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Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
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FEATURED NEWS
2026-04-21T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsHazmat markingsHazmat SafetyFocus AreaIn-Depth ArticleHazmat markings, Placards, and LabelsEnglishTransportationUSA
Details that can trip up a hazmat shipment
Hazmat shipments rarely fail because of one big, dramatic mistake. They normally go wrong because of small details that slip through the cracks, like paperwork that isn’t quite right or labels that don’t match the shipment. These foundational issues continue to be the most common reasons shipments get delayed, rejected, or fined during inspections.
That’s what makes them so frustrating. These aren’t advanced compliance challenges. They’re the basics, and yet they still trip people up in real-world operations where speed, volume, and changing requirements all collide.
Where documentation breaks down
Shipping papers are one of the most frequent sources of trouble. They’re essential, but they’re also complex, repetitive, and easy to get slightly wrong. A missing piece of information, an outdated description, or a mode-specific requirement that isn’t accounted for can quickly turn into a compliance issue.
Problems usually happen when something changes. A shipment moves from ground to air, an international leg is added, or a different carrier gets involved. Each change brings new requirements, and if paperwork isn’t rechecked carefully it can fall out of compliance fast.
Time pressure plays a role, too. When employees are focused on keeping freight moving, documentation can become a routine task instead of a true verification step. Small details like emergency response information or proper descriptions can be overlooked, even by experienced staff.
Labeling and placarding are familiar, but still vulnerable
Marking, labeling, and placarding issues are just as common. Missing labels, incorrect hazard classes, outdated markings, or placards that don’t match the paperwork continue to appear during inspections.
These errors often happen late in the process. Quantities change, packaging is adjusted, or materials are substituted, but labels and placards don’t always get updated to reflect those changes. When things look similar to past shipments, it’s easy to assume the markings are still correct without rechecking them.
Most of the time, this isn’t about a lack of knowledge. It’s about execution under pressure. Employees know labels and placards matter, but they still have to be current for that specific shipment, every time.
Simple checks that catch the problems early
Preventing these issues usually doesn’t require complicated processes or extra approvals. It comes down to building simple verification steps into daily workflows.
A second set of eyes on shipping papers can quickly catch missing or mismatched information. Taking a brief pause to confirm that labels and placards match the documentation usually prevents much bigger problems later. Short, consistent checks are far more effective than long, infrequent reviews.
Technology can help reinforce those checks as well. Shipping software and digital documentation tools can flag missing fields or inconsistencies before paperwork is finalized. When systems support decisions at the moment they’re made, accuracy improves and stress goes down.
Getting the basics right every time
When hazmat shipments go wrong, it’s usually because the basics didn’t line up. Documentation, labels, and placards all have to tell the same story. When one piece is off, everything else is at risk.
Hazmat shipping is inherently complex, but getting the fundamentals right doesn’t require perfection. It requires consistent attention to the details that matter most. When teams slow down just enough to verify the basics before a shipment moves, errors drop, inspections go more smoothly, and confidence goes up.
Key to remember: Most hazmat shipment issues come from small execution errors, not complex rules. Taking time to recheck paperwork and ensure labels and placards match the shipment can prevent most compliance issues.
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RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2026-04-21T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsSafety & HealthMaritime SafetySpecialized IndustriesMarine Terminal OperationsEnglishFocus AreaUSA
OSHA revokes House Falls in Marine Terminals standard
On April 17, OSHA revoked its House Falls in Marine Terminals standard at 1917.41 after determining that the standard is no longer necessary to protect marine terminal employees from occupational safety and health (S&H) hazards. Since most cargo has been containerized and is moved by cranes, OSHA determined that removing 1917.41 would help reduce the compliance burden without compromising worker safety.
The standard, initially adopted in 1983, addressed serious S&H hazards within marine terminal operations and required:
- Span beams be secured to prevent accidental dislodgement;
- A safe means of access for employees working with house fall blocks; and
- Daily inspection of chains, links, shackles, swivels, blocks and other loose gear to prevent the use of defective equipment.
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2026-04-21T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsHR GeneralistFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)In-Depth ArticleFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)HR ManagementEnglishUSAFocus AreaHuman Resources
For FMLA eligibility, look at two different dates
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected time off for qualifying reasons, and up to 26 weeks of time off to care for a family member in the military.
Employees are eligible to take the leave if they:
- Have worked for the company for at least 12 months (those months don’t have to be consecutive),
- Have performed at least 1,250 hours of work, and
- Work at a location with at least 50 company employees within 75 miles.
Employers might think they determine if employees meet these three criteria when employees ask for leave. That, however, isn’t true. The FMLA regulations have different dates employers must use to determine if employees are eligible for FMLA leave.
Months and hours worked
For the criteria regarding whether employees have worked 12 months and 1,250 hours, employers make that determination based on when the leave will begin, not when employees put employers on notice of the need for leave.
When employees first ask for leave, they might not meet those thresholds. But when the leave is to begin, they might.
Take, for example, a pregnant employee who has worked for the company for 9 months. She tells her manager that she’s due in 6 months. At the time she told her manager about the need for leave, she hadn’t worked for the company long enough to be eligible for FMLA leave. But by the time she has the baby, she will have worked for the company for 15 months. If the employee meets the other two criteria, she’ll be eligible to take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave for the birth of the child and for bonding time.
Location
For the last criterion, employers must take a different approach than the first two criteria. Employers determine whether employees work at a location with at least 50 company employees within 75 miles as of the date leave notice is given, NOT when leave is to begin.
