Hazmat transportation enforcement blitz inspects 9,200 vehicles

October 29, 2019

Land Line Staff

|

Of more than 9,200 commercial motor vehicle inspections during an enforcement blitz targeting transporting dangerous or hazardous materials, officers found 226 shipping paper violations serious enough to require out-of-service orders.

Packaging and load securement accounted for another 270 out-or-service orders from the blitz. The data comes from a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance news release.

The 2019 CVSA Transportation of Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Road Blitz took place Aug. 12-16. The blitz covered Canada, Mexico and U.S.

While Transport Canada has an annual weeklong national enforcement blitz of its transportation of dangerous goods regulations starting in 2012, this year Mexico and the U.S. joined the effort.

There were 9,259 commercial motor vehicles inspected during the blitz. Of the 15,197 dangerous/hazardous materials packages inspected, 8,594 were nonbulk packages or small containers and 6,603 were bulk packages or large containers (5,730 cargo tank and 873 other bulk). Inspectors identified 683 out-of-service dangerous/hazardous materials conditions.

During the blitz, inspectors found:

  • There were 66 violations for package integrity (leaking) and 204 violations for loading and securement, all resulting in out-of-service conditions.
  • There were 181 other packaging violations found, resulting in 50 out-of-service conditions.
  • Of the 432 total placarding violations found, 102 were out-of-service conditions.
  • Of 1,156 shipping paper violations found, 226 were out-of-service conditions.
  • Of 171 markings violations found, 35 were out-of-service conditions.

Blitz inspections by class or type of material

  • Class 1 explosives, such as ammunition, fireworks, flares, etc., were inspected 262 times.
  • Class 2 gases were inspected 2,108 times. Class 2 gases are categorized as flammable, nonflammable/nonpoisonous and poisonous.
  • Class 3 flammable liquids were inspected 5,446 times. Examples of flammable liquids are acetone, adhesives, paints, gasoline, ethanol, methanol, some pesticides, etc.
  • Class 4 materials were inspected 276 times. Class 4 materials are flammable solids, substances liable to spontaneously combust and substances that, on contact with water, emit flammable gases. Examples of Class 4 materials are white phosphorus and sodium.
  • Class 5 oxidizing agents and organic peroxides were inspected 339 times. Class 5 materials include chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, sodium nitrite, ammonium nitrate fertilizers and oxygen generators.
  • Class 6 toxic and infectious substances were inspected 200 times. This means any material, other than a gas, that is so toxic to humans that it presents a health hazard during transportation. Cyanide, biological samples, clinical wastes and some pesticides are examples of Class 6 hazards.
  • Class 7 radioactive materials, such as cobalt and cesium, were inspected 87 times.
  • Class 8 materials were inspected 1,728 times. Class 8 corrosive substances, such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, are liquid or solid corrosive materials that cause full thickness destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specified time.