The provinces have posted their spring thaw load restrictions:

• Ontario: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/loadnotice.shtml#1
• Quebec: http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca
• Alberta: http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/522.htm
• New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/0113/Policy/swr-e.asp
• British Columbia: http://www.bchighway.com/loadrestrictions
• Saskatchewan: http://www.highways.gov.sk.ca/springroad-restrictions/
• Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/tran/trucking/springweight.asp
• Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/tir/index.php3?number=78410
• Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/srr/zones.html

Drive safe.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a two-day training session on GHS. I had some general knowledge about GHS going into the class, but had never really gotten into the nuts and bolts of it before. I was really looking forward to finally getting some in depth training (yes…I was looking forward to the training, I am a self-proclaimed hazmat nerd and quite proud of it!).

Within the first half hour I was fully engrossed and enjoying the learning process. Then I had a realization…I am probably the exception to the rule here. Most people who are going to have to adapt to the GHS system are going to do so with dread and difficulty. And then there are the people who have no idea what GHS is and how it is going to affect them. If you are one of those people, I strongly suggest that you start preparing now!

If you export products to the EU, you are probably already quite aware of GHS. The EU adopted GHS into their CLP and REACH regulations in 2008. Full implementation was delayed until 2010 for substances and 2015 for mixtures.

As for North America, OSHA published a proposed rulemaking in 2009 that would incorporate many of the GHS requirements into the current US Haz Com standard. In late 2010, OSHA indicated a target date for the final rule of August 2011. Canada has not had any rulemaking activities, but has been consistent in their intent to incorporate the GHS requirements into their current standards.

So what does that mean? Well, one major change will be in the classification of hazards. GHS is very specific about classification and has criteria for physical, health and environmental hazards. Sound simple enough? It’s not. Most hazard classifications will require physical, chemical, toxicological and environmental data on the product or the ingredients. That data will then have to be analyzed and in most cases, calculations must be done (yes, there WILL be math involved). It is unlikely that you will be able to classify your product by just looking at 2 or 3 pieces of information and making an educated guess.

So once you have this classification, what do you do with it? Labels and MSDS’s will be changing as well. GHS specifies symbols and phrases that must appear on the product label. The symbols and phrases will be prescribed based on the classification. For those of us in the US, using symbols on labels will be a huge change.

MSDS’s will be standardized as well. For one thing, the M will be dropped and they will be referred to as just Safety Data Sheets or SDS’s. The new SDS’s must be in a 16-section format, which won’t be too much of a change for those of you currently using the ANSI standard to prepare MSDS’s (whew, one thing that might be easy!). If you are not currently using a 16 section MSDS, this might be a good time to start.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for GHS. We still have to wait for a final rule from OSHA and a rulemaking in Canada to know for sure what is going to change. After 2 days immersed in the GHS requirements, I can see many people setting into a state of panic when that does happen. Do yourself a favor; start getting ready now!

For your informtion from S. Horwood, Michigan State Police:

Expiration Date Extension for April and May 2011 Extended Permits

Dear Valued Customer:

Due to the implementation of Michigan Transport Routing and Internet Permitting (MiTRIP), a new web based computer application for obtaining oversize and/or overweight transport permits, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be extending the expiration date of all April  and May 2011 extended transport permits through Thursday, June 30, 2011.  Please attach a copy of this letter to all of your existing extended permits with an expiration date of April or May 2011.

If you have any questions or need additional information regarding this extension, please feel free to contact Michelle Weber Currie, Acting Transport Permits Unit Supervisor at 517 636-6905.

Robert Whaley, P.E.

Utility Coordination and Permits Section Manager

Real Estate Division

From IFW:

“A group of shipowners and seafarers are planning to harness “people power” to force governments to act decisively in the war against piracy.

In a statement sent to IFW, the group warned that continuing piracy would lead to more innocent seafarers being tortured and murdered and world trade being strangled.

The Save Our Seafarers campaign is aimed at encouraging millions of people around the world to heap pressure on their national governments to crack down on piracy.

The organizations behind the campaign include Bimco, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Shipping Federation (ISF), Intercargo, Intertanko and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

The group said: “The dramatic recent extension of the pirates’ operating area right across the Indian Ocean means there are now no alternative routes to avoid the Somali pirate gangs, especially for tankers coming out of the Gulf of Aden.”

“Shipowners and seafarers are re-evaluating their current determination to ensure that these vital trade routes remain open, and are going to have to choose whether to trade through this area or not.”

The group added: “Merchant ships are being attacked daily, running a gauntlet of gunfire and rocket propelled grenade attacks from armed gangs of Somali pirates.

“Over 800 seafarers are currently held hostage on their hijacked ships. Subjected to physical and psychological abuse for months at a time, they are held ransom for millions of dollars.”

“Yet even when caught red-handed by naval forces, 80% of pirates are released to attack again. Why? Because the world’s politicians don’t realize the severity of this critical situation.”

“The governments give the orders. The governments hold the key to resolving this crisis. But they seem unwilling to face reality and act. Their brief to the naval forces is simply to deter and disrupt, unless it involves a national interest.”

As part of the campaign, the organisers are placing hard-hitting advertisements in major international newspapers to kick off the Save Our Seafarers campaign and launched a website http://www.saveourseafarers.com. Via the site, supporters can send a pre-prepared letter, signed by them, to their head of government.

Just recently there were two (2) American couples who were shot and killed by pirates aboard their yacht and this week a Danish couple with three (3) children were hijacked by pirates.  Please re-read the above story and then click on the link and send the letter to our Prime Minister. We cannot have the Royal Canadian Navy waving a “stop” sign at the pirates – the pirates must be prosecuted and not allowed to return to Somalia.

(IFW – Your freight and logistics news source)