Question

Why it is essential to comply with the guidelines and regulations of authorized bodies for the transportation of hazardous materials? Explain which areas of hazardous materials operations are covered by the regulations. word limit (450-500). Please explain the question with the relation of Hazardous Material transportation and provide some examples.

Answer 1

Transportation of Hazardous Materials

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issues most of the “Transportation” regulations in Title 49 – Transportation, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) are in the volume containing Parts 100-185 and govern the transportation of hazardous materials in all modes of transportation – air, highway, rail and water. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) has the force of the law. The regulations are issued by Federal agencies to carry out the responsibilities imposed on those agencies by Congress.

HMTA and its regulations stipulate that any person offering or accepting hazardous materials for transportation in commerce register with the DOT. Hazardous materials must be classed, described, packaged, marked, and labelled so as to be in proper condition for shipment.

HMTA regulates hazardous materials in the stream of commerce to ensure that they are shipped safely and to minimize hazardous material releases into the environment. HMR also impose large fines for violations. Penalties for violating the hazardous materials transportation regulations can amount to as much as $75,000 in civil liability ($175,000 if the violation resulted in death or serious injury) or $500,000 in criminal fines.

The primary provisions of HMTA include:

• Hazardous Materials Classification: Under HMTA, a “hazardous material” includes:

(1) hazardous substances

(2) hazardous wastes

(3) marine pollutants

(4) elevated temperature materials

(5) materials identified in 49 CFR § 172.101 and

(6) materials meeting the definitions in contained in Part 173.

These provisions stipulate that hazardous materials must be shipped with their proper shipping names, classes, identification numbers, and warning labels.

• Hazardous Materials Communications Requirements: The HMR require hazardous materials to be properly marked, labelled, and placarded. Shippers are required to provide shipping papers that describe the hazardous materials to be transported. Carriers, must ensure that the hazardous materials are accompanied by the papers at all times.and placarding or marking their vehicles. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires hazardous waste generators to comply with the HMR’s hazardous material communication requirements prior to shipping waste offsite for treatment or disposal.
• Hazardous Materials Training Requirements: workers are trained to have general awareness and familiarization with hazardous material transportation. Each employee must also receive safety training that includes emergency response procedures and security training.Employers must also have and familiarize workers with a security plan. Training must occur at least every three years and also maintain training records.
• Emergency Response Requirements: If a hazardous material release occurs during the course of transportation, hazardous material carriers are required to immediately notify DOT by telephone and submit an incident response report. Shippers and carriers must ensure that emergency response information is provided on the shipping papers as well as on packaged material while in transit.
• Hazardous Materials Packaging: The HMTA regulations contain packaging requirements for shippers, carriers, and manufacturers of hazardous materials packaging. Packaging must be capable of passing certain performance tests and be compatible with the hazardous material being transported.

Examples of Hazardous Materials:

Common examples of hazardous materials: toxic, corrosive or flammable laboratory reagents, solvents, compressed gas cylinders etc.