Manufacturer’s and Reconditioners of UN certified packagings are, at all times, subject to unscheduled inspections by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Recently, inspectors have stepped-up visits and therefore, it is best to be prepared if you are visited. There are 14 Checklist items that can help you to be prepared for a successful inspection. You can link to a more detailed item description HERE.
- Make sure you, your staff and DOT inspectors wear face masks.
- Ask the DOT inspectors for identification.
- Ask why the Inspector is at your plant.
- Keep Copies of all your required DOT records in one location. Inspectors are likely to ask for:
hazmat employee training records, up-to-date annual design qualification test reports, closure instructions, and hazardous waste transportation manifests. - Customer information including customer invoices.
- Make sure your employees can Answer basic training and/or operation-specific questions from the inspector.
- Make sure you or a designated management employee accompanies the inspector during the plant tour.
- Prepare in advance for an inspection. DOT inspectors are trained to look at the manufacturing process.
- Create your own written record of what was observed during the inspection.
- You may be asked to perform on-site testing.
- Keep the exit briefing form.
- Call Your lawyer if it appears a problem has been found.
- Remedy the problem(s) identified by the inspector as soon as possible.
- Respond to the exit briefing.
If prepared, the inspection should yield results that will confirm or improve your manufacturing and shipping process. For a more detailed item description of this Check-List, click HERE.