When the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) imposed new lithium battery air shipping restrictions April 1, 2016, many shippers whose products never cross US borders believed that the new rules didn’t apply to them. Because those restrictions have not been adopted into the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR),…
How a security seal control program protects your hazardous materials
Seals Series, Volume 3 — Seals are a great, underappreciated hazmat security tool. In our last couple of posts, we’ve talked about situations where seals are essential in Dangerous Goods security, and where seals are a better choice than locks. But seals by themselves can only do so much. To fully exploit their potential, you…
16 reasons to sign up for the 2016 Dangerous Goods Symposium now
The 2016 Dangerous Goods Symposium—a.k.a. DGS XI—is slated for September 7–9, at the Loews Chicago Hotel. As always, the Symposium will feature workshops and presentations from some of the sharpest trainers and practitioners in the Dangerous Goods galaxy, along with unparalleled networking and plenty of downtime pleasantries. DGS XI will only be free for…
Dangerous Goods Report | Vol. 5
Lithium Battery Shipping—Retail Rolls with the Changes. Cover Story: Challenging skies for lithium battery shippers. As lithium battery shipping regulations get even more complex and restrictive, retailers must adopt new processes and tactics. A look inside UN-certified packaging. Do you need it? Is it worth it? And what do all those letters and numbers mean?…
Dangerous Goods security: 5 reasons to choose a seal over a lock
Seals Series, Volume 2 — Since our high school locker days, most of us are conditioned to think that the best way to keep things secure is with a lock. In the Dangerous Goods world, though, locks aren’t always the best choice. When is a seal better than a lock? You might be surprised: …
8 technologies that could make lithium batteries safer (or obsolete)
If you ship lithium batteries, or anything with batteries in it, your job seems to get more challenging every week. New battery-shipping rules have made some air transport all but impossible, and the regulatory landscape—er, airscape—is primed for more restrictions. Do you sometimes wish lithium batteries would just go away? Dream on! Battery power is…
11 places security seals are essential in Dangerous Goods
Seals Series, Volume 1 — If you’re in the Dangerous Goods business, you probably use security seals somewhere. Maybe lots of somewheres. But you might not realize how many ways and places DG professionals put seals to work. A closure device that can be opened only once can protect more than you might think. Locks…
Addendum 4 and Supplement Addendum to the 2015-2016 ICAO Technical Instructions
2015-2016 ICAO TI Addendum 4: Doc 9284-2015-2016.ADD-4.en Supplement Addendum: Doc 9284SUP-ADDENDUM.en
10 strangest hazmat items in the 2016 Emergency Response Guidebook
Everyone in the Dangerous Goods business has at least one copy of the Emergency Response Guidebook nearby at all times, right? (If not, stop reading and click here right now!) But how many of us actually sit down and read it? Well, we did, and we discovered some hazmat items in the essential ERG that…
FAA Reauthorization Legislation Focused on Lithium Batteries
Bob Richard and Neil McCulloch co-contributed to this article. When a US Senator proposes to spend tax dollars on a committee to “promote research and new standards for the safe manufacture, use or transportation of lithium batteries,” I can only sigh in frustration. This is exactly what was recently proposed by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.. …