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: 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…
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: 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…
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 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;…
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…
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…
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…
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…