HazMat Penalties Increased

Effective January 11, 2021, US DOT has increased civil penalties for violations of the Hazardous Materials Regulations. This is the annual adjustment for inflation.

DOT PHMSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, and other agencies all increased the maximum fines.
Maximum civil penalty for hazmat violation increased from $81,993 to $83,439 per
violation, per day.
Maximum civil penalty for hazmat violation resulting in death, serious illness or severe
injury, or substantial destruction of property increased from $191,316 to $194,691

Training violations increased from $493 to $502 per employee, per day. Hazardous materials training is required once every 3 years according to 49 CFR 172.704.

A copy of the Federal Register notice can be found here.

Christine Holloway-Clare is the Vice President of Safety Specialists, Inc. She has been assisting customers comply with the hazardous materials regulations for over 20 years.

Safety Specialists, Inc. offers a wide range of hazardous materials transportation training and consulting options. Online training is available. Monthly online classes for DOT, IATA and IMDG available. Join one today.

PHMSA COVID Relief Ending on Oct. 31

Relief that PHMSA provided during this global pandemic are coming to an end on October 31, 2020. PHMSA does not intend to extend these notices but will consider extensions on a case by case basis. This relief includes but not limited to:

  • Recurrent training
  • Shipping papers and social distancing
  • Transportation of hand sanitizers

All of the notices are posted here. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/news/assistance-public-during-covid-19

If you are need of recurrent training, please let us know. We are conducting training online via recorded training or instructor led webinars. We can be reached at 704-573-0955 or by email hello@hazmathelp.com.

Changes in the 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook

The 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook has been updated from the 2016 edition.

Here are the highlights.

  • The guidebook has been revised to make it easier to read and understand.
  • How to use the Orange Guides has been added to the ERG. A copy of this How to Use the Orange Guide is here.
  • 34 materials have been moved to different Orange Guides upon review of the chemical properties of the material
    Those identification numbers with new Orange Guides are: UN1006, UN1046, UN1056, UN1065, UN1066, UN1112, UN1199, UN1450, UN1494, UN1500, UN1649, UN1802, UN1848, UN1865, UN1872, UN1928, UN1990, UN1994, UN2036, UN2209, UN2211, UN2381, UN2438, UN2721, UN2806, UN2983, UN3084, UN3093, UN3257, UN3304, UN3308, UN3379, UN3380, and UN3463.
  • Caution sentences were added for specific compounds, such as liquified natural gas (LNG), ethanol, methanol, flammable aerosols, etc.
  • In the Orange Guide, highlighted and non-highlighted materials are identified in the guides to make them easier to understand. See below

Here is a summary of the changes you will find in the 2020 that PHMSA issued and you can download the 2020 ERG here.

If you have questions on shipping hazardous materials, please reach out to Safety Specialists and we would be happy to assist you.

Stay safe,

Christine Holloway-Clare is the Vice President of Safety Specialists, Inc. She has been assisting customers comply with the hazardous materials regulations for over 20 years.

Safety Specialists, Inc. offers a wide range of hazardous materials transportation training and consulting options. Online training is available. Monthly online classes for DOT, IATA and IMDG available. Join one today.