They say knowledge is power, and I guess the opposite can be true as well. Sadly, a 32-year-old manager at a local Buffalo Wild Wings in Massachusetts found this out in the saddest of ways. When an employee attempted to clean the kitchen with a chlorine and bleach based cleaner known as Super 8, he was unaware that an acid based cleaner, Scale Kleen, had been spilled earlier on the floor. This mixture created a “bubbling green concoction” triggering eye and respiratory irritation, causing the employee to flee the kitchen.
In response to industry petition regarding several provisions set forth in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), the Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed 19 Amendments to update, clarify, improve the safety of, or provide relief from various regulatory requirements.
This is a question we get asked a lot (or some variation of the question). The short answer is yes. If you ship, receive, or handle ANY hazardous materials in the US, you fall under the requirements of 49 CFR . I know, it sounds super official and scary. But now that you know you are one of millions of people who need training, you must figure out what hazmats are.
Companies who produce, distribute, sell or recycle hazmat must have strict internal operations and security plans, that ensure safe processing and handling of all chemicals – they must also arrange for safe transportation of their chemical components. This often requires the assistance of a 3rd party transportation provider, who has their own transportation restrictions. When combined with the compliance requirements set forth by the DOT, a detailed hazmat safety and security plan must be in place.
