Christmas time is almost upon us again. Many of us like to decorate our homes for the Christmas season with traditional plants and flowers. The poinsettia is always a big favorite; it’s bright red leaves just scream Christmas. We hang mistletoe so we can kiss our beloved. We like to decorate window sills and banisters with holly and ivy. And last, but certainly not least, many of us like to put a large real Christmas tree in the middle of our living rooms.
Poinsettas
There is some controversy, mostly from those who sell flowers, whether or not poinsettia’s are poisonous. Actually, the flower itself is not poisonous but the sap that comes out of the leaves can cause skin and mouth irritation, and vomiting. If a pet or child ingests any of the plant, it can be treated by washing with soap and water.
Mistletoe
The berries of the mistletoe plant are extremely poisonous. It is recommended that you remove the berries if you plan to have the plant around your house. The berries can cause excessive salivating, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, heavy breathing and a fast heart rate.
Holly
Like mistletoe, the berries on the holly plant are poisonous. They are not as poisonous as mistletoe berries and many birds do live on them but they can cause gastric intestinal distress, vomiting and diarrhea in small children and pets. If you think a pet or child has ingested the berries, contact your doctor or vet immediately.
Pine trees
If you bring a real Christmas tree into your home you must be aware of the dangers, to pets especially. It is inevitable that the needles will fall off a pine tree. If your pet ingests the pine needles there is a danger of their internal organs being pierced by the needles. It’s probably safest to buy an artificial tree. They don’t drop needles, they don’t dry out, and they are not a fire hazard.
Don’t be afraid of decorating your homes with Christmas plants and flowers. Just taking a few precautions can ensure that you and your family and your pets will have a wonderful holiday season.
As a Christmas enthusiast, I enjoy stringing Christmas lights around trees and small plants to give my home a warm glow for the holiday season. These lights mesmerize children and adults alike in a stunning display of twinkling color. But we forget the risks that Christmas tree lights pose when used inside the home. We can steer clear of such hazards by taking preventive measures against potentially threatening situations.
Real Tree Fire Hazards
Christmas tree lights have a reputation of sparking electrical fires on Christmas trees. According to our local fire administration, a short in one light of the electrical light string often ignites a fire on the family tree. However, fires are less likely to break out on well-watered Christmas trees than dry ones. Therefore, Christmas tree owners have to keep their trees well-watered to reduce the chance of an electrical light fire.
Choking Hazards
Children seldom consider the consequences of getting tangled up in Christmas tree lights. Toddlers and small children may get the electrical light cords wrapped around their necks and suffocate if not placed under adult supervision. Parents can prevent this occurrence by making sure their small children are never left alone in a room with boxed or partially strung Christmas tree lights, as children might use them as toys or attempt to string the lights themselves.
Pre-lit Tree Risks
Christmas tree lights don’t need loose cords to pose a threat. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled some pre-lit trees. According to the commission, some buyers experienced electrical shocks and fires resulting from exposed wiring, wires that were too short and electrical cords that were not plugged in all the way. While not purchasing pre-lit trees is the only way to prevent such issues, individuals can take some precautions by placing the tree in a well-ventilated area where it is not likely to quickly spread fire to furniture, pillows or gifts within close proximity.
Fake Tree Dangers
Even though real trees and pre-lit trees seem to pose the most threats in the home, artificial trees are equally as vulnerable to Christmas tree light risks. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, fake trees are likely to catch fire when decorators overload electrical sockets with Christmas tree lights. Did you know that even flame retardant or flame resistant artificial trees can eventually succumb to a fire, as their resistance wears off when completely consumed in flames? By following the instructions on Christmas tree light packaging, owners can determine how many light strings they can safely connect before posing a threat to their homes.
I admit it. I am a hazmat nerd. I’m not sure exactly when I realized it. Maybe it was the first time I recited a section of 49CFR from memory during a class. Maybe it was when I decided to keep a copy of the ERG in my car so I could identify the UN numbers on placarded trucks. Regardless of when it happened, I now embrace my hazmat nerdiness… even my Facebook profile lists my occupation as “Hazmat Nerd”. Obviously, this is a great benefit when I’m on the job. I have a knack for remembering obscure requirements and knowing where to find them in the appropriate regulation. I enjoy hunting down the answer to tough questions or unusual situations. I like having customers who think of me as their go-to source for their questions.
