This spoken presentation (YouTube) explains why transporting hazardous materials creates heightened security risks and summarizes when the U.S. Department of Transportation requires a written hazardous materials security plan. It notes that many incidents stem from human error (FMCSA: 78% of cargo tank rollovers involve driver error), that 16 regulatory "triggers" require a security plan, and it groups triggers into three categories: (1) any quantity of especially high-hazard materials (e.g., certain Class 1 explosives, PIH materials, specific organic peroxides, CDC/USDA agents, some radioactive materials); (2) large/bulk quantities (defined here as >3,000 kg for solids or >3,000 liters for liquids/gases) of specified hazard classes; and (3) shipments in quantities that require placarding (specific divisions of explosives, desensitized explosives, materials dangerous when wet, uranium hexafluoride). The speaker emphasizes that not all shipments require a plan—only those meeting the triggers—and promises more detail on plan contents later.
Questions this video answers
78%.
16 triggers.
More than 3,000 kg for solids or more than 3,000 liters for liquids and gases.
Chapters
So we're going to move hazardous materials from point A to point B. Sounds simple, right? But you know, transporting these materials can actually lead to the greatest security risks that you're going to encounter. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the FMCSA offers guidance and training for one big risk when transporting hazardous materials. What is it? Cargo tank truck rollovers. As the FMCSA notes, 78% of rollovers involve driver error. In other words, a lot of issues with hazardous material transport safety begin and end with good policy on behalf of the people who are handling those materials. That's why the government actually mandates that when you're transporting hazmat stuff, you come up with a hazardous materials security plan. This has to be in writing and include a risk assessment and measures that are being taken to address those risks. So when do you need a plan like that one? Well, specifically, there are going to be 16 triggers that are going to require a shipper or carrier to implement one of these. Let's look at these triggers in three distinct categories. First, any quantity of high hazard materials. Second, large or bulk quantities of hazardous materials. And third, quantities that are shipped that require placarding. In the first category, we have the highest risk materials. In these cases, transporting any quantity of the following materials is going to trigger the need for a detailed hazardous materials security plan. Class 1 explosives, which per the code of Federal regulations include Divisions 1, 1.2 and 3. These involve explosives with a mass explosion hazard in which an explosion is going to affect pretty much the entire load instantaneously. Then you've also got poison by inhalation or PIH materials. Then you've also got organic peroxides, type B, which can include liquid or solid and temperature controlled substances, Centers for Disease Control or Department of Ag related agents or toxins. And also you have radioactive materials if they're in high enough quantities or concentrations based on the highway route regulations. Now, notice that for particularly hazardous substances like Div1.1 explosives or certain inhalation poisons, for instance, this refers to any quantity. So, for example, even a small amount of a Class 1 explosives going to require a security plan be in place for transporting those materials, even if the risk of explosion seems small. Typically, that category includes any materials that can cause mass damage in even small amounts, greatly increasing the security risk. The next category is large bulk quantities. These are typically defined as more than 3,000 kg for solids or 3,000 liters for liquids and gases. In a single passage, like a cargo tank in a motor vehicle, it's going to apply to Flammable gases, non flammable gases with an oxidizer. Subsidiary hazard flammable liquids packing groups 1 or 2, which is classified by the Federal Aviation Administration as great or medium danger. Spontaneously combustible materials in packing groups one or two oxidizers in packing groups one or two, also perchlorates and some ammonium nitrate compounds. Then we have poisons that are other than pih poisoned by inhalation hazards and finally corrosives impacting group one. So maybe you noticed that these substances are also dangerous, but they can be transported in greater quantities because they're more easy to contain and secure even in their bulk amounts. This doesn't mean that you should let up onto your security assessment. Finally, we have the third group of triggers. These are those substances that are shipped in quantities that require placarding. For further guidance on hazardous materials placarding requirements, you can of course consult the U.S. department of Transportation. Explosives in Division 1.4.5 and 6 per the code are defined as having a minor explosion hazard in the case of Division 1.4 and lower risks than the explosives that we listed earlier on desensitized explosives including Division 4.1 or Class 3 per the Federal code. Dangerous when wet materials and Uranium hexafluoride. Once again, I really want you to keep in mind that even though these bulk quantity materials may seem less of a security risk than the any amounts materials, just having these materials that require placketing for transport is going to be one of those triggers that says you need a security plan. So think about it. Do your hazmat security plans have to address all of your HAZMAT shipments? Well, not necessarily, but you are going to need a security plan to cover any shipments that meet the triggers we just talked about. Later on, how about we get into greater detail about what your security plan needs to cover?
