Here we are sweltering in late July! Much of the nation is in the grip of record-breaking heat, so all of us need to be sure to pay extra attention to heat safety—let’s keep our fellow employees protected from heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both potentially dangerous conditions that can severely injure or even be…
DG Digest: PHMSA seeks feedback on modernization of its Hazardous Materials Regulations
Now that the Independence Day holiday has come and gone, here we are in the full swing of summer. Make sure that your workplace has a solid plan in place to mitigate the effects of the inevitable hot weather, and to safely account for the absence of employees that are away on vacation—it’s “prime time”…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes rule which requires rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials.
PHMSA published the proposed rule discussed here last week which will require rail carriers to provide greater levels of information about hazardous materials in train consists to first responders when potentially dangerous incidents occur. A BNSF train rolls through a curve near Rock Island, Washington in July of 2017. Image © 7/2017 by Nikki Burgess;…
The EPA has published new guidance related to the characterization of waste related to lithium batteries.
It’s the first week of June and here comes summer! If you haven’t yet implemented your workplace’s summer heat illness and injury prevention program, now’s the time! Heat stress and heat stroke are among the most common workplace illnesses and the summertime is the biggest period of the year where they tend to occur. Help…
PHMSA publishes its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q
PHMSA As just noted above, in a major action the agency has published its newest international harmonization proposal. The NPRM is HM-215Q and will align current US 49 CFR HMR regulations more closely with the current UN structure found in the ICA/IATA, IMDG, and UNMR texts. Highlights include: • Incorporation by Reference: PHMSA proposes to…
PHMSA announces ICR renewal for IBC’s and Portable Tanks
Rolling into the third week of May finds the regulatory world relatively quiet. If you haven’t had a chance yet to get your summer heat safety program set up, maybe use the break to finish it! Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency published a request for comment on its plan to request renewal of six…
DOT’s drug and alcohol testing program, now allowing the use of oral sampling
The end of the first week of May finished up with some changes coming to DOT required drug and alcohol testing programs that can affect many carriers, and an important safety advisory in reference to rail transport. So, let’s have a look at the news: DOT The agency published a rule that amends the DOT’s…
DG Digest: USPS updates Pub 52, will start collecting electronic data to ensure safe DG handling on July 9, 2023
The weekend just concluded featured the annual Earth Day commemoration. While opinions may differ on the direction of environmental policies, every company can usually benefit from ideas that help to reduce waste streams and that allow for the more effective use of consumable resources like energy and water. Both these things can help to reduce…
DG Digest: PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Committee to meet April 20th; OSHA submitted an ICR for its Highly Hazardous Chemical Safety Program
The first full week of April featured several significant religious holidays that many people observe, and as such, things were just a little quieter on the regulatory news scene. Here’s the latest: PHMSA The agency announced a meeting of the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee for April 20th. This group is a stakeholder committee…
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes a safety advisory related to the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Here we are in April! Spring Break time is here, so let’s all be sure that we have planned how we will help employees stay safe during a period when many workplaces may be shorthanded or have employees daydreaming of the beach (don’t we all!). Hopefully, warmer weather will soon give all of us a…