Frits Wybenga has been selected to fill the position of Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety in DOT‘s Research and Special Programs Administration. Frits leaves behind his position as Coordinator of International Standards where he has served successfully in representing the international presence of the DOT efforts.
Drum It Up
STEEL DRUM INDUSTRY NEWS, TRENDS AND ISSUES
Archive for January, 2001
Composite Packagings Must Be Dated Correctly
As defined by the DOT in 49 CFR 178.8, Composite Packaging means a package consisting of an outer package and an inner receptacle, so constructed that the inner receptacle and the outer packaging form an integral packaging. Once assembled it remains thereafter an integrated single unit; it is filled, stored, shipped and emptied as such. For those units that offer a UN certification, the combining of component items to yield the single package, can introduce items manufactured and marked with varying dates. However, the final Combination Package must be dated and marked on the basis of the unit assembly, not the individual manufactured elements. The assembly date also must be reflected in the UN Certification documents.
Block And Brace Regulation Proposed
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed a recent rulemaking on cargo securement while in commercial motor carriage in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The standard also would include applicability to intermodal freight containers. Many civil penalty cases have been brought under the existing regulations, against both shippers who load vehicles and carriers who operate them, particularly in LTL carriage and during pick-up and delivery operations. These have involved both hazardous materials and non-hazardous materials although, of course, those involving hazardous materials elicited more attention from the government. The issue of proper securement also arises often when packages are damaged in transit.
