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In a final action taken largely in response to a petition it received in 2008, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a final rule establishing a new section (49 CFR 173.157) in its hazardous materials regulations (HMRs) covering reverse logistics highway shipments of certain hazardous materials hazardous materials.
Reverse operations just got a nudge forward for retailers. If you manage a retail operation, you are confronted with waste and hazardous materials problems that can be confusing for even the most seasoned manager. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently finalized efforts to make reverse logistics easier for retailers that have to ship hazardous […]
Get a group of EHS professionals together and the subject of hazardous materials (hazmat) training will invariably come up. What does the Department of Transportation (DOT) expect? How can you be sure that your training is effective and compliant with the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs)? Today we offer steps for developing a training program […]
If you are a hazardous materials transportation employer, it is worthwhile to keep an eye on what the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) considers priorities. That way you can focus resources in the direction the agency feels compliance efforts should be targeted. Fortunately, PHMSA recently released a list of hazardous materials transportation research […]
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), more than one-third of hazardous materials transportation violations involve the failure of employers to provide training or maintain employee training records. In most cases, violations are attributed to failure to provide function-specific training. Aside from providing the required training for loading and unloading cargo tank vehicles, there […]
A driver miscommunicates critical information to facility personnel during delivery of corrosive material that was then unloaded into the wrong storage tank containing incompatible materials. Adding to the confusion, it’s the driver’s first delivery to this location. The comingling of incompatible materials emits a vapor affecting the breathing of the driver and facility employee resulting […]
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently issued a final rule codifying the provisions of nine special permits for companies that transport certain bulk explosives. What are special permits and what kind of flexibility do they offer for transporting hazardous materials? How is training handled under special permits? How is PHMSA moving toward […]
Don’t get caught short by a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) roadside inspection. In its most recent data for fiscal year (FY) 2016, DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had performed 26,570 roadside inspections of trucks targeting compliance with hazardous materials transportation regulations. During these inspections, DOT inspectors found 5,894 violations. The top violation […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule prohibiting employers from forcing drivers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in violation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The rule includes reporting procedures for drivers who feel they are being coerced to break the law. Today we will focus on certain aspects of […]
By Elizabeth Dickinson, JD The “Hazardous Materials: Harmonization with International Standards (RRR)” final rule was issued on January 8, 2015. Voluntary compliance with the new rule began January 1, 2015, with mandatory compliance delayed until January 1, 2016, unless otherwise specified (as it is for numerous provisions).