s ongoing battle to control the COVID-19 pandemic. At this point the whole country is eligible to be vaccinated, so as HSE professionals, let’s make sure we’re ready to help our fellow…
9 essential Dangerous Goods pointers for returning to your workplace
Like millions of organizations worldwide, we at Labelmaster are starting to return to our offices. While our warehouse and shipping teams have been working onsite since the earliest days of the pandemic—for which we cannot even begin to thank them enough—we office types have been working from home since last March. And let’s be honest.…
DG Digest: Transport Canada updates guidance on COVID-19 related infectious substances, will conduct remote oversight for now
The third week of April found the nation still focused on vaccination efforts. Some companies are hosting vaccination events on their premises, some for employees only, and others for both employees and members of the surrounding community. If your company is holding such an event, make sure that all appropriate safety and security processes are in place…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 26th, 2021
Week of April 26th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As more goods are being purchased online, shippers are being forced to adapt to new challenges, or finally address previously ignored gaps within their supply chains. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous…
Top 10 Dangerous Goods questions our hotline experts answer every day.
Whether you’ve been shipping Dangerous Goods for 10 days or 10 years, there’s never any shame in admitting you don’t know the answer to a question. That’s why we set up the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. Next time you have a question about hazmat transport, you can call 1.800.621.5808—8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time, Monday…
DG Digest: UNECE releases corrective corrigendum to the EU ADR
Moving into the third week of April, the nation is rapidly moving into a phase where vaccines against the COVID virus are becoming much more widely available. At the same time, the virus, in its variant forms, is also surging once more. Let’s all do our part to help limit the further spread of the…
Guest post: 5 ways 3PLs can capitalize on the e-commerce boom
Our guest blogger is Robert Liva, Senior Account Executive at Pierbridge. Have you noticed that there’s a different delivery van pulling up on your block five or six times every day? Those vans are evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated several shipping trends that were already developing pretty quickly. Online spending accounted for 21.3% of…
DG Digest: TSA wants to collect biometric data for drivers, OSHA extends HCS comment period
Spring moves along as we head deeper into April, and it’s a good time to think about company emergency plans. Spring storm season is here, and several recent severe weather outbreaks across the nation remind us that as HS&E professionals, we need to keep our plans up to date to help protect our fellow employees…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 12th, 2021
Week of April 12th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance More than ever businesses are looking to innovative strategies and technology solutions to increase supply chain efficiency and keep operations running smoothly when disruptions arise. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods…
Hazmat shippers need internal SMEs. Who are they, and how do you train them?
If your organization ships Dangerous Goods with any frequency, you probably have one person whom everyone else goes to with hazmat questions. They’re the go-to guy, the resident wise woman, the walking DG shipping manual—in other words, the internal subject matter expert. And they’re indispensable to your operation. Where did your internal hazmat transport SME…
DG Digest: US Regulatory Agencies Update Semi-annual Agendas
Welcome to April! As we pass into the heart of the Spring season, hopefully everyone is ramping up their efforts to help employees stay safe and get vaccinated if they choose to do so. Let’s all keeping working together to end this pandemic and get our nation back on track. The week featured some significant…
A Public Relations Influx Leaves Federal, Other Organizations Looking Savvy
During the last year or so of global pandemic, Dangerous Goods regulatory bodies have gone to extraordinary lengths to accommodate unforeseen challenges while keeping the hazmat supply chain safe. Now that the world’s economies may be inching their way back toward something resembling normal, these agencies are taking unprecedented measures to raise their images within…
DG Digest: Transport Canada updates COVID-19 exemptions and the Chemical Safety Board to meet virtually on April 2nd.
The end of March finds the regulatory world continuing a fairly quiet spell. Meanwhile, with the return of spring weather, the threat of severe weather is appearing on the radar screen for many areas of the country. If your business is in a place impacted by spring storm season, be sure you and your employees have and…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 29th, 2021
Week of March 29th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As organizations continue to adapt to changes in the supply chain due to the global pandemic and plan for the “new normal,” technology will no doubt be a big part of it. This is especially true when it comes to managing dangerous…
The 6th Annual DG Confidence Outlook gives your opinion real power.
How often do you get to influence the direction of your entire industry? If you’re a Dangerous Goods professional, now’s your chance. Participate in the 6th annual DG Confidence Outlook, and your voice can resonate throughout the hazmat supply chain. “By participating in this survey, you get a voice to possibly make changes in the…
DG Digest: UN ADR Wraps Up 15th Meeting of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
Spring arrived Saturday. With it comes not only flowers but the hope of a looming end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workplaces are assisting interested, eligible employees with finding vaccination availability. Eligibility criteria varies across the country on a state-by-state basis; if your workplace has an assistance program, be sure you’re ready to answer questions…
Guest post: Why your product data must be intelligently stored and organized
Our guest blogger is Clint Boaz, Senior Sales Engineer at ProShip, Inc. If you spend a lot of time cooking, you’re a lot more efficient with an organized spice rack. If you like to grow beautiful things in your yard and garden, you can save a lot of time by getting your shed straightened up.…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 15th, 2021
Week of March 15th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation can also bring with additional risk, especially when shipping goods classified as hazardous around the world. That’s why it’s critical for organizations to understand how regulations impact their supply chains, and ensure their teams are properly trained to safely and…
These 4 words can be a key to Dangerous Goods terminology
Your typical Dangerous Goods regulatory manual is more than a thousand pages long and may contain close to one million words. How is it possible that four of them could be so important? According to Labelmaster Senior Manager Jim Shimko, “There are four words that can help you interpret the regulations. And they can work…
DG Digest: PHMSA updates ‘org chart’ and ICAO issues 2nd addendum to the TI
The first week in March found the nation increasing its rate of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. Let’s all keep working together to keep ourselves, our families, and our fellow employees as safe as possible as we push forward to finally end the pandemic. Regulatory activity was relatively minimal during the last week, although PHMSA…
Why smart e-bike retailers consider lithium battery training a growth strategy
E-bikes started as a trend, quickly became a mainstream movement, and are well on their way to becoming a revolution. They’re also a major story for the Dangerous Goods community, because e-bikes are powered by large format lithium batteries. These rechargeable batteries are fully regulated hazmat, since they carry a small but significant risk of…
DG Digest: IATA issues second addendum to the 62nd DGR, PHMSA to hold Lithium Battery Air Safety meeting this week
Today’s digest covers the two weeks just past. The first week of the period was quiet; the second week, quite busy. IATA published a new addendum and PHMSA was quite active. All in all, a busy period. Meanwhile, the vaccination effort against the ongoing pandemic continues. Let’s all keep working and living safe and do our part to battle this…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 1st, 2021
Week of March 1st, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As global commerce continues to evolve, traditional supply chain processes – from shipping documentation and training to capacity pricing and order fulfillment – must also change in order to keep pace. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business…
Next-level hazmat training: An immersive, game-inspired experience
Regulations require training for anyone involved in the transport of Dangerous Goods, but forward-thinking organizations know training can also boost efficiency, reduce errors and improve overall performance. One thing hazmat training has never really been? Fun. But now we’re changing that. Several of our most popular industry-leading online training courses (see below for a complete…
Want to raise your Dangerous Goods game? Study chess!
Like millions of others, we were inspired by The Queen’s Gambit to dig out the chessboard from the back of the closet behind the kids’ games. Unlike millions of others, we’re Dangerous Goods pros, and we sometimes mingle our personal and professional obsessions. So lately we’ve gotten to thinking about intriguing parallels between the world…
DG Digest: OSHA proposes bringing the U.S. inline with U.N.’s 7th revision of GHS.
It’s mid-February, and hopefully everyone had a chance to enjoy the spirit of the Valentine’s Day Holiday. We can all be grateful for loved ones. Keep doing your part to help keep them safe. The week’s biggest news was easily the late in the week publication of a proposed revision to the nation’s Hazard Communication Standard or…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 15th, 2021
Week of February 15th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Although 2021 is already in full swing, organizations still continue to examine the supply chain and logistics trends that will impact their business moving forward. And for many, the focus revolves around the increasingly important role of technology. To help companies keep…
Everything you need to know about MSDS-SDS conversions
Sometimes, we overlook the obvious. I was working with a client just last week and was asked to evaluate a pair of materials for further handling at a new site they are developing. “Will you please send me the Safety Data Sheets? I’ll take a look and run the numbers,” I said. A few minutes…
DG Digest: Buttigieg confirmed to run DOT, new IATA portal offers guidance for vaccine shippers.
The nation enters the second week of February with vaccination efforts against the COVID-19 virus still accelerating. It’s going to be a long slog to the end of this massive project, but we’re on the road. If your workplace is planning on engaging with health authorities in terms of assisting your workforce, now’s the time to get…
Curious about “extreme” hazmat labels and placards? Try them yourself!
When we introduced hazmat labels, placards and marks for extreme conditions back in 2019, we had no idea that 2020 would introduce a whole new meaning to the words “extreme conditions.” No, our new line of labels, placards and marks was not designed to help Dangerous Goods organizations handle a global pandemic. (The hazmat supply…
DG Digest: OSHA updates workplace Covid-19 guidance and the FAA updates its ‘DRS’ database
Today marks the first day of February—already! As veterans of the election transition process may have expected, the last week of the month featured a fairly quiet regulatory scene as one result of the new administration taking over in Washington, DC. It’s common after a change in administrations for things to get a little slow…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 1st, 2021
Week of February 1st, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As companies continue to adapt to the changing supply chain landscape, many are turning to innovative technologies, new processes and other value-added services to help keep pace. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of…
Two upcoming webinars focus on essential Dangerous Goods issues.
In the Dangerous Goods galaxy, you never run out of new subjects to master. That’s why we try to connect you with industry experts whenever possible. Sometimes a topic—such as cold chain packaging—takes on new importance due to global events. And we’ve got an upcoming webinar for that. Sometimes a regulatory agency such as IATA…
DG Digest: See the significant changes to Amendment 40 of the Covid-19-delayed IMDG Code.
The last full week of the month begins with a new administration in place in Washington. On the DG front, PHMSA will continue business as usual for now. What impact (or not) the new political environment may have on our industry community’s specific interests remain to be seen. The Senate is currently working on the…
A late-life career change strengthens the hazmat supply chain.