One aspect of being a hazmat nerd is that I am always noticing things that relate to my job, even when I’m not at work (hence the ERG in my glove compartment). There was the time that I was doing some geocaching (my obsession…I mean hobby) in Buffalo. I had parked the car and jumped out to go find a cache. On my way, I had to dodge some large puddles due to a recent downpour. As I approached one of the puddles, I noticed something odd. There was a Flammable Liquid placard floating in it! Most people would have just walked past it. Not the hazmat nerd! I took a closer look…mainly to see if it was one of our placards. Then I took a picture, because who wouldn’t want to see a picture of a placard in a puddle? I continued on my way, trying to figure out what circumstances would result in a placard floating in a puddle in the middle of a sidewalk. I still wonder about that…
Another time, I pulled up to a gas station and saw 2 IBC’s of paint sitting alongside the building. Once again, they would have gone unnoticed by most people. I however, took a picture!
On one of my many road trips, I made a stop for some fuel for both myself and my car at a truck stop. While walking around to stretch my legs, I came across something I had not seen before…a stop for leaking hazmat vehicles. It made sense that there would be such a thing and I’m wondering why I don’t see them more often in my travels. It’s good to know that drivers do have designated areas where they can go if there is leaking hazmat. Of course I had to take a picture… what kind of hazmat nerd would I be if I didn’t?
I always notice placards on trucks when I’m driving. I even notice empty placard holders on trucks, especially when there is a more than just one or two. Imagine my delight when I was driving behind a truck with eleven placard holders on the back of it! I couldn’t wait until we got to a red light so I could take a picture (not surprising by now, I’m sure). By the way, eleven is my current record for number of placard holders on a single side of a vehicle.
I could go on with my work related, off-the-job hazmat spotting, but I’ll stop here. I will continue to notice these things and have my camera at the ready to document them. And I am proud to say that I am a hazmat nerd!
I always cringe when someone asks me what I do for work. Not because I dislike my job (in fact, I’m one of the few people I know who truly enjoys their work) but because it’s so complicated to explain what I do! Sure, I could simply say I’m a Regulatory Specialist and let them stare at me blankly and try to figure out what that means, but they usually expect more of an explanation.
After going through the explanation for a new acquaintance yesterday, I got to thinking that many of our customers may not know exactly what ICC’s Regulatory Specialists do either. Some of my “regular” customers only deal with one aspect of my expertise, and are often surprised when they learn how many hats I really wear on a regular basis. After 8 years on the job, I have collected many responsibilities to keep me on my toes.
Training – One of the main duties of the Regulatory Specialist (RS) at ICC is to deliver training classes to our customers. For me, this includes the US 49CFR Hazmat regulations, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and the IMDG Code. These classes can take place at our training centers, the customer’s facility, a hotel, or even via an online webinar. Not only do we conduct the training, but we also develop the presentations and quizzes that are used. We have to ensure that all of the information is accurate, up to date and gives the attendees enough information so that they can follow along and learn how to use the applicable regulations.
MSDS – Lately, my main focus has been related to our MSDS services. We provide expertise on MSDS reviews, reformatting and authoring for many areas of the world. Currently, I am able to complete work for the US and Canada but will hopefully be able to add the European Union to my knowledge base soon. With the impending OSHA Hazcom standard update to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), I have been preparing myself for the changes that are going to take place. Writing an MSDS is no simple task, there is research involved, as well as interpretation of the information once it is found. There isn’t a simple “formula” that can be applied to spit out a finished MSDS. Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why a 6 page document can take several weeks to complete.
Help Desk – We pride ourselves on our customer service at ICC. One of the things that sets us apart from the competition is our regulatory help desk. If our customers have questions related to the regulations and how they apply to their products, they can call and speak to a regulatory specialist to set them straight. I have reviewed shipping documents, assisted in packaging selection, clarified requirements, spoken to carriers and provided help in countless other ways. Many customers that I have built relationships through the years love having the “phone a friend” option to fall back on when they get stuck, confused or completely lost with the regulations.
