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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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,…
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: 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…