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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 A missing piece of information, an outdated description, or a mode-specific requirement that isn’t accounted for can quickly turn into a compliance issue.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 Missing labels, incorrect hazard classes, outdated markings, or placards that don’t match the paperwork continue to appear during inspections.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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2026-04-20T05:00:00Z
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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2026-04-20T05:00:00Z
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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2026-04-17T05:00:00Z
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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2026-04-17T05:00:00Z
NewsEnforcement and Audits - OSHAWalking Working SurfacesIn-Depth ArticleUSAEnglishHeat StressOSHA Emphasis ProgramsIndustry NewsHeat and Cold ExposureOSHA InspectionsSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyInfectious DiseasesCOVID-19General Industry SafetyAgriculture SafetyMaritime SafetyStairway Railings and GuidesOSHA RecordkeepingFocus AreaInjury and Illness Recordkeeping
Expert Insights: From heat to handrails ... OSHA enforcement in transition
Six back-to-back OSHA enforcement-related documents issued in recent weeks reveal a recalibration in the agency’s approach to workplace inspections. Visits from OSHA inspectors continue, but the new announcements signal greater enforcement discretion and more tightly targeted industries and hazards, with small-employer relief built into the strategy. Compounding these changes, a reduced enforcement budget request, if passed by Congress, points to fewer programmed inspections overall.
Heat
On April 10, OSHA revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on outdoor and indoor heat to bring the number of targeted industries down from over 80 to just 55, and to extend the program five more years.
The goal is the same: “To reduce or eliminate worker exposures to heat-related hazards that result in illnesses, injuries, and deaths, by targeting industries and worksites … where employees are exposed to heat-related hazards and have not been provided adequate protection …” However, the agency removed goals related to the number of inspections.
COVID-19
On March 31, OSHA issued an enforcement memo related to COVID-19 cases. Effective immediately and until further notice, OSHA is exercising its enforcement discretion to not cite employers for violations of 29 CFR 1904 for failure to record COVID-19 cases or to report COVID-19 fatalities and hospitalizations. This applies to all establishments covered by the recordkeeping and reporting requirements in Part 1904.
The agency explains that this new policy parallels its stance for common cold and flu cases, which are excepted from recordkeeping requirements under 1904.5(b)(2)(viii).
Injury and illness e-submissions
On March 23, OSHA issued an enforcement memo that explains that the agency will check if Form 300A data is missing from its database if it opens an inspection of a workplace. For any valid match, the compliance officer in the case must inform the employer of its e-submission obligation and follow yet another memo dated April 16, 2024.
A citation may be issued. The six-month date by which OSHA is allowed to issue a citation for non-compliance with the requirements of 1904.41 is September 2 annually. The data for calendar year 2025 was due to OSHA by March 2, 2026, but the window for citations runs through September 2, 2026.
Although OSHA collects Forms 300 and 301 data through e-submissions, at this time OSHA will not create a list of potential non-responders with respect to the Forms 300 and 301 reporting requirements.
Handrails and stair rails
The handrail and stair rail system requirements that took effect January 17, 2017, caused confusion for many employers. Back on May 20, 2021, OSHA attempted to remedy the situation by proposing changes to 1910.28(b) and 1910.29(f). However, the agency has not finalized those changes, and the latest agenda suggests the agency plans another proposal.
Now OSHA issued an enforcement memo dated February 26, 2026, that would allow employers to comply with the May 20, 2021, proposed changes until the effective date of any new final rule.
OSHA enforcement budget
On March 23, the Department of Labor posted its fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request for OSHA. The agency is requesting a 13.5 percent decrease in federal agency enforcement funding for next fiscal year, with a drop of 104 compliance officers (or almost 9 percent). About 39 of the inspectors will migrate to federal compliance assistance.
In FY 2027, OSHA estimates that the agency will conduct 22,040 inspections, including 19,836 safety inspections and 2,204 health inspections. This is nearly a 6 percent increase from the FY 2026 estimate, but a 21 percent fall from FY 2025.
The agency anticipates 70 to 80 percent of all inspections will be “unprogrammed,” meaning they are reacting to an event, such as a fatality, an incident with three or more hospitalizations, a complaint or referral, or an imminent danger situation. The remaining 20 to 30 percent will be “programmed,” which means they are proactively targeting specific workplace hazards or high-hazard workplaces. An NEP is an example of a programmed inspection.
| Also in the budget: OSHA rulemaking activity — Apart from enforcement funding, OSHA’s latest budget request reveals the agency plans to issue 25 final and two proposed rules in FY 2026, followed by two final and three proposed rules in FY 2027. It’s worth noting that the number of final rules in FY 2026 generally mirrors the volume of proposed rules issued in 2025. The budget does not indicate the names or docket numbers of the intended rulemakings, and we are awaiting the next semi-annual agenda (the one after the Spring 2025 agenda) to shed more light on that. |
OSHA strategic plan
On April 2, the “U.S. Department of Labor Strategic Plan FY 2026-2030” was posted. It includes a strategy to “pivot toward more efficient enforcement.” Specifically, OSHA will:
- “Improve the targeting of enforcement resources on the most egregious offenders and the most dangerous workplaces and ensure that the agency is focused on the employers that show the most indifference to their OSH Act obligations.”
- “Evaluate the effectiveness of programs which use establishment-level data of previous workplace injuries and illnesses to ensure that inspections are focused on the highest-hazard industries and workplaces.”
Another strategy includes reducing the total penalties assessed for small businesses. It appears the agency implemented this strategy with changes to its Field Operations Manual last year that:
- Raised the employer size eligible for a 70 percent penalty reduction;
- Increased the penalty reduction for having a good safety history; and
- Added a quick-fix reduction for violations abated during an inspection or immediately thereafter.
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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.