One thing that didn’t change amidst all the turmoil in 2020: Truck drivers stayed in high demand. The industry has been talking about a shortage of drivers for years, and that situation is still in evidence. While many industries were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, our supply chains remained robust and reliable. In fact,…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases special permit applications, FMCSA gives more leeway for use of corrective eyeware
The nation moves into Inaugural Week with the ongoing struggle against the pandemic still very much front and center. Let’s all be sure we keep our noses to the grindstone and keep doing everything we can to help limit the continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, we’re now in the heart of the winter…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 18th, 2021
Week of January 18th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As organizations look to address gaps within their supply chains over the next year (and beyond), they must recognize how the global landscape is changing and the role technology will play in any new strategies they want to implement. To help companies…
Hazmat Quizmaster: An unforgettable year in Dangerous Goods
STAY SAFE, STAY SANE AND STAY COMPLIANT! Labelmaster has the resources you need to keep your operation efficient and compliant. Questions? Get the answers you need from the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. 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…
DG Digest: US DOT & Sub-agencies Publish Civil Penalties for 2021
Despite our hopes for a smoother start, the second week of the new year found the nation facing not only the ongoing pandemic but also unprecedented political turmoil in Washington, DC. However as Dangerous Goods/EHS Professionals, it’s our job to keep looking forward to better times and to make sure we all do our part…
South American hazmat rules are newly harmonized. Are you trained up?
Those of us in the North American Dangerous Goods supply chain may complain about the complexity of hazmat regulations, but lots of us don’t know how good we have it. After all, we only have to worry about one set of UN Model Regulations. Sure, there may be slight, unharmonized differences between Europe and North…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 4th, 2021
Week of January 4th, 2021 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As we enter 2021, it’s important for organizations to apply the lessons learned in 2020 and invest in the necessary technology, processes and training to create the supply chain of today and tomorrow. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends…
DG Digest: IATA publishes addendum to the 62nd DGR
Happy New Year! Hopefully everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and is ready to dive in to what we all fervently hope will be a much better 2021. Although the pandemic continues to “suck all the air from the room” safety wise, don’t forget that the nation is now in its coldest stretch…
If the year 2020 were Dangerous Goods, how would we classify it?
ICAO defines Dangerous Goods as “articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment.” By that definition, this year certainly qualifies. If you could somehow ship the year 2020 in a box, you’d have to slap a hazmat label on it. But which label? In which hazard…
The last week of 2020 (hooray!) sees important relief from FMCSA and the end of the ORM-D mark
What has been one of the most difficult years in our nation’s modern history finally comes to an end later this week. It is likely none of us will be unhappy to see 2020 in our rearview mirrors. Meanwhile, although the vaccines currently being distributed will eventually help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic,…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of December 21st, 2020
Week of December 21st, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As supply chain challenges continue to mount, companies are looking to technology solutions to help them navigate these uncertain times – whether it’s responding to rapid e-commerce growth or preparing to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine around the world. To help companies keep…
DG Digest: IATA issues guidance for vaccines and other pharmaceuticals
The week finds the nation now in the middle of the very heart of the holiday season, but the usual “regulatory slowdown” we often see at this time of year is definitely not in effect. Several actions of note appear this week. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to rage, although vaccine shipments are now underway and give…
Dangerous Goods in 2020: Remarkable responses to an unprecedented year
January may seem like seven years ago, but 2020 actually began like any other year in the Dangerous Goods galaxy. We all know what’s happened since then. The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, impacted every sector of the global economy. From a hazmat transport perspective, three major trends emerged: Regulatory bodies overseeing Dangerous Goods transport…
DG Digest: PHMSA extends relief for rules on some hand sanitizer, FRA will require 40 states to develop plans that mitigate crossing risks
Mid-Month December saw PHMSA act to bring back part of the hand sanitizer exemptions that had expired on Halloween; details are below, but it’s important to note that the “new” (reinstated) exemption applies only to subject sanitizers manufactured PRIOR to the original expiration date. Many shippers have moved on from there and are simply shipping…
Why smaller lithium battery marks are actually big news.
In the Dangerous Goods galaxy, regulators often say they work to find the ideal balance between supply chain safety and the needs of industry. Finding that balance is an ongoing process. Regulations aren’t carved in stone—they’re updated continually. Every year, regulatory bodies such as the United Nations Sub-Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and…
DG Digest: FMCSA extends emergency compliance relief related to the pandemic
December has come, bringing our nation into the final month of what has been a very difficult year. As the month opens, the pandemic is rapidly growing in extent again. As workplaces and families both try to prepare for the end of year holidays, be sure to do so as safely as possible. Let’s all…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of December 7th, 2020
Week of December 7th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As supply chain challenges continue to mount, companies are looking to technology solutions to help them navigate these uncertain times – whether it’s responding to rapid e-commerce growth or preparing to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine around the world. To help companies keep…
The quick e-commerce guide to compliant Dangerous Goods returns
There has never been a bigger holiday season for e-commerce. And that means this will also be the biggest holiday season ever for e-commerce returns. Here are the startling stats: In Q3 2020, consumers spent nearly $200 billion online with U.S. retailers, up 37.1% from the same quarter in 2019. 1 in 4 e-commerce purchases…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes HM-219C and IMO delays enforcement of Amendment 40-20
The week just finished saw the nation celebrate Thanksgiving and roll into the major stretch of the December holidays. As we all await the end of what has been an enormously trying year, let’s focus on helping employees and the transport chain stay safe and in doing our part to help improve the nation’s continued…
For Thanksgiving 2020: a toast to our safe and essential supply chains
This week, a lot of Americans will sit down to much smaller Thanksgiving dinners than usual. It’s been a challenging year on so many levels. Nevertheless, they will raise their glasses and say a toast to the things they’re grateful for. If Labelmaster were hosting Thanksgiving, here’s how our toast might go: Here’s to the…
DG Digest: OSHA publishes ICR on fire extinguishers and the TSA issues ICR on cargo screening.
The coming week finds the nation preparing to celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday it is fair to say is going to be unlike any other that any of us have ever faced before. Be careful, take every necessary precaution to cope with the pandemic, and from the Labelmaster family to yours, we wish each of you…
How cold, for how long? The role of temperature in hazmat shipping.
The prospect of COVID-19 vaccines being approved in the near future has a lot of people suddenly thinking about cold chain shipping. But keeping vaccine doses extremely cold is only the, er, tip of the iceberg when it comes to temperature-controlled shipping. This time of year, with another brutal northern winter on its way, shippers…
DG Digest: PHMSA proposes new ICR on transporting LNG on the Nation’s railways
The week just ended featured both post-election political turmoil as well as the continuing rapid climb in the infection rate of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, our work as DG professionals goes on. Be sure to stay focused on the things that help keep our transport chain and you, your family, and our fellow workers safe. …
Hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses. What do DG shippers need to know?
Sometime in the next few weeks or months, a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be approved by the FDA (and similar bodies in other nations). That will be very, very good news. The bad news is that those vaccines won’t just magically appear at your nearest pharmacy. In fact, safely transporting hundreds of millions of vaccine…
DG Digest: Transport Canada extends temporary COVID-related certifications through January 2021.
As may have been expected with the nation focused so heavily on the national election last week, regulatory activity was at a minimum. Sadly however, the pandemic took no break, with infections rising sharply across our nation. As HS&E professionals, let’s all do what we can to help protect our workplaces and model effective mitigation measures. Only…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of November 9th, 2020
Week of November 9th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance With the surge of e-commerce orders expected to continue through the holiday season and into 2021, manufacturers, retailers, carriers and logistics providers are all looking to technology to help keep pace. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business…
How to ship large format lithium batteries: 13 things every e-commerce shipper must know.
The e-commerce industry has been one of the few beneficiaries of this year’s COVID-19 pandemic. In the second quarter of 2020, e-commerce sales were up 44.4% over the same quarter in 2019. All signs indicate that this year’s holiday season will see another giant surge in e-commerce deliveries. And some of the fastest-growing, most popular…
DG Digest: PHMSA relief exemptions for hand sanitizer expire & the EPA published the thirty-eighth update of Federal Hazardous Waste Compliance Docket.
The nation moves into November facing both a national election as well as, unfortunately, a resurgent pandemic. Let’s all stay calm, act responsibly, and do what we can to contribute to the safety and well being of our country. No matter how things go this Tuesday, in the end, we’re all in this together. The week just…
The ORM-D hazmat mark is being phased out. Here’s its retirement speech.
Starting January 1, 2021, the ORM-D mark will no longer be accepted for Dangerous Goods shipments. Here’s what the mark had to say on the occasion of its retirement from public service. Hello, hazmat shippers and Dangerous Goods professionals everywhere. I’m here to announce my retirement from public service, as my last day on the…
DG Digest: OSHA proposing GHS ICR that could impact five million private employers
As the nation slides towards Halloween at the end of this coming week, it’s good to remember that even though this year will be different because of the ongoing pandemic, in many places children and families will be out celebrating the holiday. Kids get extra excited and many costumes may restrict vision, so let’s all…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 26th, 2020
Week of October 26th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The supply chain continues to evolve to keep pace with changing business and commerce landscapes. For many organizations, this requires further investment in technology and innovation. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous…
DG Digest: DoD publishes AFMAN regulations on military transport of dangerous goods
Mid-October finds the nation confronting a renewed surge in the coronavirus pandemic. As people move indoors from their summertime activities, more frequent chances to pass along infection become a greater possibility. As HSE professionals, let’s do our part to help our workplace limit spread. The week was a relatively quiet one in regulatory terms; here’s the…
11 unforgettable sessions from the 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium
As much as we love getting together with hazmat pros from around the world at the Dangerous Goods Symposium every September, we have to admit there were several advantages to this year’s all-virtual event: You could attend sessions in your pajamas You could mutter objections to the speaker’s opinion without having everyone at your table…
DG Digest: IATA releases download of Appendix H on competency-based training in advance of 2023 mandate
It’s the second full week of October—time flies! Now’s a great time to review and if need be update your workplace’s cold weather plans. It won’t be too long in many places before snow and ice make a potential early season comeback, so a safety plan for your employees always makes sense. Meanwhile, it’s Thanksgiving…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of October 12th, 2020
Week of October 12th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is already a key part of having a smooth, efficient and resilient supply chain, and this will become even more true as supply chains continue to evolve and organizations become more forward-thinking. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends…
Chinese hazmat regulations explained! More notes from the 2020 DG Symposium.