Therefore, employers have to look at two different dates to determine an employee’s eligibility:
| The date leave is to begin | The date the employee gave notice of the need for leave | |
| 12 months worked | X | |
| 1,250 hours worked | X | |
| 50 employees within 75 miles | X |
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2026-04-20T05:00:00Z
NewsLeaveTime offHR ManagementEnglishLeaveAssociate Benefits & CompensationNew YorkSafety & HealthChange NoticesConstruction SafetyChange NoticeGeneral Industry SafetyHR GeneralistAssociate RelationsFocus AreaHuman Resources
New York paid family leave expanded
Effective date: January 1, 2027
This applies to: Employers with employees in New York
Description of change: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a measure extending the New York paid family leave (PFL) benefits to certain construction employees.
Effective January 1, 2027, construction employees are eligible for PFL benefits if they were employed for at least 26 of the last 39 weeks by employers that are party to a collective bargaining agreement. Unpaid leave and vacation apply to the 26 weeks.
Construction employees are those who perform construction, demolition, reconstruction, excavation, rehabilitation, repairs, renovations, alterations, or improvements for multiple employers per a collective bargaining agreement.
View related state info: FMLA – New York
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2026-04-20T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsHeat and Cold ExposureSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyGeneral Industry SafetyAgriculture SafetyMaritime SafetyIn-Depth ArticleExtreme Temperature PreparationEnglishMine SafetyHeat StressFocus AreaUSA
How heat becomes fatal
Imagine a workplace where the real danger is something you can’t even see. Extreme temperatures don’t just make workers uncomfortable; they can silently push the human body past its limits, triggering a deadly chain reaction. When cooling mechanisms fail, organs shut down, and what starts as simple dehydration can spiral into heatstroke which kills more workers than many realize. Understanding how heat becomes lethal is the first step toward preventing tragedy.
What’s happening to the body?
No one is immune from extreme heat when controls are lacking. While some workers are more vulnerable (e.g., older workers, seasonal workers, or those not acclimatized to the heat), the human body still reacts to heat when temperatures soar.
As temperatures rise, the heart pumps harder to maintain core body temperature. Blood helps millions of sweat glands in the body to send moisture to the skin’s surface, allowing heat to evaporate into the air. This process is meant to cool the body. However, when it’s extremely hot and humid, the sweat glands just can’t keep up, and cooling becomes impossible without the additional help of cooling aids.
Humidity, or moisture in the air, prevents sweat from evaporating off the skin. This keeps the body from cooling effectively which can create overheating. As the body continues to overheat, it sweats more, which results in reduced blood volume and dehydration. This can quickly lead to two additional negative consequences:
- Blood pressure drops. The heart is required to pump more to maintain pressure so blood can reach vital organs. When blood can’t effectively reach the lungs or brain, the body begins to shut down quickly and cognitive abilities can decrease rapidly or cease altogether.
- Dehydration ensues. Typically, by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Continued fluid loss means the body has nothing to create sweat with to send to the skins surface.
A lack of blood flow to vital organs, along with dehydration, lead to poor decision-making and impaired judgment, which can result in serious workplace incidents; some of which can be fatal.
What are the warning signs?
The body will tell you when it’s in trouble. Heat exhaustion warning signs begin with symptoms such as:
- Excessive sweating;
- Cool, pale, or clammy skin;
- Light-headedness from a weak pulse;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Muscle cramps; and /or
- Unusual irritability.
These are tell-tale signs that your body is dehydrated and starting to lose the ability to self-cool. If protective measures like hydration, rest, and external cooling aren’t taken right away, heat exhaustion can quickly become heat stroke. This can happen within minutes, creating a quick downward spiral to disorientation, unconsciousness, organ shutdown, and heart failure.
How can killer heat be stopped?
Heat can be deadly, but it doesn’t have to be. By applying these simple controls and safe work practices, you can help protect workers from life-threatening heat exposure:
- Water: Ensure workers consume at least 1 quart of suitably cool water per hour (or 8 oz every 15 minutes) during excessive heat. Avoiding caffeinated or sugary drinks will also help ward off dehydration.
- Rest: Encourage workers to take frequent breaks from the heat in artificially or naturally shaded areas, where there is air movement, or in an air-conditioned area.. Ensure break areas are as close as possible to the work area and are sufficient enough to hydrate, remove PPE, and cool down.
- Shade: Provide shade areas (e.g., tents), fans, air-conditioning, or cooling stations.
- Acclimatization: Gradually increase employee exposure over time so the body isn’t more stressed in the heat, then monitor workers closely during this time.
- Administrative controls: Plan more intensive work activities for cooler parts of the day, implement a buddy system for monitoring workers, and rotate workers so frequent breaks are possible. Monitor weather conditions so work can be adjusted accordingly.
- Clothing and PPE: Provide hats and cooling gear for workers and encourage them to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing.
- Training: Train workers to understand dangerous temperatures and how to recognize and respond to symptoms of heat stress.
- Be prepared! Implement a heat injury and illness prevention plan that includes quick medical access and care.
Keys to remember: Heat becomes lethal when the body’s cooling mechanisms fail, allowing core temperature to rise beyond control. Prevention methods are essential for halting heat stress that can trigger widespread cellular damage, inflammation, and organ failure.
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2026-04-17T05:00:00Z
NewsMaterials Handling and StorageSafety & HealthChange NoticesChange NoticeMaritime SafetyOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOLFocus AreaEnglishMaterials Handling and StorageUSA
OSHA Final Rule: House Falls in Marine Terminals
View final rule.
| Part 1917-Marine Terminals | ||
| Authority | Revised | View text |
| §1917.41 House falls. | ||
| Entire section | Removed and reserved | View text |
Previous Text
Part 1917-Marine Terminals
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), 8-2020 (85 FR 58393), or 7-2025 (90 FR 27878), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911.
Sections 1917.28 and 1917.31 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553. Section 1917.29 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801-1819 and 5 U.S.C. 553.
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Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.