Over five days this summer, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in the U.S. and Canada conducted 4,629 inspections of commercial motor vehicles transporting hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) unannounced HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative.
During this year’s HM/DG Road Blitz, which was June 9-13, inspectors discovered 1,169 HM/DG violations, of which 598 (51%) were out-of-service violations.
Forty-five jurisdictions participated in this year’s unannounced HM/DG Road Blitz – 10 Canadian provinces and 35 U.S. states. Enforcement personnel inspected 1,469 non-bulk packages/small means of containment, 2,522 bulk cargo tank packages/large means of containment and 447 other bulk packages/other large means of containment.
CVSA said inspectors discovered out-of-service loading and securement violations. Loading and securement requirements prevent cargo/goods/materials from moving in a manner that would cause damage to the package resulting in leaking, spilling, etc., in a commercial motor vehicle. This is especially important when it comes to the transportation of HM/DG.
Inspectors identified 20 out-of-service HM/DG package integrity (leaking) violations. Leaking hazardous materials/dangerous goods pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, and the environment. HMRs and TDG Regulations mandate specific packaging requirements to ensure package integrity and prevent leaks or releases during transportation.
In the U.S., inspectors discovered 16 undeclared packages during the five days of the blitz. An undeclared hazardous material is a hazardous material that is subject to any hazardous communication requirements and offered for transportation in commerce without any visible indication to the person accepting the package(s) for transportation that a hazardous material is present.
In the U.S., 35 drivers did not have a copy of their Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) registration. Drivers transporting certain hazardous materials are required to register with PHMSA. Every vehicle used for the transportation of hazardous materials that meets the registration criteria must have proof of PHMSA registration on board.
In the U.S., 70 drivers did not have emergency response information in their vehicle. Emergency response information details the specific actions and information needed to address a hazmat release, including containment and mitigation. Emergency response documentation is mandated for specific hazardous materials and quantities, as outlined in the HMRs, and designed to facilitate a quick and coordinated response to incidents involving hazardous materials, minimizing potential harm to people, property and the environment.
There were 32 total emergency response assistance plan (ERAP) violations in Canada. Sixteen (50%) were out-of-service violations. An ERAP describes what to do in the event of a release or anticipated release of certain higher-risk dangerous goods while they are in transport. ERAPs are required in the transportation of certain dangerous goods above the quantity specified in the TDG Regulations.
In Canada, inspectors identified 61 TDG training certificate violations, of which 39 (64%) were out-of-service violations. The training certificate demonstrates that the individual handling and/or transporting dangerous goods is properly trained and competent to safely fulfill their duties.
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