Two recent sessions at the all-virtual 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium explored two of the more complex issues faced by global hazmat transport operations: Chinese regulations and effective training. Not only are Chinese Dangerous Goods regulations often more restrictive than those in Europe or the U.S.—their regulatory structure can be baffling, too. Yet the continued growth…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues enforcement notice regarding ICAO Technical Instructions and IMDG Code
As we move into the first full week of October, it’s good to note that across much of the country, this week is Fire Prevention Week. While all of us are concerned with the ongoing pandemic and responses to it, we should all bear in mind that all of the other, and more typical hazards…
What we can learn from regulatory updates at the DG Symposium
On one level, regulatory update sessions at the 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium are for true DG diehards—the trainers and shipping managers who have to know hazmat regulations in detail to keep their clients and operations compliant. But even if your job only occasionally touches the Dangerous Goods supply chain, you can still gain valuable insight.…
DG Digest: OSHA to submit ICR on handling of Ethylene Oxide
Welcome to fall! Let’s all hope the new season brings progress on our nation’s efforts to cope with the pandemic, and that the cooler weather helps with the wildfires on our West Coast and brings an end to what has been a very active Atlantic hurricane season. 2020 has just kept coming! We hope you…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 28th, 2020
Week of September 28th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation continues to impact the hazmat supply chain in a wide range of ways. Whether it’s leveraging new solutions to improve operations or having to adopt new processes to keep pace with emerging shipping challenges that come as a result of…
An explosive finish to Lithium Battery Week at the 2020 DG Symposium
The final two sessions of Lithium Battery Week at the 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium were explosive, in different ways. One session featured carriers, regulators, industry reps and top trainers squaring off on the hottest topic in hazmat transport, and other featured video of batteries actually blowing up. Here’s a brief recap. Let’s watch lithium batteries…
DG Digest: Transport Canada releases extensions to COVID-19-related exemptions
The last full week of the summer was a quiet one in the regulatory world, with the action centered on a set of Transport Canada extensions of COVID related regulatory exemptions. See below for those details. Meanwhile, let’s all keep working to help keep our employees and families safe by continuing to follow the recommendations…
Who’s charged up? It’s Lithium Battery Week at the 2020 DG Symposium!
Over the years, the most popular day of the Dangerous Goods Symposium has been Lithium Battery Day. Everyone’s favorite Class 9 Miscellaneous material always seems to make the most news, stir up the most controversy and inspire the most teeth-gnashing. This year, with the Symposium taking place virtually at the new DG Exchange, we were…
DG Digest: IATA releases ‘list of significant changes’ to the 62nd DGR
The week just ended featured a federal holiday. As is often the case at such times, it was extremely quiet in a regulatory sense. However there was one important exception to that from our international partners; the IATA released its “List of Significant Changes” to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) in the coming 62nd Edition. That edition becomes…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of September 14th, 2020
Week of September 14th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Advancements in technology continue to change the way supply chains operate. But when it comes to transporting dangerous goods, there’s a greater number of risks and compliance factors that must be considered. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting…
Want regulatory updates? The 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium is underway!
With a pastry and a cup of coffee on your desk, the first session of the 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium felt a lot like previous years. Two regulatory experts were speaking, and trying to take in all the information they shared was like drinking from a firehose. Of course, this year’s Symposium isn’t like other…
DG Digest: FMCSA proposes pilot program on Hours Of Service for drivers
PHMSA The agency issued its latest group of Special Permit Actions. The actions cover subjects as diverse as cylinder qualifications to the securement of fireworks within transport vehicles. See the actions here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-04/pdf/2020-19646.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-04/pdf/2020-19641.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-09-04/pdf/2020-19643.pdf FMCSA The agency proposed a pilot program to allow temporary regulatory relief from the Agency’s hours-of-service (HOS) requirement that all…
Lithium Battery Week is coming! Dangerous Goods Symposium preview, part 2
Finally, Dangerous Goods professionals get their own Shark Week. September 14–18 is Lithium Battery Week at the Dangerous Goods Symposium. Unlike previous years when most of the lithium battery sessions were crammed into a single day, this year’s virtual format gives you a full week of updates, insights and controversial opinions about everyone’s favorite Class…
DG Digest: U.S. Agencies Publish Semi-annual Agendas & We Preview the 2021 Early 49 CFR
The end of August brings us to the transition to the autumn and in particular the coming Labor Day holiday. With this year’s pandemic still weighing so heavily on our nation, let’s all remember to enjoy that holiday in accordance with the recommendations of our health experts. Employees may be planning their weekends too, and can…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 31 2020
Week of August 31th 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Supply chain risk and challenges continue to increase, especially in the dangerous goods industry. This makes understanding how recent regulatory changes, supply chain trends and technology innovations impact your business and what steps are needed moving forward. To help companies keep a…
Dangerous Goods Symposium preview: Competence, compliance and explosives
This year’s Dangerous Goods Symposium, for obvious reasons, won’t assemble the world’s leading trainers, shippers and regulators together for three days in the same physical space. But it will still bring the world’s hazmat shipping community together. This year, you can experience the Symposium at the new DG Exchange—the Dangerous Goods industry’s first digital community.…
DG Digest: Transport Canada to allow some COVID-19 DG-related transport exemptions to expire
As we roll towards the end of the summer period, the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s all remember to social distance, wear masks when needed, and wash our hands. 2020 has turned into a long haul for everyone, but together we can beat this thing. Keep working at it! It was…
Changes you’ll see in the 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)
The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is essential for all frontline Dangerous Goods personnel, and the 2020 version is finally almost here! We expect to ship our first deliveries in four to five weeks. As expected, this year’s ERG has a multitude of changes from the 2016 version, as PHMSA has assembled an international group of…
Shouldn’t you have more confidence in your hazmat supply chain partners?
Very few organizations maintain their own end-to-end supply chains—we all depend on partners to some extent. That’s why it was disheartening to learn, in the 2019 Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook, that so many hazmat pros had so little confidence in their supply chain partners: 71% of respondents wished their supply chain partners were as compliant…
DG Digest: PHMSA published three sets of Special Permits, EPA released final TSCA evaluation of 1-BP
It’s mid-August and although the pandemic continues to dominate the news cycle, it’s a great time to remember to help protect the safety of employees during the heat of the summer. It’s the hottest time of the year in most of the country; make sure that workers remain mindful of their safety, and keep your…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 17 2020
Week of August 17th 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The dangerous goods supply chain complex, high risk and constantly evolving. That’s driving more companies to leverage innovative technologies throughout their operations. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout the supply…
What are operator variations, and how do they impact your hazmat shipments?
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations manual—known throughout the supply chain as the “IATA DGR”—is universally acknowledged as the world’s single authority on the compliant transport of hazardous materials by air. It’s more than 1,000 pages thick. Surely IATA has issued every rule any shipper would need to know, right? Not quite. There’s a whole chapter…
DG Digest: USPS Offers Two Pub. 52 Change Proposals
The nation enters the second week of August with most of the country still struggling to contain the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure you, your family, and your workplace colleagues do the best you can to help stop the spread and protect everyone’s health. There was a variety of news this week. The Postal Service…
The new DG Exchange: Your connection to the Dangerous Goods supply chain community
Not long ago, a longtime friend and colleague told us, “I wish the Dangerous Goods Symposium could somehow happen all year long.” That idea – a year-round place where supply chain and business professionals can connect and share their questions, insights and experience about Dangerous Goods—was the inspiration for the DG Exchange. Launching August 10,…
Beirut explosion reinforces need for hazmat storage safety
On August 4th, 2020, a massive explosion destroyed the port and devastated much of the city of Beirut, Lebanon, located on the Mediterranean Sea. While only preliminary reports exist as of press time, indications are that the blast may have been the result of the detonation for causes yet to be determined of up to…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues ICR on safety of last week’s ruling allowing LNG on railways
The nation enters August still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic; so far at least it shows little signs of abating in most of the country. We can all help control this outbreak by following appropriate CDC guidelines, being mindful of our neighbors, and doing our best to help. We can win this fight, but we…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 03 2020
Week of August 3rd, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the critical role technology plays within the supply chain. And for some, it has placed a spotlight on the need for greater investment in technology moving forward. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting…
Results of the 5th Annual DG Confidence Outlook: strengths, weaknesses and tremendous resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the global dangerous goods supply chain. Yet even as the industry has shown tremendous resilience, this crisis has shed light on weaknesses related to DG organizations’ ability to keep shipments safe and compliant, and the need for further investment in DG training, technology and infrastructure. The 5th annual DG…
DG Digest: PHMSA and FRA to allow LNG (UN 1972) on railways in enhanced tankers
As we approach the end of July, response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the nation’s attention and effort. Accelerating infection rates in many regions are causing renewed shutdowns at some employers. What we can do as an industry is to work to help keep our employees as safe as possible, and ensure that…
How to evaluate and evolve your Dangerous Goods training program—part 2
Last week, we shared strategies from leading Dangerous Goods trainers for evaluating hazmat training programs to determine when they need updating. Here are some powerful tips for evolving your training program to match your current operation—and preparing it for future growth. If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that businesses must always be ready to adapt…
DG Digest: Transport Canada provides regulatory relief for heath care workers and ICAO offers guidance for “iPACKS” amid pandemic.