Internal Education – Just as our customers rely on our expertise, our coworkers come to us when they have questions. Whether it’s a customer relations associate who wants to know about a new label that we offer, our packaging specialist needing advice on a new design, or a business development manager who needs a unique solution for a customer, we get ideas and problems bounced off of us on a regular basis.
Product Development and Review – As regulations change, so do the products that we offer. The regulatory specialists are involved in ensuring that all new products meet the applicable regulations. In addition, when an existing product has to be reprinted or remanufactured, we perform a review to make sure that there are no regulatory changes necessary. We also review our existing products as the regulations change.
All of these tasks keep me busy and make every day at the office different. I have learned a lot since my first days at ICC, and there is still more to add. Even this list is not complete; there are always those miscellaneous requests and tasks that come across my desk. All in a day’s work for this regulatory specialist!
Robert Transport and Gaz Métro Transportation Solutions inaugurate Canada’s first commercial liquefied natural gas station
Boucherville, Monday, October 17, 2011 – In the presence of Clément Gignac, the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan, Pierre Moreau, the Quebec Minister of Transport and Nicole Ménard, the Quebec Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible of the Montérégie region, Claude Robert, President and CEO of Robert Transport, and Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Gaz Métro, announced the inauguration of the first commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling station in Canada along the “Blue Road.” This station is an integral part of the LNG pilot project designed to fuel a fleet of heavy-duty trucks.
The “Blue Road”
The purpose of the “Blue Road” is to create Canada’s first liquefied natural gas–fuelled freight transportation corridor along the 20/401 highway between the Quebec City area and the Greater Toronto Area. Every week, heavy-duty trucks make 48,000 trips along this corridor. More specifically, the project aims to replace diesel fuel with the cleaner alternative that is liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The project enjoys strong support from the Quebec government, which has put into place fiscal incentives for the procurement of heavy-duty trucks that run on LNG and established a $1,783,555 grant. This grant will be used to set up the infrastructure required to adapt and further develop this environmental technology designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by freight transportation between Quebec and Ontario.
For Robert Transport, the first step will involve rolling out a fleet of 180 LNG-fuelled heavy-duty trucks. “Robert Transport hopes to continue to be an industry leader. That is why we feel it is critical to work toward a cleaner future, for the benefit of our customers, our employees, our shareholders and society as a whole. This project will help us be more competitive while still reducing the carbon footprint of our operations,” said Claude Robert, President and CEO of Robert Transport.
In partnership with the Quebec government and Robert Transport, Gaz Métro Transportation Solutions (GMTS), a subsidiary of Gaz Métro, hopes to establish the technical and economic feasibility of LNG as an alternative fuel for a major fleet of heavy-duty trucks, even in Quebec’s harsh weather conditions. Accordingly, Gaz Métro will make use of its liquefaction plant that has been operating in Montreal for more than 40 years. Three cryogenic storage tanks will supply the LNG for three refuelling sites located in Boucherville, Mississauga and the Quebec City area.
“Gaz Métro Transportation Solutions is dedicated to coming up with energy solutions that can be immediately applied in the transportation industry. Natural gas is a forward-looking environmental and economical solution for the trucking sector. We are proud to contribute to the adaptation and development of a new technology in Quebec,” said Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of
Gaz Métro.
Advantages of using natural gas in the transportation industry:
Environmental advantages of natural gas:
In terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Quebec, the transportation industry (road, maritime, rail, air) tops the list, having generated 43.3% of total emissions in 2008. Freight transportation represents an important segment to be targeted with respect to GHG reduction, since diesel-fuelled heavy-duty trucks in service in Quebec are responsible for 28% of the total emissions produced by the sector as a whole. As natural gas generates some 25% less GHGs than diesel, it may contribute to substantially reducing GHG emissions.
Outlook: A bridge toward renewable fuel
Natural gas–fuelled transportation has even more promising longer-term prospects. Vehicles that run on natural gas can use processed biomethane, a renewable natural gas generated by organic waste valorization. The use of biomethane could help reduce GHG emissions by roughly 85%, when compared with diesel.
Economic advantages of natural gas:
Fuel is one of the trucking industry’s biggest expenses, and natural gas is more economical than diesel. By using natural gas to fuel a part of its fleet, Robert Transport will not only be reducing its carbon footprint, it will also be cutting its operating costs.
