The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has released the 2020 edition of its Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG). This edition provides first responders with the revised and updated go to manual that offers guidance on what to do in that first critical 30 minutes of a HAZMAT response. The revised ERG contains an indexed list of dangerous goods, their associated ID numbers, and general hazards that they might pose in a transportat...

PHMSA has extended the Exemption of Enforcement of Division 2.2 cylinders that are out of Requalification through October 31st, 2020.  Full details can be read in the blog bost below.

NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION REGARDING CYLINDERS THAT HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR PERIODIC REQUALIFICATION TEST DATE

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) understands that due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, many members of the medical and industrial gas industry may be experiencing difficulty in obtaining cylinders due to the increased demand for these gases or a disruption in...

NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT POLICY REGARDING TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) understands that many hazardous materials (hazmat) employers may be experiencing difficulty in either obtaining or providing recurrent training as required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR, 49 CFR Parts 171-180) due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

PHMSA gives notice that it wi...

Don’t think that penalties imposed by PHMSA for violations are anything to worry about? Think again! If you willfully violate 49 CFR, it can cost you, your business, and your pocketbook plenty. In October of this year (2019), PHMSA increased the amount of money it can fine you in the event of a violation. The new adjustments are summarized as follows:

Minimum penalty for a hazardous materials training violation - -$493

Maximum penalty for a Hazardous Materials Violation ...

Important update for customers of Linde Gas.

Linde and its affiliates, including Praxair, Inc., will increase the prices of product and equipment rentals in North America, beginning 1st December (2019), or as contracts permit.

The industrial gas giant today announced the following increases:

Up to 15% for nitrogen and oxygen

Up to 20% for carbon dioxide, argon and hydrogen

Up to 15% for facility fees or equipment rentals

Helium pri...

PHMSA is issuing this safety advisory notice to inform the public, industrial gas stakeholders, and relevant government officials of the risks associated with re-qualifying, filling, and transporting cylinders bearing the DOT specification markings ‘‘DOT 4E’’ or ‘‘DOT 4BA’’ that were produced by a company located in Thailand by the name of Metal Mate. Metal Mate does not have an approval from PHMSA to manufacture cylinders to DOT specifications;...

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One of the more recent controversies in the compressed gas market is the use of MAE testing to extend the service life of Carbon Fiber SCBA Cylinders. You can refer to previous blog articles to understand what all of the hoopla is about. In the meantime, it has come to our attention that SP 16320 which allows the procedure is expired. USDOT Permits office published a notification on their website confirming the permit holder Digital Wave applied for renewal but at this time their applicatio...

I am always amazed when asked the question; “Why do I need refresher training, when I have been doing this job every day?” Many people have the belief that if they do a job day in and day out, they should not need refresher training or that the need for this training does not apply to them. For the record, I want to state that this attitude or belief is patently false. A lack of refresher training opens an organization to liability, fines, and other issues.

As a quick ref...