One of the confusing aspects of transporting dangerous goods is the web of different regulations that can affect a shipment. In order to comply fully with a requirement, you must know what regulation imposes that requirement, and carefully study what it says.
For example, an Ontario truck driver was recently inspected while carrying flammable liquids. He was told by the inspector that he should have “No Smoking” signs in his truck.
Now, you might assume that this was related to the flammable liquids on the vehicle. Some regulations on the transportation of dangerous goods do address smoking as a safety issue. For example, the U.S. “Hazardous Materials Regulations” (HMR) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) says in section 177.834:
“Smoking on or about any motor vehicle while loading or unloading any Class 1 (explosive), Class 3 (flammable liquid), Class 4 (flammable solid), Class 5 (oxidizing), or Division 2.1 (flammable gas) materials is forbidden…. Extreme care shall be taken in the loading or unloading of any Class 1 (explosive), Class 3 (flammable liquid), Class 4 (flammable solid), Class 5 (oxidizing), or Division 2.1 (flammable gas) materials into or from any motor vehicle to keep fire away and to prevent persons in the vicinity from smoking, lighting matches, or carrying any flame or lighted cigar, pipe, or cigarette.”
However, many people reading through Canada’s “Transportation of Dangerous Continue Reading…