Mid-July is here and the U.S. continues to struggle against a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important for everyone to take all the actions they can to help protect themselves, their families, and their fellow employees as we all continue to work towards a resolution of this extraordinary circumstance. It was a moderately active week on…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 20 2020
Week of July 20th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology can impact every part of the supply chain. But in order to achieve real business value from it, organizations must select the right solutions and have the right processes in place. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting…
How to evaluate and evolve your Dangerous Goods training program—part 1
There are two reasons every organization that handles Dangerous Goods must conduct DG training: Regulations require that hazmat employees receive function-specific hazmat training. Training helps employees do their jobs better, which makes hazmat shipping safer and more efficient. Most businesses in the hazmat supply chain recognize that #2 is even more important than #1, and…
DG Digest: PHMSA extends relaxation of enforcement for COVID-19 specific rules
The new week brings with it renewed concerns over the pace of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak continues to accelerate at present, so it’s more important than ever for us to make sure that our workplaces follow all applicable guidelines to keep employees as safe as possible under the present circumstances. The week also brought…
Why Dangerous Goods technology alone can’t improve your performance
Think about the early 1900s, when engine-powered trucks started to replace horse-drawn wagons. Now that was a supply chain revolution! But buying a truck didn’t automatically vault a business into a new level of productivity. Operators had to train their teams on new skills such as truck driving and engine repair. They had to overhaul…
DG Digest: EU notifies of proposed amendments to the ADR
The week that ended with the Independence Day holiday finds the US continuing its battle with the novel coronavirus outbreak. Let’s all keep moving forward and doing our best to help mitigate the outbreak. The week was very quiet in a regulatory sense, perhaps typical of summer holiday periods. Our friends in the EU kept…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 6 2020
Week of July 6th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The right technology can drive improvements throughout every part of the supply chain – both in the short-term (as companies continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic) and the long-term. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business…
The hazmat pro’s guide to the American Revolution
It’s been a challenging year, but the 4th of July is right around the corner, and we intend to celebrate! How? By sharing the true story of American independence as only fellow Dangerous Goods professionals can understand it. Every American schoolchild learns the classic version of the American Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to…
DG Digest: PHMSA extends COVID-19 exceptions, EPA publishes final Methylene Chloride risk evaluation
As we wrap up June, the nation is unfortunately experiencing a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in many states. It’s important to be mindful of the necessary precautions to help keep your workplace as safe as possible for your level of operations. It’s also important to stay safe at home and while in your community.…
Three ways we can help hazmat operations handle change and uncertainty
Raise your hand if you love change and uncertainty! Yeah, that’s what we thought. Unfortunately, the first half of 2020 has brought about more change and uncertainty than any organization in the Dangerous Goods supply chain ever wants to deal with. It can be overwhelming. Are you facing challenges you never imagined a few weeks…
DG Digest Special Notice: PHMSA extends emergency exemptions for hand sanitizer shipping and recertification training
In breaking news, today PHMSA published deadline extensions to its currently in force emergency exemptions allowing for both non-standard domestic ground shipment of some alcohol based hand sanitizers as well as a continuation of the extension of training recertification requirements under the 49 CFR 172.704(c)(2) past their normal expiration dates. The extensions will now run…
DG Digest: OSHA renews ICR on safety of scissor lifts
The last full week of June and the official beginning of the summer season find regulatory activity at a quiet minimum. One big question as we begin to approach July: the status of PHMSA’s emergency exemptions surrounding both training re-certifications and the domestic ground shipment of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. These exemptions have allowed for the non-standard treatment…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 22 2020
Week of June 22nd, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The need to create an agile and resilient supply chain has become evident over the past few months. Now, organizations are looking to implement the technology and processes that will enable them to succeed in today’s marketplace while also preparing for the…
Our design critic picks his top 7 social distancing and sanitizing signs
It’s been a while since we heard from design critic Stewart D.O. North, but he recently reached out to share his opinions on our new line of social distancing and hand sanitizing safety signs. North, of course, is no ordinary critic. He’s also a hazmat aficionado who’s written detailed critiques of hazmat labels and floor…
DG Digest: PHMSA announces development of U.S. policy on safety devices in transport
Mid-June finds the nation enduring another week forward in our “summer like no other.” As areas reopen from pandemic related lockdowns, be sure to be safe yourself, follow health guidelines and do all you can to help your fellow employees be safe too. Concurrently be aware of civil actions that may encompass the location of…
New hazmat shippers: This webinar is your ideal introduction to DG.
On June 24, 2020, Labelmaster Vice President–Software & Customer Success Mario Sagastume and ProShip Senior Sales Engineer Clint Boaz presented “Living Dangerously: Demystifying Hazmat Shipping.” Watch the complete recorded webinar here. When you’re a shipper who is new to Dangerous Goods, where do you start? That’s a question Mario Sagastume deals with all the time—and…
DG Digest: FMCSA publishes revised Hazardous Materials Route Registry
The week just ended found us all seemingly stuck on “repeat,” which has become an enduring facet of one of the most difficult years the United States has faced in the modern era. Efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and deal with our nation’s civil crisis continued. In the meantime, regulatory action continues, although…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 8th 2020
Week of June 8th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The last few months have put tremendous pressure on many supply chains. It has also put a spotlight on the importance of having the right technology, processes and human capital in place to create (and maintain) a resilient and flexible supply chain.…
The 5th Annual DG Confidence Outlook will explore hazmat pros’ new challenges.
The last few months have demonstrated that we have an extraordinarily robust and resilient supply chain. Despite the greatest global disruption in generations, most consumer goods are still available and most industries have been able to maintain production. Dangerous Goods organizations and their workers have more than done their part to keep the global supply…
DG Digest: FMCSA revised HOS rules and OSHA to hold virtual public meetings in advance of International sessions on GHS
The nation completed another very difficult of week coping with the coronavirus pandemic as well as emerging civic strife engendered by very unfortunate current events. Here’s hoping that along with health, that peace and justice make a quick return for all the people of our nation. There were several items of interest in the regulatory world,…
Labelmaster hazmat packaging innovations banish “Paint Can Hell,” make shipping bigger lithium batteries easier.
Who thought it was a good idea to ship volatile hazmat items in paint cans? Certainly no one who’s ever painted their living room. First you need a screwdriver or a special “key” to pry the lid off the can, and it takes so much effort you end up sloshing some out onto the floor.…
DG Digest: PHMSA withdraws proposed vapor limits for unrefined petroleum and class 3 materials on the nation’s railways
The nation paused over the weekend just concluded to honor its fallen military veterans and also, this year, to mark the unimaginable toll taken of our fellow citizens by the COVID-19 pandemic. Surely it was a Memorial Day unlike any of us now living has experienced. The Labelmaster family joins our country in honoring those…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 25th 2020
Week of May 25th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The supply chain has become increasingly reliant on technology – both to gather the data and insights needed to develop an optimal strategy and then to be able to effectively execute that strategy. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends…
Want to show supply chain workers real gratitude? Make hazmat compliance more important.
For workers in the Dangerous Goods supply chain, the first quarter of 2020 was extraordinary—for two reasons. The first reason? That’s obvious. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered seismic shifts in what we ship, how much we ship and how we ship it, and the global supply chain met the challenge. Despite a steep drop in overall…
DG Digest: FAA issues further guidance to carriers and crews; PHMSA in battles with two states over jurisdictional authority
In what we may all welcome as a hopeful sign of progress, mid-May finds, for the first time in several weeks, a relatively quiet regulatory world, with only a few actions in the news. Given the heavy load of notices that have characterized the blog in the last six weeks or so, perhaps we’re all…
This crisis highlights the importance of our extraordinary supply chain
No matter how well you appreciated the value of a well-functioning supply chain a few months ago, you probably have a far greater appreciation now. Two months after most of the world’s largest economies started slowing down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most consumer goods are still available. (Well, except maybe for hand sanitizer.)…
DG Digest: ICAO publishes COVID-19 safety handbook for the aviation industry and PHMSA issues HM-215O final rule
May continues under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in what we may all perhaps hope represents a step towards recovery, the big news this week is far more focused towards what we all might call “normal” regulatory activity, rather than the specific, focused actions related to the outbreak which have had primacy over…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 11th 2020
Week of May 11th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Business has become increasingly decentralized and organizations are having to adjust processes and supply chain operations to keep pace with this new normal. At times like these, your technical infrastructure can make all the difference. To help companies keep a pulse on…
DG industry data: PHMSA’s incident report highlights greatest supply chain safety risks in Q1
Hazmat incidents may be more common than you realize. Despite the great work by Hazmat/DG Professionals — those making sure that compliance to transport regulations are strictly followed for each shipment — incidents of all manner happen regularly. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) gathers all U.S. DG/Hazmat incident…
Our new HazMatters Podcast: Great Dangerous Goods advice, no reading glasses required.
One of the true pleasures of the Dangerous Goods Symposium is hearing experienced hazmat professionals explain complicated issues so clearly everyone can understand them. New shippers in the audience have often been heard to say, “Okay, now I get it. Now I know how to make this happen in my operation.” Now you can have…
DG Digest: USPS releases major revisions to Pub 52 in support of rapid transport of COVID-19 samples
The beginning of the first week in May finds the nation collectively grateful to say goodbye to a COVID-19 dominated April that must certainly rank as one of the worst and certainly tragic such months in living memory. As May begins, various locations around the nation are starting to grapple with how to begin to…
Shipping hazmat from a home office? Here’s how to make it work.
Admit it: You used to take hallway conversations for granted. As a supply chain professional, how many times have you had a question about something and just walked down the hall and gotten an answer within minutes? These days, getting that same answer might require a chat, an email or a dreaded video call that…
DG Digest: PHMSA eases enforcement of pandemic-related transport, and FMCSA offers hours-of-service relief for those transporting needed supplies
The week just concluded retained COVID-19 related regulatory activity as its primary focus as the nation began, at least in a few geographic areas, to show slight signs of improvement with decreases in the rate of rise of transmission being tentatively reported. However, all of us have a long way to go together to get…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 27th 2020
Week of April 27th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology helps organizations create flexible and agile operations that supports growth and enables them to adapt when disruptions arise. That’s why it’s important for companies to be forward-thinking in their technology investment. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business…
Webinar: Keeping hazmat air shipments compliant during a pandemic
In urgent times like these, air cargo is more essential than ever to the global supply chain.
