R-A Specialists, Inc. highly recommends membership in HMAC and attendance at the HMAC Conferences. However you do not have to be a member to attend the conference, the training, or the golf outings.

This is your opportunity to have your voice heard on both international and domestic-U.S. dangerous goods transportation issues.
This year your editor gains an added satisfaction from the HMAC Conference - it will be held in New Orleans. Earlier this year I had a rare opportunity to read a favorite book for the second time. It was written by a favorite author and a person that I admired very much - the late Charles Kuralt of CBS News fame. Although I am not much of a TV addict, I rarely missed Mr. Kuralt's weekly Sunday Morning TV show. I even watched it once via satellite on a cruise. I never missed his short-lived weeknight show called "On the Road with Charles Kuralt". He had that rare ability to tell stories about the trials and tribulations, hard work, and small victories of ordinary people in ordinary towns and villages. In his book, "Charles Kuralt's America", he picked the American States that he most cherished and always visited during certain months of the year. His very first chapter dealt with New Orleans, Louisiana. He admired New Orleans for its way of life, outstanding restaurants, fascinating history, and memorable friends and acquaintances. As I had revisited the book I shall also have that rare opportunity and excuse to revisit the city of New Orleans. I am looking forward to the visit and the chance to see my colleagues from HMAC once again. It's a shame that unlike all my cousins, I'm a lousy golfer.

The HMAC 2001 Annual Conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., on November 8 and 9, 2001. The theme of the conference is -

Managing Hazmat Compliance: Fact or Fiction

Prior to the conference, HMAC will also conduct it's HMT-600 European Road Transport of Dangerous Goods between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. November 5 and 6. This training course covers the skills needed for US industry to comply with the requirements of the European Road Conventions (ADR) for shipments of dangerous goods when exporting to Europe. The conference and training will be held at the Hotel Inter-Continental New Orleans at 444 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans LA, 504/525-5566. HMAC has reserved a block of rooms for students and attendees.

In conjunction with the Conference the 2nd Annual HMAC Golf Outing will be held on November 6th.

For full details and programs schedules you can use the "General Links" section of our website and click on HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVISORY COUNCIL.

Almost all of our newsletters have covered the classification system for dangerous goods. Our goal has been to enlighten those persons involved in shipping and transporting dangerous goods to take the terms "hazardous materials" and "dangerous goods" seriously and to give greater attention to the possibilities that the chemicals they ship may indeed be extremely dangerous. Except for an occasional look back due to important changes or a major incident this will be the last newsletter dealing with the classification system. All the newsletters are archived in case you want to review them or perhaps nitpick. Some comments so far indicate that the people who work with these materials have a little more information to work with and have a gained a little more respect for the need to accurately identify dangerous goods.
Starting with our August 2001 Newsletter we will start a monthly quiz in an effort to help us retain some of the important features concerning shipping or transporting dangerous goods. No, we can't grade you. It's the honor system. And, yes, you can challenge our answers vs. your answers if they don't agree.

And, now, our last classification:

9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods - Materials that do not meet the definition of hazard classes 1 through 8 but may present a hazard during transportation; or, materials that have anesthetic, noxious or similar properties, that can cause extreme annoyance or discomfort to crewmembers so as to prevent the correct performance of their duties in the event of a spill on an aircraft; or, materials shipped at elevated temperatures; or, materials that are hazardous substances, or hazardous wastes, or marine pollutants that can adversely affect the environment over a period of time.

Other Regulated Materials are usually regulated for shipment by air or water, or, both but can also include surface transportation.
For air shipments, some of these items have been included as Aviation Liquids, or Solids, using UN 3334 or UN 3335 such as liquid and solid flavouring or aromatic extracts (that are not in classes 1-8) can cause discomfort or noxious or anesthetic reactions. Also included with these PSN's are chemicals that can cause a sensation of choking, or coughing or sneezing, or cause the eyes to tear, or can cause dizziness or irritation or other problems that can affect the crew such as cyanoacrylate adhesives (Crazy Glue).

Others materials included in Class 9 are identified specifically, such as carbon dioxide, solid/dry Ice (discomfort or anesthetic reactions), or magnetized materials (can affect the compass of an aircraft), life-saving appliances, lithium batteries and chemical and first aid kits, and some air bag modules for automobiles (where the hazard is minimized due to the packaging requirements). Automobiles and other vehicles and internal combustion engines and aircraft engines are also regulated as Class 9.

And, with all the scientific progress that has been made with the human genome project, Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms, UN 3245, warrants increased attention. Just don't forget, if the micro-organism contains an infectious substance, it must be shipped as UN 2814, Division 6.2.

U.S. Reportable Quantities (Hazardous Substances) and IMO, EU, AND U.S. Marine Pollutants that are not in Classes 1 through 8 are regulated as Environmentally Hazardous Substances (Liquid or Solid) UN 3082 and UN 3077, Class 9.
Elevated Temperature material (substance) means a material which, when offered for transportation or transported in a bulk packaging:

1. Is in a liquid phase and at a Temperature at or above 100°C (212°F);
2. Is in a liquid phase with a flash point at or above 37.8°C (100°F) that is intentionally heated and offered for transportation or transported at or above its flash point; or
3. Is in a solid phase and at a temperature at or above 240°C (464°F).

To review information on the hazard classes and divisions click on "Hazard Lib" (library) on the top of this page or "Hazardous Materials" on the bottom of this page.

Don't forget to keep your training records up-to-date.

Stay Safe! Hope to see you in New Orleans.