Safety & Compliance News

One thing I've learned over the years working with hazmat is that communication is everything. Whether you're a shipper, driver, inspector, warehouse employee, or emergency responder, everyone involved in the transportation process depends on accurate information to do their job safely and effectively.

When people think about communication, they usually think of conversations, emails, or training sessions. However, in the hazmat world, some of the most important communication happens without a single word being spoken. Markings, labels, placards, and shipping papers all serve as critical sources of information. They tell people what's inside a package, what hazards may be present, how the material should be handled, and what actions to take if an incident occurs.

Do you have a toxic work environment — literally? For facilities that handle chemicals, the answer is likely yes. And for specific chemicals, federal environmental regulations require facilities to protect workers by controlling their exposure to these substances.

The Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) is one way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects potentially exposed workers from hazardous chemicals in the workplace. And at the core of the WCPP is the Exposure Control Plan (ECP); it’s the roadmap documenting how a facility will keep its employees safe. If your business manufactures (including imports), processes, distributes, uses, or disposes of a chemical substance subject to risk management regulations under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), an ECP may be required.