DG Digest: HHS updates requirements for new class of respirators, PHMSA provides guidance for handling shipping papers
The week just concluded finds the COVID-19 outbreak continuing to dominate regulatory activity, though there is a strong leavening of other news. Meanwhile, all of us continue to work towards moving the nation into a recovery phase, whenever that may become safe. For now, stay the course! Continue social distancing, wash those hands, protect your…
PHMSA Issues Hazmat Shipping Paper Guidance During COVID-19 Social Distancing
On April 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a guidance document addressing the transfer of hazardous material shipping papers during the current COVID-19 pandemic. PHMSA has received many questions related to the transfer of shipping papers between shippers and carriers, and the difficulties with maintaining…
Supply chain heroes of the pandemic: Two stories we have to share
If we were to write about all the supply chain heroes of the COVID-19 crisis, this post would be hundreds of pages long. The people who keep our stores full of food, our plants supplied with parts and our hospitals stocked with critical supplies? They can’t shelter at home—and we can’t function without them. (Let’s…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases interpretive guide and USPS issues special exemption for hand sanitizer transport
The holiday weekend just concluded finds the nation still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic as the overriding priority in virtually every aspect of our daily lives. This applies to the logistics sector as well, with several new items of interest related to the subject. Life does go on in the meantime too of course, and this is…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 13 2020
Week of April 13th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The supply chain is becoming faster and increasingly more complex. As a result, dangerous goods companies must have the necessary technologies and processes in place in order to make strategic, data-driven decisions, and then effectively execute those strategies. To help companies keep a…
Hazmat Quizmaster: An easy 2-minute quiz for Dangerous Goods newbies.
STAY SAFE, STAY SANE AND STAY COMPLIANT! Whether you’re shipping hazmat for the first time or it’s been part of your operation for years, Labelmaster has the resources you need to keep your operation efficient and compliant. Questions? Get the answers you need from the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. Make sure your shipments are safe and…
DG Digest: PHMSA & Transport Canada ease transport rules on hand sanitizer
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis continues to dominate regulatory activity. Several new actions dealing with it were promulgated during the last week and we’ll cover them below. Labelmaster continues to serve the DG logistics chain during this time when it’s become even more important. We’re working safe and doing everything we can to be a positive…
The danger counterfeit lithium batteries pose requires a global response
Geoff Leach is a consulting partner and was the former Head of the UK CAA Dangerous Goods Office and Chairman of the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel. After 32 years at the CAA, in 2014, he set up The Dangerous Goods Office Limited offering training and consultancy around the world. By Geoff Leach One of the…
Distilleries making hand sanitizer? Hooray! Here’s how to ship it safely.
Among all the dire news surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, there’s one story that’s lightened a lot of people’s moods: distillers of alcoholic beverages (including several in the Chicago area) switching over some of their production to make desperately needed hand sanitizer. We love this story because: Supplies of hand sanitizer have been running low at…
DG Digest: PHMSA temporarily relaxing recurrent training certificate requirement, HHS announces list of scarce materials threatened by hoarding
The COVID-19 crisis commands most of the week’s regulatory news. As the world continues to work through its response, the weekly DG Digest will continue in its present format during the crisis: one section devoted specifically to news related to the pandemic, with other news in a separate section. Labelmaster remains fully operational and serving…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 30 2020
Week of March 30th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The impact of COVID-19 on the supply chain has put a spotlight on the importance of having adequate technology, infrastructure and processes to adapt to unexpected changes, ensure safety and comply with the latest regulations – a reality dangerous goods shippers face every…
What COVID-19 test sites must know about shipping infectious substances
For complete guidelines and resources for transporting COVID-19 test samples, please visit our coronavirus shipping guidelines page. With new COVID-19 test sites setting up all over the United States and the world, many businesses and their employees will be transporting infectious substances for the first time. These shippers must be aware of two important topics:…
DG Digest: vital transport, extra hand sanitizer, critical infrastructure workforce — agencies respond to the global pandemic
As readers have no doubt already guessed, the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak dominates this week’s regulatory news, with a widening variety of actions now being promulgated to assist the transport industry in coping with the unprecedented situation. Labelmaster has been designated as an essential business in this circumstance and will continue to operate. …
Virtual hazmat training: interactive, customized and ideal for these times
While you’re coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many things you can put off until life gets back to normal. Hazmat training, however, is probably not one of them. If your—or your team’s—certifications are coming due, you have to renew your training, or you risk fines for non-compliance. (Expired or incomplete training certifications are…
DG Digest: ICAO/IATA and ADR react to the pandemic, FRA seeks comments on quarterly PTC form
As all of our readers know, the COVID-19 pandemic is now dominating the news and is affecting transport worldwide and well beyond impacts to private travelers. Its overall impact to industry and trade remains to be seen, but as dangerous goods professionals it’s our responsibility to keep things moving safely during this unsettled time. Let’s…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 16 2020
Week of March 16th, 2020 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Growing customer demands, increasing order volumes, stricter regulations and a host of other factors continue to put pressure on the supply chain – especially for companies shipping dangerous goods. This makes having the right technology solutions in place more important than ever. To…
Spring Psychosis! It’s our 2020 Dangerous Goods tournament bracket!
Welp, it’s supposed to be that time of year when high school and college basketball teams start playing each other in single-elimination tournaments, and people everywhere had planned to put up brackets on cubicle walls. Unfortunately, Covid-19 virus concerns have caused the cancellation of many large gatherings and sports tournaments as folks here in the…
DG Digest: U.S. DOT and PHMSA each outline revised guidance on regulatory roles
The second week in March finds the nation continuing to cope with the growing COVID-19 viral outbreak. Help your employees stay safe by emphasizing the basics: hand washing, covering one’s mouth for sneezes and coughs, stay home if ill, and don’t panic. We can do this! In other news, on Sunday we all “sprang forward.” …
Undeclared hazmat? The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is on the case.
Say you need a replacement 420 Wh battery for your electric snowblower. Instead of ordering a new one from the manufacturer, you find an online retailer offering a used battery at a discount. When the battery arrives, you—being somewhat knowledgeable about the rules governing transport of lithium batteries—are surprised to see it’s in a plain,…
DG Digest: DOT announces $1 billion in infrastructure grants
The first week in March finds the nation confronting a potentially serious health threat in the form of the new COVD-19 coronavirus. The biggest positive actions we as regulatory and EHS professionals can take to help our fellow employees is to encourage everyone to not panic, and to employ common sense precautions like thorough hand…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 2, 2020
Week of March 2nd, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is helping improve supply chain performance and deliver greater business value. But not every aspect of the supply chain is getting the attention (and investment) it deserves. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of…
What is master data, and why is it so important for hazmat transport?
What exactly are you shipping? Simple question, right? Not at all. It turns out a lot of shippers don’t know exactly what they’re shipping, and that lack of knowledge has a profound ripple effect on the entire supply chain. I’m talking here about master data—complete, detailed information about a product’s components, makeup, dimensions and origins.…
DG Digest: while not changing regulations, Transport Canada to reform the language of TDGR
Winter slogs on as we approach the end of February and look forward to March, which, according to tradition, “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Let’s all hope so! Meanwhile, the week just concluded saw a number of actions of interest, with both national and international actions taking place that…
7 misconceptions about attending the Dangerous Goods Symposium
Have you ever attended Labelmaster’s Dangerous Goods Symposium? If so, here’s what you need to know right now: The 2020 Dangerous Goods Symposium will be held September 9-11 in Chicago You’ll save $50 by registering by April 30, 2020. Now, if you’ve never attended the DG Symposium, you might have a reason or two why…
DG Digest: FRA publishes regulation on risk reduction programs and FMCSA announces reduced fees for states
The week just ended found regulatory activity about normal—several actions of interest including several Special Permit actions from PHMSA and a big new final rule from the FRA. In another story that is not currently receiving heavy US media coverage, our Canadian neighbors are experiencing an environmental and political dispute that has had a significant impact…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 17, 2020
Week of February 17, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The supply chain greatly impacts an organization’s overall performance, and managing dangerous goods safely and compliantly as part of its operations adds a greater level of complexity. That’s why it’s more important than ever for companies to have the right technology and processes…
DG Digest: In response to derailments, Transport Canada orders ‘Key Trains’ to limit speed to 25 mph
We begin the second week of February with Transport Canada taking center stage on the regulatory scene in a major action directed at addressing train operating safety following a pair of recent oil train derailments. Find the details on that below. A variety of other and somewhat less minor—but still interesting–actions rounded out the week’s…
DG Digest: OSHA seeks renewal of HAZWOPER program and UNECE published a Corrigendum to the EU ADR
It’s the first week of February and regardless of whether the trusty groundhog did or didn’t see his shadow where you live on Sunday, it’s likely that you and your employees are still facing a considerable stretch of winter weather before things start to brighten up and get warmer. Be sure your team stays focused…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 03, 2020
Week of February 03, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology helps drive business forward – that’s why companies continue to invest in the cutting-edge tech innovations that will shape the supply chain of the future. But dangerous goods shippers cannot afford to overlook the solutions that impact their operation today. To help…
DOT PHMSA Hosts First Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee Meeting
Last week DOT PHMSA hosted the first Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee meeting at DOT Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and I had the pleasure of the attending the meeting alongside Labelmaster Services V.P. of Consulting, Pia Jala. Lithium cell and battery production throughout the world continues to grow at an astonishing rate due to…
DG Digest: FMCSA extends IRC on highway routing of hazmat, FRA sets drug & alcohol test rates for 2020
Last Saturday marked the Chinese New Year; the year 4718 in the Chinese calendar and the Year of the Rat, which renews the twelve year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. In Chinese culture, rats represent the positive traits of quickness, cleverness, and the ability to thrive even under difficult circumstances. The Labelmaster family wishes all…
Have a hazmat question? Have a phone? Call our DG Regulations Hotline!
Wouldn’t it be great if, the next time you had a question about Dangerous Goods transport—any question at all—you could just pick up the phone and ask an expert? You can. And it’s free. Just call the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline. Call 1.800.621.5808—8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time, Monday through Friday—and ask to speak to…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues IRC on portable tanks and IBCs; FRA is proposing changes to train brake inspections
Mid-January finds the regulatory world getting busy again as the nation weathers fierce winter weather. The UNECE has a pair of very interesting published revisions to important documents; we cover that below, along with a variety of other actions. Meanwhile it’s the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday; the Labelmaster family wishes…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 20, 2020
Week of January 20, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Collaboration is becoming an increasingly integral part of the supply chain as companies look to further improve operational efficiency, increase transparency and gain a competitive advantage. Fortunately, the ability for companies to better collaborate with their supply chain partners have been enabled by…
Why it’s absolutely essential to choose the right hazmat placard
True fact: No one ever got promoted for choosing the right hazmat placard. Choosing the wrong placard, however, could have negative consequences for anyone’s job prospects. Think about it. Every Dangerous Goods shipment represents a significant investment in time and materials, and it could be part of a supply chain impacting several organizations. Yet one…
DG Digest: IMO releases corrigendum for the 39th IMDG Code
It’s the end of the first full week of the New Year and as far as such things go, it was relatively quiet, although the IMO released a newsworthy corrigendum for the IMDG Code. We’ll discuss that in a bit more detail below. An FRA notice rounded out the week’s news. The country is entering…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This Thanksgiving, DG also stands for “Deepest Gratitude.”
