Was 2022 a return to normal in the Dangerous Goods galaxy? By one measure, the answer is yes. For the first time since the global pandemic started in March 2020, a full year passed without any significant hazmat regulations relating to COVID-19. The world’s regulatory bodies have largely returned to their standard order of business—setting…
Why every auto-related business needs a large format lithium battery plan
Electric vehicles are here to stay. This is not breaking news. In 2021, global sales of electric cars doubled to a new record of 6.6 million—close to 10 percent of all new cars sold. In the U.S., electric vehicle registrations shot up 60 percent in the first quarter of 2022, and EVs now make up…
Why online hazmat training is essential for new supply chain workers
We all know that training is mandated by law for any workers involved in the transport of Dangerous Goods. But what about supply chain workers who aren’t involved in hazmat transport? Should they undergo training as well? For many forward-thinking supply chain organizations, the answer is yes. Now, you might well ask, “Why would we…
Large format lithium battery transport partners: Who you need and what to look for
Dangerous Goods is a team sport. Whether you handle one hazmat shipment a week or several thousand a day, you likely rely on partners to help you stay compliant with optimal efficiency. Your need for partners is especially acute when your business involves large format lithium batteries—and the bigger the battery, the more help you’ll…
9 improvements you can expect from smarter online hazmat training
Ever ask a sulky teenager to execute a household chore? They’ll do the bare minimum, but it’s easy to see that it could have been done better. There’s a similar dynamic with Dangerous Goods training. The law says employees have to be trained if an organization ships or handles hazardous materials, and many companies do…
How to solve large format lithium battery transport problems before they become problems
Organizations that are successful over the long term generally have one thing in common—they solve problems before they become problems. We see this in the supply chain every day. Disruptions happen. Companies that are prepared to handle those disruptions come out ahead of those that aren’t prepared—and the difference usually comes down to planning for…
DG Digest: PHMSA published handling and treatment guidance for end-of-life lithium batteries
Here we are with the end of May beginning to approach already. The Memorial Day holiday will mark the unofficial beginning of the summer for many people. Be sure that you plan your holiday safely and be sure as well to take time to remember the reason the holiday exists, and the sacrifices so many…
DG Digest: PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee to meet on May 4th, 2022
The third week of the month was a bit of a “post-holiday” period, apparently, at least among the regulatory bodies. It was pretty quiet. As such, it’s a small digest this week, although PHMSA announced a meeting dealing with lithium batteries—always a popular subject of interest. Here’s the latest news. PHMSA The agency announced a…
DG Digest: PHMSA Publishes Q2 Newsletter; OSHA to Invite Stakeholders to Meet on Heat-related Worker Hazards
The first full week of April found a number of interesting regulatory items. We’ll cover them all below. Meanwhile, April tends to be the lead-in month for much of the stormy springtime weather that many sections of our country experience. Be sure that your workplace severe weather plans are up to date and employees know…
Don’t design your large format lithium battery crate until you answer these 5 questions
If you’re transporting large format lithium batteries—like the ones for electric vehicles, solar power storage, data centers and other heavy-duty purposes—you’re going to need a large packaging solution. But if you start focusing on your packaging solution without doing the necessary intelligence work first, you could set yourself back weeks, or even months. Not to…