Welcome to mid-September already! This coming week will see the official end of the summer, so as the fall season rolls in, be sure that your company safety plans account for it. For example, storm drains that rid your property of water can often become blocked by falling leaves, and lead to water damage of a safety problem. We all have to stay on top of what Mother Nature is up to at any given time of the year. There was good news on the supply chain front as the nation’s Class 1 railroads reached a tentative deal with their operating unions and averted what could have been a crippling labor action. The deal still have to be voted on which will take a few weeks, but it appears that the crisis has passed—a definite plus for the logistics sector! Here’s the rest of what turned out to be another busy week of news:
PHMSA
Special Permit time again. The agency has published its latest set of actions, which, as is typically the case, feature batteries, cylinders, portable tanks, and other unique actions. See all the latest items at the three links below:
IATA DGR
IATA has published its list of significant changes to the 64th Edition of the DGR. The 64th Edition will become effective on 1 January 2023. You can get a copy of the document via this portal.
EU ADR
The UNECE has made available its consolidated list of amendments intended to be incorporated into the 2023 version of the EU ADR—the regulation that govern dangerous goods transport by road in EU signatory nations as well as a number of countries worldwide that use the ADR as the basis for their own regulatory structures. See the list here.
TSA
The agency is granting a temporary exemption from requirements regarding the expiration of TSA Security Threat Assessments (STAs) for Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) holders, subject to requirements set forth in this exemption. For the duration of this exemption, states may extend the expiration date of an HME that expires between July 1, 2022 and December 27, 2022, for a period of up to 180 days. TSA has determined it is in the public interest to grant the exemption at this time to ensure that the HME renewal process does not exacerbate the current difficulties with the transfer and movement of cargo nationwide and at the ports. TSA may extend this exemption depending on HME enrollment volumes and supply chain challenges. This exemption becomes effective on September 15, 2022 and remains in effect through December 27, 2022. Find full information at the link.
Chemical Hazard and Safety Investigation Board
The board announced its regular meeting schedule for the next three quarters. Meetings are planned in October, January, and April. For details and the full schedule, see the link.
FMCSA
The agency is extending its public comment period on the proposed new regulatory guidance it intends to offer for the Medical Examiners Handbook. The extension is until October 31st. Details right here.
The agency is also seeking public comment on ways to improve the clarity of current regulations on the use of electronic logging devices (ELD). Comment should address five specific areas: applicability to pre-2000 engines; addressing ELD malfunctions; the process for removing ELD products from FMCSA’s list of certified devices; technical specifications; and ELD certification. Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 15, 2022. Want to have your say? See ways to contribute.
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