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
At Parcel Forum 2019, Labelmaster will share a Dangerous Goods primer
If you’re in the business of delivering parcels, you might be thrilled and terrified at the same time these days. Thrilled because the rise of e-commerce has created more parcels to deliver, so business is good. Terrified because consumer demands—Tomorrow? Heck, I want it today!—make business more challenging than ever. Oh, and don’t look now,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
DG Digest: FMCSA reviewing HOS rules, FAA seeks further data on drones, and the EPA wants to designate certain ‘high-priority’ chemicals
The penultimate week of the summer season was not quite as busy as last week’s heavy action; however, the federal government did have some actions of note, particularly to motor carriers, drone aircraft operators, and chemical manufacturers. See the week’s events below: FMCSA The agency proposed amendments to its hours-of-service (HOS) requirements to provide greater…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 26, 2019
Week of August 26, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance When selecting logistics solutions, companies must consider how they will impact every part of the supply chain. This is especially true for dangerous goods shippers. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout…
How much do new civil penalties for hazmat violations actually cost you?
As Labelmaster Staff Regulatory Specialist Nikki Burgess reported a couple of weeks back, many federal agencies recently raised their civil penalties about 2.5% for Dangerous Goods regulatory citations. In other words, any compliance errors you make will now cost you a little more. Update! On October 29, 2019, penalties at many agencies were increased an…
DG Digest: A major new NPRM (HM-219C) from PHMSA, plus updates from FMCSA, OSHA and more.
It’s still a few weeks until Labor Day and the unofficial end of the season. However in strong contrast to the recent summer regulatory doldrums, as we head towards summer’s end the Federal Register was busy indeed this week with multiple large published actions by a number of relevant agencies. Grab your coffee and find…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 19, 2019
Week of August 19, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology continues to impact supply chain planning and execution. But achieving meaningful organizational change requires companies to share data and align processes with stakeholders, customers and suppliers. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous…
13 questions (and answers) about the 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook
Believe it or not, 2020 is only a few months away, and that means it’s almost time for the Dangerous Goods version of the summer Olympics—the quadrennial release of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). Since we’re already seeing heavy pre-orders for the new 2020 ERG, we wanted to take a few minutes to answer a…
DG Digest: PHMSA revisits requalification period for certain DOT 4-series cylinders, issues special permits
Summer doldrums this week as regulatory activity eases along. August is traditionally a slow month in our nation’s capital. PHMSA however stayed active and is the only player in this week’s digest. Here’s all the latest: PHMSA PHMSA is proposing to revise requirements on the requalification period for certain DOT 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 12, 2019
Week of August 12, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is transforming the way goods are moved around the world. As a result, companies are constantly introducing new innovations into their supply chains in order to stay competitive and meet growing customer demands. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends…
DG Symposium preview: Why is lithium battery recycling suddenly sexy?
Todd Coy, Vice President at KBI, will speak about “Lithium Battery Recycling and End of Life Transport” at the 14th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 4–6, 2019, in Chicago. The third day of every Dangerous Goods Symposium is devoted to lithium battery issues, with an expert panel sharing the latest regulatory developments and fielding pointed…
DG Digest: Regulatory Agencies Announce Adjustments to Civil Penalties
Summer continues into its traditionally warmest month; be sure your employees remain able to cope with the heat that can afflict our workplaces. It’s also a heavy vacation month and the reduced staffing that can result can pressurize employees that are covering vacationing colleagues; be on the lookout for people who may be trying a little…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of August 5, 2019
Week of August 5, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation has led to the emergence of new delivery methods – from autonomous vehicles to aircraft systems. And these emerging technologies promise to impact the supply chain of the future, including the transport of dangerous goods. To help companies keep a pulse…
DG Symposium preview: The hazmat possibilities of unmanned aircraft systems
Mark Wuennenberg, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Drone Delivery Canada, will speak about “Innovation Taking Flight—Drones in Cargo Logistics” at the 14th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 4–6, 2019, in Chicago. Will unmanned aircraft systems (commonly referred to as drones) ever have a role to play in Dangerous Goods transport? If Mark Wuennenberg has anything…
DG Digest: WA State v. Federal Government — jurisdiction at stake in dispute over crude oil volatility limits
As is often the case in the mid-summer, the regulatory news is a little sparse this week; however, PHMSA offers an interesting request for comments regarding federal primacy in interstate transport, and OSHA had reasons to publish also. See all the latest below: PHMSA Interested parties are invited to comment on an application by the…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 29, 2019
Week of July 29, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The push towards digital transformation can be seen in almost every industry, especially in the supply chain. But the pursuit of the supply chain of tomorrow means all critical functions – including hazmat compliance – need to be digital and connected. To help…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 22, 2019
Week of July 22, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Effectively shipping products is challenging enough in today’s dynamic supply chain environment, but the complexity and risk is significantly increased when shipping dangerous goods – especially when managing returns and product recalls. This makes having in place the right technology, packaging and processes…
DG Digest: EPA to limit some feedback under Toxic Substances Control Act
It’s hot, right? Mid-summer is here with tremendous heat and we all have to protect our employees. Remember the basics: provide plenty of water, make sure employees take more frequent breaks in a cool area, caution them against overexertion in the heat, and keep an extra eye open for people struggling in the weather. Let’s all do our…
How to get strategic about hazmat packaging efficiency
If you’re an e-commerce customer—and who isn’t these days?—you’ve probably had the experience of receiving a small item in a large package and wondering, Was this really the most efficient way to ship this thing? As a supply chain professional, however, you know the answer probably isn’t that simple. Packaging efficiency in today’s decentralized omnichannel…
DG Digest: Should training providers be able to administer CDL skills testing?
The summer doldrums continue in the regulatory sector, with minimal activity underway. The FMCSA is the big player this week, with a significant proposal to modify CDL driver testing standards. Here’s all the latest: FMCSA The agency proposes to allow States to permit a third party skills test examiner to administer the Commercial Driver’s License…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 15, 2019
Week of July 15, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance In today’s omnichannel shipping world, companies are faced with the challenge of meeting customer demands fast, free shipping while keeping costs down. This is especially challenging for those shipping dangerous goods. That’s why more shippers are looking to technologies to further enable this…
Omnichannel, decentralized and hazmat-compliant: A brave new world
How much more complex and challenging can shipping get? You’re doing everything you can to satisfy customers’ demands for fast, free delivery. You aim to be omnichannel, decentralized, parcel-optimized and cost-conscious. You keep inventories as tight and fluid as possible without ever having to say, “Sorry, we’re out.” Oh, and every shipment is fully compliant…
DG Digest: FAA may ease fire protection rules for transport aircraft
Last week included a holiday period and as such regulatory activity was at rather low ebb. However, the FMCSA stayed fairly busy with several issuances, and the FAA announced an interesting new NPRM related to fire protection standards for transport aircraft. See the week’s action below: FMCSA The agency amended its Hazardous Materials Safety Permit…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of July 8, 2019
Week of July 8, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is changing the way we do business. And soon, the old way of doing things will be replaced– whether it’s how we prepare documents, train employees or interact with customers and devices. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting…
Explosives aren’t the only e-commerce hazmat you might ship for July 4th
July 4th is the day we celebrate being American, and what’s more American than getting what you want, when you want it? E-commerce delivers on that dream for millions of Americans every day, and that can be a beautiful thing. It can also be a dangerous thing, because many e-commerce shippers still don’t realize when…
DG Digest: DoD updates its Dangerous Goods regulations, and a hazardous chemicals ICR from OSHA
The nation moves into the 4th of July holiday period as summer takes hold; it’s time to be extra careful as people hit the road for that summer vacation they’ve been planning, and most especially this week, to be extra careful around fireworks. The 4th of July always produces a stream of injuries from the…
DG Symposium preview: IATA’s Nicolas Carlone on automation and virtual reality
Nicolas Carlone, Assistant Director of DGR and Cargo Publications at IATA, will speak on Dangerous Goods acceptance automation—and give a live demo of IATA’s new virtual reality training tool—at the 14th annual Dangerous Goods Symposium, September 4–6, 2019, in Chicago. During last year’s Dangerous Goods Symposium, we wrote, “Sometime in the not-too-distant future, someone will…
DG Digest: USPS testing use of smaller Limited and Excepted Quantity labels
The end of June finds the nation’s schoolchildren mostly finishing their tenures for the year; that means a lot more potential danger on the roads for drivers and equipment operators. If your company operates on the roads, make sure your employees are aware of the increased risk. Here’s the period’s regulatory news: FMCSA The agency published…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 24, 2019
Week of June 24, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Purchasing solutions primarily (or solely) based on price puts your organization at risk, especially dangerous good companies. After all, not all solutions – from software to batteries and packaging – are created equality. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting…
5 questions you should ask about lithium battery packaging testing
When it comes to shipping lithium batteries compliantly, labels and marks grab all the headlines, but the real story is in packaging. After all, while labels and marks are critical for proper identification of a package’s contents, the package itself is what keeps those contents from causing damage. In the case of lithium batteries and…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 17, 2019
Week of June 17, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Companies today are investing heavily in technology. But how those investment decisions are made can vary based on cost, ROI and more. Organizations shipping dangerous goods need to make compliance and risk mitigation key considerations. To help companies keep a pulse on technology…
Why your in-house legal department should understand hazmat shipping
Used to be, when Dangerous Goods pros heard from a lawyer, it could only mean one thing: bad news. Something went seriously wrong with a hazmat shipment. That mindset is changing. Will Troutman and Jim Shimko are trying to change it even faster. Troutman is a Partner with the Los Angeles office of the law…
DG Digest: TSA issues ICR to stakeholders engaged in surface transportation
The week found the United States and her allies marking the 75th Anniversary of the World War 2 invasion of Normandy in France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi rule. The Labelmaster family joins with our fellow citizens in expressing gratitude for the bravery and sadness at the sacrifice of those who took…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 10, 2019
Week of June 10, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The growth of e-commerce has led to more dangerous goods being shipped – both by large enterprises and individuals – making compliance more challenging and important than ever. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of…
5 situations where you might need “extreme” hazmat labels and placards
Say you ship drums of UN 1263 paint every single day. You know the applicable regulations for shipping 1263 like you know your kids’ middle names. You could wallpaper your entire facility with the shipper’s declarations for 1263 you’ve printed over the years. Your phone passcode is 1263. You’re as likely to ship UN 1263…
DG Digest: FRA withdraws 2016 NPRM on train crew staffing
It’s the first week of June, and stormy weather has been an issue for much of the country. Be sure your workplace pays proper attention to safety response and evacuation plans for such events; storm water runoff may also be an issue for certain businesses. Don’t be caught unprepared! It was a quiet week on…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of June 3, 2019
Week of June 3, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Advancements in technology are enabling a more digital supply chain – helping dangerous goods companies improve performance, enhance customer service, lower operating costs and mitigate risk. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods…
CEOs! Want supply chain to be a competitive weapon? Start with hazmat.
