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Why Monitoring Hazmat Incidents Protects Your Business
Article Summary When it comes to hazardous materials transportation, ignorance is not bliss—it’s a compliance risk. Many shippers assume they’ll be informed if their shipment is involved in an incident, but that’s rarely the case. Most incident reports are filed by the carrier, and shippers may never hear about them unless they actively look. …
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Navigating the Changing Landscape of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Logistics
Article Summary The lithium-ion battery industry is at a crossroads. As demand for electrification grows, so does the urgency to determine how end-of-life batteries should be transported, handled, and recycled. At the heart of the debate lies a fundamental question: How do we balance safety with sustainability in the logistics of recycling lithium-ion batteries? …
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Following the Breadcrumbs to Enhance Hazmat Safety
Article Summary Following the Breadcrumbs to Enhance Hazmat Safety Insights from Bob Richard, Vice President at HazMat Safety Consulting If you’ve ever read the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, you’ll remember the children dropping breadcrumbs to find their way out of the forest. It’s a simple image—but one that stuck with me throughout my…
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Regulations on the Import and Export of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Article Summary When Borders Collide with Batteries Lithium-ion batteries have become the beating heart of modern commerce, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. But shipping them across borders is not as simple as throwing them in a container and sending them off. These batteries are global cargo, but they are also global hazards. Regulators…
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Navigating State-Specific Regulations for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Article Summary In the world of hazardous materials, lithium‑ion batteries are the new rockstars—and like any out‑of‑control celebrity, they come with a ton of baggage. Everyone wants a piece of them, from EV manufacturers to grid storage innovators, but few understand the ticking time bomb they can be when mishandled. What’s worse is the bureaucratic…
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Hazardous Materials vs. Hazardous Waste: Understanding the Difference
Article Summary Hazardous Materials vs. Hazardous Waste: Understanding the Difference Not all dangerous goods are hazardous waste—and not all hazardous waste is dangerous goods. Understanding the distinction is key to compliance. Dangerous Goods vs. Hazardous Waste Dangerous goods: Substances that pose immediate risks during transport, regulated by DOT, IATA, or IMDG. Hazardous waste: Discarded…
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Are You Ready for IFC Section 320? Lithium Battery Storage Rules Are Coming Fast
Article Summary The Complete Guide to Lithium Battery Storage Compliance Under the 2024 International Fire Code Lithium-ion battery storage in the United States is moving toward a more unified standard—but until adoption is complete, businesses face a patchwork of local and state rules. This variability creates challenges for facilities storing large battery inventories, especially as…
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GHS vs. DOT: Why Classifications Don’t Always Match
Article Summary The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was designed to bring consistency to how chemicals are classified and labeled worldwide. So why, even with GHS, do OSHA and DOT classifications still differ? Different Purposes, Different Rules OSHA focuses on workplace safety—both chronic and acute hazards. DOT focuses on transportation…
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Is This a Hazardous Material? Asking the Right Questions
Article Summary It’s amazing how quickly a simple compliance question can snowball. One moment, everything feels under control. The next, you’re knee-deep in regulations you didn’t even know applied to you. Often, it starts with an innocent question from a customer or carrier: “Is this a hazardous material?” On the surface, it sounds straightforward. But…
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The New SAE G-27 Packaging Standard and Beyond
Article Summary In late 2024, a significant milestone was reached in the world of battery transport safety: the approval of the first SAE G27 packaging standard. While this approval marks a promising step forward, it’s important to understand the nuances of what this standard entails and what challenges still remain for the committee to address.…
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How Dangerous Goods Regulations Are Made—and Why the UN Still Leads the Way
Article Summary When it comes to regulating the transport of hazardous materials, the foundation starts at the international level. The best place to understand the process is with the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—a long-standing body that plays a central role in shaping how dangerous goods are classified, packaged,…
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What Clients Don’t Know Can Hurt Them in Dangerous Goods Compliance
Article Summary When it comes to dangerous goods compliance, many organizations don’t know where their real risks lie—until something goes wrong. That’s where hazmat consultants like Mike Pagel, Sr. HazMat Consultant at HazMat Safety Consulting, step in, helping clients identify gaps and build safer, more compliant operations. But as Pagel explains, it’s not always a…