Changes in our training Dates
Due to the needs of the NYC Police Department, we have re-scheduled some of our training dates in order to allow NYPD to conduct training programs at the same facility that we use. The changes have been corrected in the "Training Schedules" portion of this website. The following programs have been affected:

Initial Ocean
October 20-21-22 (Mon-Tue-Wed) - change to October 21-22-23 (Tue-Wed-Thurs)

Recurrent Air
November 24 (Mon) - change to November 25 (Tue)

Initial Air
December 1-2-3 (Mon-Tue-Wed) - change to December 2-3-4 (Tue-Wed-Thurs)

Our Links -
In the Welcome Page of this website, in the upper right corner, there are links to some of our esteemed vendors and special organizations, as well as various regulatory agencies. We put those links on our website as a convenience to our website visitors. Examples:

Skolnik Industries, for example, provides the finest steel drums for shipping dangerous goods. We use their products exclusively because they are strong, durable, and provide us with a product that protects our good reputation. Through our links section you can click onto their website. Be sure to check out Skolnik's newsletter archives.

Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC)
If your company is involved with manufacturing or distributing hazardous chemicals, packaging or transporting, dangerous goods, or chemical emergency response, you should be a member of this world-recognized organization. The staff and the members are the most knowledgeable people in the world dealing with transportation compliance issues. This is not a lobbying group. Its staff and members have a remarkable dedication to safety and compliance with U.S. and international regulations. Although the airline industry is well represented by the International Air Transport Association and the Air Transport Association of America, as well as the Air Line Pilots Association, we would encourage more individual airlines to follow the lead of Northwest, Delta and UPS by joining DGAC. Air and ocean forwarders could use a lot more representation too. To stay on top of all the new and complex regulations we do need an organization like DGAC.

R-A Specialists has been an active member of DGAC since 1990.

"Navigating the Maze of Dangerous Goods Regulations"
2003 DGAC Annual Conference and Hazardous Materials Transportation Exposition, November 13 & 14, 2003, Arlington VA
The events of September 11, 2001, had a dramatic impact on the regulations that govern the transportation of hazardous materials. The publication of the US Department of Transportation's Security Requirements for Offerors and Transporters of Hazardous Materials has given the hazmat transportation industry cause for concern regarding their implementation. Regulators and industry representatives from all modes will be on hand to discuss the impact on new security/safety issues. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA 22202, 702/418-1234.

* To download a pdf version of the conference brochure, click here.

* To view an html version of the conference program, click here.

Security
U.S. Hazmat Cargo Security Regulations - effective now!
HM-232 RSPA-02-12064 (final rule) was published on March 25, 2003 with the effective date also being March 25. In addition to a Hazmat Transportation Security Awareness program companies who are required to be registered in the DOT/RSPA HAZMAT Registration Program must also institute a more extensive Hazmat Security formal (written) training program dealing with risk assessment, methods of mitigating theft or sabotage, building and vehicle security, employee background checks, and other issues. You can view the final rule directly from here - RSPA-02-12064 (HM-232)

Hazmat Training
Proposed Hazmat Training Requirements for U.S. Air Carriers (Part 121 and 135) and their subcontractors, and Part 145 Repair Stations.
Docket Number FAA-2003-15085.

The FAA proposed detailed training requirements, expanding the curricula, adding categories of employees that will need training, extending training to FAA-approved repair stations, and communicating to employees, subcontractors, and repair stations whether the carrier will or will not carry hazardous materials (dangerous goods). Most of the written comments so far appear to be resistant to the FAA proposal.

You can read and download this proposed rule and comments at
http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=247640&docketid=15085

Undeclared Dangerous Goods -
Whether you are a shipper, forwarder or carrier, your employees must be able to recognize dangerous goods. Last month we started listing items that we have seen offered as undeclared dangerous goods. Since the U.S. FAA is proposing additional training requirements we thought we would feature airline-related products in this month's newsletter - reasons enough why mechanics, stock room clerks, and suppliers, need to be trained.

July-August 2003 - With the assistance of IATA, let's look at "comat" - airline company material.