For years now, we’ve been helping supply chain professionals see hazmat compliance as a competitive advantage, not a cost center. Show your bosses real visibility into the true costs and value of improved compliance, we’ve said, and you’ll secure the resources to drive new revenue and boost profitability. Turns out we’re not the only ones…
DG Digest: ADR to go Global, Could Drop “European Union (EU)” from Title
Monday the 27th marked our nation’s Memorial Day honoring fallen military veterans. The Labelmaster family joins our fellow Americans in expressing gratitude for their sacrifice. It was a middling busy week on the regulatory front; here’s the latest: OSHA The agency announced that on Thursday, June 20, 2019, OSHA will conduct a public meeting to…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 27, 2019
Week of May 27, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Selecting the right supply chain technology for your organization is critical and can have a significant impact on your operational and financial performance – both today and in the future. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the…
Last chance to take the 2019 Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook survey!
Labelmaster, Hazardous Cargo Bulletin (HCB) and IATA invite you to participate in the world’s most comprehensive survey of hazmat professionals. The last day for responses is Friday, May 31. Usually, when you see a “last chance” email or blog headline, it’s to entice you into some sort of offer you’ll regret missing. Maybe it’s a…
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks nominees for first ever lithium battery committee
We begin the final month of the spring with a fairly busy week. Before too long the summer vacation and holiday season will begin; it’s easy for some employees to become a little preoccupied. Let’s make sure we all keep focused on the safety of our workplace! It’s been a busy week in the regulatory…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 20, 2019
Week of May 20, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The supply chain can have a significant impact on an organization’s operational and financial performance. That’s why forward-thinking companies continue to invest in their infrastructure in order to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and mitigate risk. To help companies keep a pulse on technology…
A top 3PL offers e-commerce tips on shipping lithium batteries by USPS
Many Labelmaster customers are more than just customers—they’re our true partners in making the Dangerous Goods supply chain safer and more efficient. One recent example is our new page on shipping lithium batteries via the U.S. Postal Service, which we developed following a suggestion from our longtime friends at third-party logistics provider GEODIS, Erin Gaul…
DG Digest: PHMSA to hold public meeting on 2020 ERG
Sunday was Mothers’ Day; here’s hoping all the Moms out there got the “royal treatment.” Thank you for all you do! The week was a little busy in the regulatory sense; here’s all the latest: FAA The agency published a proposed new ICR that will affect the manufacturers of small unmanned aircraft (drones) and that…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 13, 2019
Week of May 13, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Enterprise systems continue to evolve to further drive automation and optimization for businesses. But maximizing the value of these systems requires dangerous goods companies to take a strategic approach to how they are used within the organization. To help companies keep a pulse…
Shipping lithium batteries by mail: 3 things you must know
If you’re in the hazmat business, you’re no stranger to Publication 52 from the United States Postal Service. Affectionately referred to as “Pub 52,” this public document (a.k.a. “Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail“) outlines the do’s and don’ts for the safe transport of Dangerous Goods via the U.S. mail. One of the thorniest topics in…
DG Digest: OSHA announces 2019 funding for underserved workplace programs
Spring is well underway now; many businesses will be attending to outdoor maintenance and grounds upkeep that may have been off the schedule in the winter months. It’s easy to get hurt on roofs or with power tools; be sure your team remembers and abides by the rules for engaging in those tasks to everyone…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of May 06, 2019
Week of May 06, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance As the supply chain becomes faster and more complex, companies, especially those shipping dangerous goods, must rely on technology to keep pace. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout the supply chain,…
Can one compliance gap ruin your bottom line? Ask the Night King.
We all know Game of Thrones, the hit series currently in its final season on HBO, is really about hazmat transport. Fittingly, Sunday night’s episode 3 supplied a metaphor that every supply chain organization should take to heart. Spoiler alert: If you aren’t current on Game of Thrones, skip the next two paragraphs! The episode…
DG Digest: EPA proposes to amend TSCA reporting for small manufacturers
The last two weeks of April featured improving weather across the United States, and then a late season snow storm hit east of the Mississippi! Make sure your workplace’s cold weather and snow removal plans are still effective and protect those employees. Regulatory action was varied across the time period, with EPA action in reference…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 29, 2019
Week of April 29, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Advancements in technology leads to more complex supply chains, especially for companies shipping dangerous goods. It’s important for organizations to understand the impact new technologies have on their operations, and then leverage other technology solutions to effectively manage the process. To help companies…
How is hazmat shipping like your favorite sport (and how do you win)?
It’s a great time of year to be a sports fan. The NBA and NHL playoffs (WOW! What a first round…) are at full throttle, Major League Baseball is back and the NFL draft is right around the corner. The athletes who play those sports are the best in the world at what they do.…
Client ID Database has DG Stakeholders North of the Border Facing a New Registration Requirement
Formal consultation (the equivalent in Canada to the familiar US “Comment period” for proposed rulemakings) has ended in Canada on a new proposal which, according to Transport Canada, will require stakeholders who will: import, offer for transport, handle or transports dangerous goods in Canada To register with Transport Canada under the identification database requirement. The…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 22, 2019
Week of April 22, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Supply chain compliance is challenging, especially as increasingly strict rules and requirements are being played on organizations by their customers, including the adoption of technology. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout…
Add your voice to the 4th annual Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook
Labelmaster, Hazardous Cargo Bulletin (HCB) and IATA invite you to participate in the world’s most comprehensive survey of hazmat professionals. The revealed results of the annual Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook have become a tradition at the Dangerous Goods Symposium. A few insights usually take the crowd by surprise, and you hear reactions like: I’ve always…
DG Digest: PHMSA issues Emergency Waiver No. 13 for areas affected by severe flooding
Mid-April snow snarled much of the nation over the weekend, but it’s also now the culmination of tax season. Transport regulations may not be topping everyone’s list of things to think about this week; however, plenty of action took place all the same. Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency published Emergency Waiver No. 13. This waiver…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 15, 2019
Week of April 15, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Moving goods across the supply chain can be complex, especially when transporting dangerous goods. Technology is key to helping companies more effectively manage their shipping processes. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods…
The hazmat pro’s guide to Game of Thrones, Season 8
At last, the moment for which hazmat pros have waited untold winters! The final season of Game of Thrones starts Sunday. Everyone in the Dangerous Goods galaxy knows Game of Thrones is really about hazmat transport. For all its swordplay, palace intrigue and dragons, the show addresses the same issues hazmat pros deal with every…
DG Digest: EPA eliminating requirement for mercury-based sensing devices for ignitability tests
The first week of April has ended—is your site experiencing “April showers that bring May flowers?” If so, make sure that your storm drains and other runoff devices aren’t clogged and that any regulated discharge doesn’t get into those storm drains. That tends to be a serious non-compliance issue for local municipal authorities who have…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 8, 2019
Week of April 8, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Today’s businesses want to make decisions based on facts, not guesses. That’s why more and more companies (including those shipping dangerous goods) are leveraging technology to access and analyze key operational data and apply predictive analytics. To help companies keep a pulse on…
Obexion’s “Excellence in Transit Packaging” award: our acceptance speech
Creating resources for safe and compliant Dangerous Goods transport isn’t generally considered a creative business. Unlike practitioners of film, music, television and literature, we don’t dream about winning awards. And yet, we have. Last week, at Industrial Pack 2019, our Obexion lithium battery packaging won the Industrial Packaging Award for Excellence in Transit Packaging. There…
DG Digest: U.S. DOT Seeks Stakeholder Input On Service Improvements
It’s April 1st, no fooling! The last week of March found regulatory activity fairly slow, with the biggest news being PHMSA’s announcement of its meeting schedule for pre-conferences to discuss upcoming international modal regulation meetings. See all the latest below: PHMSA The agency announced four meetings that will prepare the US delegations to the major…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of April 1, 2019
Week of April 1, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology continues to transform every industry sector. To successfully navigate the changing landscape, companies – especially those shipping dangerous goods – must understand how these shifts impact their supply chain operations. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and…
New survey will get pilots’ thoughts on Dangerous Goods training
We’ve written plenty about the importance of training for people who prepare Dangerous Goods shipments for air transport. But what about the people who actually fly the planes? James Wyatt, Senior Vice President Aviation Solutions at Avialytics GmbH, believes the training needs of pilots and flight crews aren’t adequately addressed by currently available resources. And…
DG Digest: EPA opens comment period on chemicals prioritization
As spring formally kicked off, it was a quiet week for regulatory activity. One item of note; after a lengthy genesis, the EPA is moving on the “designation “ phase for high and low priority substances under the revised Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. See below for details, as well as the rest of…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 25, 2019
Week of March 25, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance The adoption of new and innovative technologies are helping enable a digital supply chain and improve operations for global companies, especially those shipping dangerous goods. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout…
19 reasons to sign up for the 2019 Dangerous Goods Symposium now
It’s barely spring. Too soon to think about September? Not when we’re talking about the 2019 Dangerous Goods Symposium—slated for September 4–6 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago. The Symposium is the world’s premier event for hazmat professionals from all over the world—and anyone else who works hard every day to keep our supply chain safe.…
DG Digest: USPS to require triple packaging for most liquids
The St. Patrick’s Day holiday found regulatory activity at moderate pace. Perhaps the biggest news? The US Post Office released its long awaited updated to the rules for shipping liquids in the mail. See that, and all the latest news, right here: PHMSA The agency published three sets of special permit actions. As is typically…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 18, 2019
Week of March 18, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance New technologies have a ripple effect across the supply chain, especially when these technologies are classified as “dangerous.” To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement of dangerous goods throughout the supply chain, Labelmaster has launched “Supply…
Industrial Pack 2019: More networking, more experts, more hazmat
Ever see kids have more fun with the box than the toy that came inside it? That’s us. To most people, a shipping package is just a container, something to open so they can use whatever’s inside. But to Dangerous Goods pros, a package is a critical compliance tool. We respect the science, engineering and…
DG Digest: PHMSA harmonizes with ICAO on lithium battery transport
The second full week in March finds PHMSA having published its lithium battery by air revisions, and, just to make things interesting, the agency threw in a twist. See the details below. Meanwhile, Spring Break season is here. Make sure your employees don’t get distracted from their need to be safe—a looming vacation can often…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 11, 2019
Week of March 11, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation has crept into every part of our personal and professional lives. For companies shipping and handling dangerous goods (DG), these new technologies have a significant impact on the supply chains – including how they must approach compliance. To help companies keep…
DOT PHMSA Lithium Battery Interim Final Rule (IFR) Effective Immediately
The long-awaited DOT PHMSA Interim Final Rule (IFR) enhancing the safety provisions for lithium batteries transported by aircraft appeared in the Federal Register this week on March 6th. This IFR generally harmonizes the 49 CFR with the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (regulations effective in the ICAO TI…
Hazmat pros—with HM-215O coming, how do you spell “harmonization?”
