Shippers of crude oil have now faced the initial fallout from the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT)/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency’s (PHMSA)/Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) new “Operation Classification,” a spot inspection regimen designed to verify the accuracy of petroleum product classification and to try to increase the safety of crude shipments, particularly (but…
FedEx Dangerous Goods Shipping Regulations Updated
On May 01, 2014 a significant change will take effect for shipping dangerous goods by air with FedEx Express. In December 2013 FedEx issued an addendum to their Operator Variations which included the elimination of FX-12 and revision of FX-18.
Transport Canada Proposes TDG Changes to Impact Railway Tank Cars/DG Classification
On the 11th January 2014, Transport Canada’s regulatory arm proposed changes to the regulations governing the construction of railway tank cars in Canada, as well as for the cars operating there which may not have been constructed in country (i.e., primarily US built cars).
Transport Canada Proposes TDG Changes to Impact Railway Tank Cars/DG Classification
On the 11th January 2014, Transport Canada’s regulatory arm proposed changes to the regulations governing the construction of railway tank cars in Canada, as well as for the cars operating there which may not have been constructed in country (i.e., primarily US built cars).
FRA/PHMSA Expand on Emergency Order 28 in Response to Quebec Derailment
FRA/PHMSA conduct “Operation Classification” enforcement action. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) continue to respond to the disastrous railroad derailment in La Megantic, Quebec on July 6th, 2013. In that incident, an unmanned and unattended Montreal, Maine, & Atlantic (MM&A) freight train carrying crude oil derailed after…
The Impact of GHS and the Revised Hazard Communication Standard on Laboratories
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. laboratories employ more than a half-million workers. There are many recognized hazards associated with the laboratory environment; therefore, both OSHA and industry have taken steps to guard workers from potential chemical exposure. Many individuals are already aware that OSHA implemented a major revision to the U.S.…
First Compliance Date Looms for OSHA’s 2012 Hazard Communication Standard
The 2012 changes to the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration brought the United States into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). According to the final rule, the GHS/HCS compliance requirements will be phased in over a four-year period. The first compliance date,…
A.I.R. Shipper 2013 Addendum/Corrigendum Issued
Users of Labelmaster’s A.I.R. Shipper (Air International Regulations for Shippers of Dangerous Goods) should take note that the first Addendum/Corrigendum (or revision) of the regulations for 2013 has been released. A variety of sources are used for this revision; however, the primary source remains the regulations promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). A.I.R. Shipper presents…
Work Continues Towards Development of a Canadian National Occupational Standard for Dangerous Goods Program Administrators
The Dangerous Goods Committee of the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), in conjunction with the Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA), is working toward developing a national occupational standard (NOS) for transportation of dangerous goods program administrators. The aim is to develop a voluntary recognition of industry requirements for professionals engaged in the air…
Required Regulatory Change Affects Marking Text Size for Hazard Class Labels
Both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently changed the required size of the text to be used when marking the United Nations Identification Number (UNID Number) on packages of dangerous goods/hazardous materials. The UNID Number is a four-digit numerical designator (for example, UN1993) which provides an internationally recognized identification number…