If your company ships dangerous goods by air, it is essential that your employees are aware and properly trained on the current IATA regulations. The 59th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations includes the changes issued by ICAO to the 2017-2018 editions of the Technical Instructions. The changes may affect your company’s current operations Not sure if a regulation affects you?
The HM-215N is a regulation that would have harmonized the 49 CFR HMR with the 19th revised edition of the UN model regulations, the 2016 IMDG Code and the 2017/2018 ICAO Technical Instructions.58th Edition of the IATA DGR. As of January 1st new battery marks were available to consumers, which many battery shippers in the US started to purchase to prepare for harmonization of the regulation.
Effective January 1, 2017, UPS and Fed Ex added more restrictive requirements for shipping Section II Lithium batteries by Air than those imposed by the IATA regulations.
UPS Air service:
All US Air and International Air shipments of lithium ion or metal cells and batteries shipped without equipment must be prepared and shipped as fully regulated. UPS will no longer allow air shipments prepared according to:
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.
The last thing you want is to fail a compliance audit. Hazardous materials are a serious matter and auditors will not overlook any issue that could pose a danger. Not only will failing result in a permanent note on your record, you will receive a fine along with the costs to remedy the issue. If your business is found to be non-compliant, you may be ordered to close until you remedy the problems. Once completed, you have to wait for someone to find time to re-examine your facility.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) have long been in use as the standard hazard communications platforms that accompany chemicals and volatile items in transit – commonly used by chemical manufacturers & distributors as a means of notifying handlers and end users of any potential hazards.
It’s no surprise that businesses who handle hazardous materials and items of HAZMAT are heavily regulated by the federal government. These regulations also apply to organizations that transport hazardous materials where the risk of public exposure to contaminants is greatly compounded. The first hazardous materials regulations in the United States were passed in 1975 and since then, several new laws and amendments have been enacted in the industry.
When it comes to packaging of hazardous materials, meeting packaging requirements is critical. Hazmat packaging companies must abide by these regulations and requirements in order to ensure the safety of their employees, as well as safety of others. This article will explain packaging procedures in regards to hazmat safety regulations. It will also define the process of packaging dangerous materials (or hazardous material) for different modes of transportation.