Last week we shared transatlantic viewpoints on confidence in Dangerous Goods compliance. This week, our experts talk about harmonization between Europe and North America. The supply chain is more global than it’s ever been. Yet Dangerous Goods regulations still vary from country to country. The differences in hazmat regulations between Europe and North America are—thankfully—nowhere…
DG Digest: PHMSA releases draft rule: lithium battery harmonization may be upon us
PHMSA The agency, in consultation with the Federal Railroad Administration and pursuant to the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) of 2015, issued a final rule to revise and clarify requirements for comprehensive oil spill response plans (COSRPs) and to expand their applicability based on petroleum oil thresholds that apply to an entire train…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of March 4, 2019
Week of March 4, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is helping create a digital supply chain that enables more intelligent and forward-thinking operations. For companies shipping and handling dangerous goods (DG), this modern approach must include compliance. To help companies keep a pulse on technology trends impacting business and the movement…
Why are American hazmat pros less confident? Two experts weigh in.
Remember, back when you were in school, the feeling of walking out of a final exam knowing you absolutely nailed it? That’s how we want Dangerous Goods pros to feel about their operations every day—like they got every last detail right, and that all their outcomes will be positive. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. Year…
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks renewal of ICRs for transport of radioactive materials in commerce
The last weekend of February finds the nation still coping with heavy winter weather. Perhaps March will see things get better, but don’t let up on your efforts to keep employees safe from snow and ice, and keep hoping for an early spring! Meanwhile, regulatory activity was somewhat lighter this week. Here’s the latest: PHMSA…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 25, 2019
Week of February 25, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology is a necessity in today’s complex, fast-paced supply chain. This is especially true for companies shipping and handling dangerous goods (DG) – as they look for ways to effectively and efficiently comply with ever-changing regulations while meeting increasing customer demands. To help…
DG Digest: OSHA issues guidance aiming to protect workers from lithium batteries worn as personal equipment
Mid-February finds a variety of action taking place on the regulatory front as everyone waits for winter to run its course. With the shutdown now receding, agencies have ramped back up to normal operations, and are busy with their schedules. Here’s all the latest: FAA The agency published the renewal of an ICR affecting Part…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 18, 2019
Week of February 18, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation continues to change how we do business. For companies that handle dangerous goods, technology adoption and integration is critical in order to effectively and efficiently comply with complex regulations and maintain a smooth, safe and secure supply chain. To help companies…
The Labelmaster guide to Valentine’s Day hazmat shipping
Today is the day when people all over the world celebrate love. This celebration is often manifested by the sending of cherished missives and objects from lover to lover. While the standard Valentine’s card or box of chocolates requires no special measures, it’s important to realize that many romantic notions have Dangerous Goods implications. We…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of February 11, 2019
Week of February 11, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance Technology innovation is a key driver in taking the supply chain forward and changing how you do business. Best-in-class companies that handle Dangerous Goods (DG) understand that technology adoption and integration is critical to effectively and efficiently complying with complex, constantly changing regulations…
DG Digest: FRA publishes emergency relief docket and DOT reviewing need for some external guidance documents
The last two weeks found federal agencies slowly returning to their normal schedules following the recent shutdown. The result? A much busier DG Digest! Meanwhile, much of the country is experiencing the grip of the depth of winter. Is your workplace safe for employees? Remember to keep your walkways clear and dry, watch inside flooring…
Total value of compliance, Part 3: Creating new revenue from DG compliance
Managing a Dangerous Goods shipping operation is a lot like running a farm. It may seem like all you do is spend money, while the potential profits are hard to imagine—and a long way off. But if a farmer makes every decision with that long term in mind, the operation is much more likely to…
Total value of compliance, Part 2: What do compliance gaps actually cost you?
Every hazmat pro knows a Dangerous Goods shipment that doesn’t comply with current regulations could end up costing their company money. In fact, 28% of hazmat pros surveyed in our 2018 Global Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook said their companies comply with regulations only because the regulations mandate it. In other words, all they want to…
DG Digest: OSHA rescinds rule for some employers to efile injury and illness rates
After a hiatus tied to the government shutdown, the DG Digest returns along with the reopening Monday morning of the federal agencies we cover. What will the now-ended shutdown’s impact be? It’s difficult to say for certain. The biggest item on PHMSA’s agenda is the HM-215O international harmonization NPRM; comments on that are scheduled to…
Total value of compliance, Part 1: Assessing your hazmat processes and procurement
Trick question: Do you spend too much on Dangerous Goods compliance? Most hazmat professionals would probably answer “yes.” Whenever we have to spend money on something that doesn’t show an immediate benefit, it always feels like we’re spending too much. And there’s no getting around it—Dangerous Goods compliance requires a financial outlay. But the real…
DOT Departments Limit Services During Continued Government Shutdown
Have you been curious how the partial Government shutdown has affected the Department of Transportation (DOT) offices? DOT recently issued a plan document outlining how each office is operating during the current funding freeze. It includes a summary of personnel affected (working vs. furloughed), as well as summaries of continuing operations and suspended activities. Hazardous…
How a free Total Value of Compliance Assessment can make your hazmat operation more profitable
Late last year, we introduced a new concept to the Dangerous Goods galaxy: total value of compliance. It’s a new way of thinking about supply chain operations that views hazmat compliance as not just a cost of doing business, but also as a value-added component that contributes to profitability. Maybe you read that post, and…
Hazmat hopes 2019: Top Dangerous Goods professionals share their wishes
Work in Dangerous Goods long enough, and you may find yourself wishing things were different. Couldn’t that new IATA regulation be worded more clearly? Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to explain Limited Quantities to your customer—for the third time? And how exactly does a 2mm-thick label border make a hazmat shipment safer?…
DG Digest: 2019 ADR eFile and Corrigenda & UPS DG Tables and Variations Now Available
Happy New Year! The first blog post of the year for the DG Digest finds the ongoing government shutdown still in effect. As such, US regulatory activity is minimal. As of press time, there was no new information on the impact the shutdown may have on federal regulatory schedules or other activity moving forward. The…
11 must-have items for hazmat shipping when your eyelashes freeze
Happy New Year! For those of us in northern climes, we’re well past the isn’t-winter-wonderful? phase and well into the enough-already-with-the-freezing-rain phase. Yet Dangerous Goods shipments don’t care if your eyelashes freeze together or your fingertips go numb. Your customers and supply chain partners still expect your shipments to be safe, compliant and on time,…
DG Digest: Regulatory news from PHMSA, FMCSA, EPA and more as 2018 ends with partial government shutdown.
The end of the year finds portions of the federal government shut down, including the Department of Transportation. At press time, there was no specific information or guidance on either the DOT or PHMSA websites as to the exact impact that this shutdown will have on regulatory schedules or other departmental activity. This column will…
From hazmat hopes to new paradigms: Our top 12 posts of 2018
If you only have time to read one blog about the Dangerous Goods supply chain, we’re glad you make it ours. And if you don’t even get the time to read our blog every week, here are our top 12 posts from the last year, in chronological order: Hazmat hopes: A 2018 wish list from…
2018: The year in Dangerous Goods regulations
2018 was a relatively quiet year in the Dangerous Goods galaxy, with few major new regulatory changes and no unexpected surprises from domestic or international regulatory bodies. Still, as Labelmaster’s Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, I hear all the questions from our customers and partners about how best to comply with regulations. This…
Total value of compliance, as explained by Chicago Bears fans
Lots of us at Labelmaster are excited about our hometown Chicago Bears, who are poised to make the National Football League playoffs for the first time in eight years. As one of the league’s biggest turnaround stories, the Bears have made sharp improvements in several statistical categories. One improvement that gets very little attention? Penalty…
How CEVA’s Rusty McMains makes the C-Suite pay attention to hazmat
In today’s supply chain, the way people think about Dangerous Goods transport is evolving. It used to be common for organizations to view hazmat compliance as a necessary evil—just a cost of doing business. They cared about safety, and they cared about avoiding delays and civil penalties, but that was the extent of their concern.…
DG Digest: IATA updates lithium battery handling guidance and the FAA posts 2019 drug and alcohol testing rates
Our entry into December and the full-on holiday season finds regulatory activity back to a slightly lower level after last week’s big HM-215O release. Don’t let the holiday rush impact your workplace’s safety plan; many people have busy schedules and lots to do away from the job for the next month or so. Be sure…
Why “total value of compliance” is a new paradigm for hazmat shippers
Why do you pursue Dangerous Goods compliance? Take a moment before you answer, because the real reason may not be as obvious as you think. We’ve been asking hazmat professionals that question for years, and the answers have evolved. Today, nearly a quarter of companies in the DG supply chain pursue compliance because it’s a…
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…
