International Trade Blog

As a hazardous materials trainer and consultant for nearly 30 years, I am always amazed by the complacency some companies that ship hazardous materials have towards the gravity of the hazmat regulations. At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, if not done properly, a routine shipment can cost a shipper an awful lot of money.

Time and time again, usually after the fact, the guilty shipper will say things like: "We only ship this stuff occasionally." Are we supposed to gather it's only hazardous sometimes? Or, "We've always ship it this way and never had a problem," assuming two wrongs make a right.

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According to current estimates, global manufacturers produce more than four billion lithium batteries every year. We use them extensively in all facets of our lives, and I personally can't imagine living without some of the gadgets they power.

As demand for lithium batteries has grown, so has concern about their safety. Regulators are closely examining all procedures for shipping these batteries. Why? Some battery consignments have overheated and caught fire. Once ignited, they can cause other nearby batteries to overheat and catch fire as well. These fires are very difficult to put out and produce toxic and irritating fumes.

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Staying current with your training certification is only part of your responsibilities as a hazmat/dangerous goods shipper. It's equally important to keep well-informed about any changes to the regulations and how they might affect your business.

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