One of the things that Labelmaster does to stay ahead of regulatory requirements for our customers is to monitor the United States Federal Register each day. If you don’t know what that is, it can be briefly described as the “book”—it’s an electronic publication, these days; that the federal government uses to give notice of…
What Exactly is GHS and How Does it Affect Me?
GHS, the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, was adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2012 to align global communications on the risks of chemicals found in the workplace. With implementation of the standard ongoing and the final deadline less than a year away, employers now need to…
US FRA Issues Safety Advisory for Passenger Train Operations
In continuing fallout from several recent passenger train accidents including fatality accidents on New York’s Metro-North commuter system and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Service, both of which incidents have been alleged to have had apparent contributing factors of excessive speed entering curves, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a formal…
Clock Ticks Towards June 1st 2015, the Next OSHA/GHS Hazcom Deadline
There was a bustle of activity on the hazard communication front in 2013 as companies scrambled to meet a December 1st federal deadline to train their employees in the required elements of the updated Hazard Communication regulation which fully embraced the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals, or as it is…
Trucker’s Group Requests Extension of Comment Period for FMCSA Required Drug and Alcohol Testing
In an action published in yesterday’s Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the comment period on the proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which would establish a new nationwide database for reporting and tracking drug and alcohol related citations and test results for operators of commercial vehicles (CMV) holding…
FMCSA Releases Revised National Hazardous Materials Route Registry
In the April 29, 2015 edition of the Federal Register, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a revised National Hazardous Materials Route Registry (NHMRR) which spells out approved routes for road vehicles to transport hazardous materials in the United States. The Registry also contains extensive information designed…
US FRA Takes Emergency Action Limiting Some Train Speeds
At approximately 1:15 AM EST on July 6th, 2013, a unit freight train of the cross-border operating Montreal, Maine, & Atlantic Railroad (MM&A) loaded with crude oil from the Bakken Shale Formations in North Dakota in the western United States…
Avoiding the Deadline Crisis: Understanding the HCS and its Deadline Schedule and Mandates
The annual angst over Income Tax Deadline Day isn’t the only federal date mandate causing concern this April. There is a seeming whirlwind of confusion amongst American businesses about the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard’s (HCS) deadline dates for compliance with what nearly everyone calls “the GHS.” It’s not really the…
Regulatory Issues Addressing Crude Oil / Ethanol Shipments by Rail
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. CT It is more important than ever for companies that ship crude oil and flammable products to ensure they are compliant. In this webinar you will learn about: Proposed tank cars for North America. Compliance with DOT/TSA regulations – shipper and carrier requirements Exceptions taken by DOT inspectors…
UPS Imposes New Lithium Metal Battery Restrictions
In an action which is assuredly no April Fool’s jest, United Parcel Service (UPS) today announced new restrictions on and requirements for the transport of Lithium Metal Batteries. Effective July 1st, 2015, shipments of UN3090 Lithium Metal Batteries via UPS Airlines must receive pre-approval from UPS prior to shipment. The announcement indicates that this will…