OSHA is kicking off the 2018 grain transport season with an effort to prevent injuries associated with its handling. A special website will support the effort. BNSF 8219 East begins the long pull up Stampede Pass with a grain train in western Washington State in October, 2017. Image © 10/2017 by Nikki Burgess; all rights reserved.
The nation continues to be battered over large areas by very late and unusually heavy snowfalls. Many companies have plowing & shoveling contracts with private vendors that often end on April 1st each spring. If this is how it works at your company, it may be the case that your vendor will need that extra call to come out and help clear your property, since it is after the date of normal contract expiration. Be sure to protect your employees. Make that extra service call if you need to! Hopefully, this winter that won’t quit will finally do so soon. Meanwhile, here’s the latest regulatory news:
EPA
The agency published an ICR dealing with reporting hazardous substance and or oil discharges into waterways. The ICR will be used to craft revised regulations governing such discharges. EPA Tier II reporting data will be collected from the states as part of this effort. If your company operates a regulated liquid discharge, you may be affected. See the full summary here
OSHA
- The agency published a correction to Part 1926 of the 29 CFR. This part governs safety standards in the construction industry. See the correction here
- Grain handling season is about to begin in earnest throughout much of our nation’s farm belts, and worker injuries and deaths account being buried, or engulfed, in loose grain, are a tragic accompaniment to the season. This year OSHA is working with grain handlers throughout the logistics chain to try to improve procedures and prevent such needless accidents. A special website has been created for interested parties to go for more assistance in making their operations safer. See the link here
FMCSA
Significant news on this front, as the agency published a final rule authorizing the use of electronic signatures and paperwork for many of its documentary requirements. No direct impact on hazmat paperwork just yet, however if you are a U.S. DOT registered motor carrier, this is sure to be of interest to your operation. See it here
Canada TDGR
The dangerous goods safety agency of our neighbor to the north published a proposed rule that will revise the regulations governing use of large packagings. If you use these somewhat rare packaging items, and ship DG to, from, or through Canada in them, you’ll want a chance to review and comment. Here’s your portal
IATA Passenger Guidelines for Lithium Batteries
The international association that governs much of the world’s air transport network has published a new set of guidelines outlining what is and is not permissible for carriage about a passenger aircraft for boarding passengers. The document provides a succinct summary of the current state of taking lithium batteries along when one travels. See the new guide right here
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