In January 2003, the Research and Special Programs Administration of DOT submitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (HM-218), which included a variety of amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. Perhaps the most significant to those shipping non-bulk packagings (drums) is in response to the needs for effective blocking and bracing in road, rail and sea containers. The provision effectively states that any packaging containing a hazardous material, regardless of class or division, must be secured against movement within a motor vehicle if the packaging is not permanently attached to the motor vehicle. Also, packagings would have to be loaded in such a way as to prevent relative motion between the hazardous material packages and the vehicle itself. Currently, the block and brace requirements only apply to certain packages, and certain hazard classes. The new proposal would apply to all hazardous material shipments.

March 4th, 2003 8:13 am Filed under: DOT/UN, HazMat by Howard Skolnik