As reported last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation has increased civil penalties for hazmat shipping violations; violations that result in death, serious illness, severe injury, or substantial property damage; and failure to provide hazmat training for employees. One strategically sound way to mitigate the chances of the first two violation types is to ensure you are using DOT approved drums for hazardous waste.
The steel drum industry is regulated by the Pipeline for Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), an arm of the U.S Department of Transportation. In the primary regulatory vehicle used by these parties, the US Code of Federal Regulations, there are prescribed manufacturing and testing specifications for packaging containers used for the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. A manufacturer of packaging is subject to the requirements of this part and is responsible for compliance with these requirements. For example, at Skolnik, we manufacture DOT approved drums for hazardous waste. That means we manufacture our steel drums to the DOT specification, and UN standard for packaging manufactured within the U.S.
Beyond using the appropriate, DOT approved drum for hazardous waste shipment, these containers must also be properly classified and handled throughout the process. Always be cautious and research compliance each and every time you may be packaging or shipping potentially hazardous or dangerous materials — regulations surrounding hazardous materials are amended daily.
Liabilities for offering information have never been greater, and to this end, few in the haz-mat community are able to suggest the answers needed. To start, the DOT has a hotline for fielding these inquiries at 1-800-467-4922 or visit www.transportation.gov/contact-us.