Here we are approaching the end of October! You know what that means—Halloween will be at the end of the coming week. Let’s review some basic safety for the holiday:

• If your workplace allows costuming, be sure any such outfits don’t compromise safe work practices, especially loose clothing that could get caught in powered machinery and most important of all, anything that would obscure normal vision
• People get excited about this holiday—make sure we help our fellow employees stay task focused in the workplace this week
• If you have children, make sure they understand the limits you’ve set for their holiday activities and that their costumes are safe
• Watch those roads! Kids and adults alike might be less than careful about crossing streets in darkened neighborhoods
• Don’t get carried away at those Halloween parties; remember, this year, the “day after” is a Monday Morning!

Halloween can be a fun and exciting holiday if we keep some basic safety tips in mind. Make sure you plan your activities accordingly and enjoy the day!  It wasn’t a huge regulatory week as far as news goes, but here’s the latest update:

Transport Canada

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released the final draft of Safety Standard CAN/CGSB-43.123 for a 60-day consultation period. This standard is incorporated by reference within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG Regulations) and the new edition will come into force once published with a six-month phase-in (transitional) period. Safety standard CAN/CGSB-43.123 sets out the requirements for designing, manufacturing, testing, selecting, and using aerosol containers and gas cartridges. The standard also lays out the requirements for the transport of aerosol containers and gas cartridges intended for disposal or recycling. Find out more about the standard and how to comment if your business is impacted here.

USPS

The service published a new final rule setting strict limits on the mailing of electronic nicotine delivery systems. The rule effectively disallows commercial mailing, instead allowing only very limited mailing by private individuals. While not DG related per se, the rule is likely to drive some shippers to use common carrier delivery moving forward. One thing almost all such devices share in common is a lithium battery power source, so this rule may very well prompt increased shipping activity in our industry sector by shippers who may not fully understand the differences between postal shipping and common carrier shipping. See the rule here.

U.S. EPA

The agency published two new actions under TSCA reporting requirements. The first is an ICR that deals with Mercury Inventory Reporting. Mercury is a highly toxic and liquid form metal that is a persistent hazard. The use of mercury in industry has drastically declined in favor of safer alternatives, however it does have some uses for which no alternate presently serves and as such, users within the scope of the reporting thresholds must report their use to the EPA, which tracks such supplies. See this ICR here.

A second TSCA related action relates to user fees imposed on certain industries that are subject to TSCA reporting.  Such help defray the cost of operating the TSCA program. See this notice here.

Labelmaster is a full-service provider of products, shipping and training software, and professional consulting services to assist the DG and HS&E professional to comply with national and international regulations.  See our full line of solutions at www.labelmaster.com.