The DOT Hazmat Regulations
The Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA) was established in 1975 to enhance the authority of the secretary of Transportation to regulate the transportation of hazardous materials. The Department of Transportation (DOT) works with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Coast Guard to enforce HMTA regulations.
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Regulations and Classifications
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Class 2 hazardous materials placard. The PHMSA is responsible for writing and maintaining the hazardous materials regulations. Title 49 Parts 171 through 175 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) stipulate the guidelines for transporting hazardous materials (hazmat). The regulations address transport by highway, rail, vessel and air.
The DOT has the authority to designate a material as hazardous. In doing so, the agency will assign the material to one of 9 hazard classifications. The classes are defined as follows: Class 1 explosives, Class 2 gases, Class 3 flammable liquids, Class 4 flammable solids, Class 5 oxidizers and oxidized peroxides, Class 6 poisons and infectious materials, Class 7 radioactive materials, Class 8 corrosive materials and Class 9 miscellaneous hazard.
Highway
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Hazmat containers must be properly secured in the vehicle to prevent movement. Title 49 CFR 177.834 provides the general requirements of loading and storing hazardous materials that are transported by truck. 177.834(a) requires the following hazardous material containers to be secured to prevent them from moving during transit: flammable liquids, gases, corrosives, poisonous and radioactive. 177.834(c) states that smoking is not allowed when loading and unloading the following hazardous materials: explosives, flammable liquid, flammable solid, oxidizers, flammable gas. 177.834(d) forbids fire of any type while in or around the transport vehicle. The Federal Highway Administration is responsible for enforcing regulations for hazardous materials that are transported over the nation's highways.
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Rail
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The FRA enforces the hazardous materials regulations for rail. Title 49 CFR 174.55 addresses the general handling and loading requirements when hazardous materials are shipped by rail. Additional subparts provide additional details for the following hazardous material classifications: Class 1 explosives (Subpart E), Class 2 gases (Subpart F), Class 3 flammable liquids (Subpart G) and Class 7 radioactive materials (Subpart K). 174.55(a) requires a manner of loading that prevents the freight from falling or sliding. Bracing may be used if needed. The regulations for shipping hazardous materials by rail are enforced by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Vessel
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Direct supervision is required when transporting hazardous materials by vessel. Hazardous material enforcement for vessels is delegated to the United States Coast Guard. Title 49 CFR 176.57(a) allows hazardous materials to be on board a vessel if the materials are under the direct supervision and observation of an assigned person. The assigned person must be an officer if the vessel is traveling out of the jurisdiction of the United States.
Air
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Hazardous material notification is required for passengers and cargo customers. Title 49 CFR 175.25 stipulates the notification text and the physical characteristics of the notification sign for passengers that plan to fly aboard an airplane. The notification includes notification that the passenger is permitted to board with small amounts of the specified materials for medicinal and personal use. The Federal Aviation Administration enforces the regulations for passenger and cargo flights.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Toxic hazard flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com inhalation hazard class 2 image by k9dg from Fotolia.com highway a4 image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com freight wagon image by Nenad Banjac from Fotolia.com Containerhafen image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com airplane image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
