JUNE - 2023LOGISTICSTRANSPORTATIONREVIEW19 INSIGHTSCXOOur hazardous materials drivers are the unsung road heroes who ensure the safe transport of dangerous necessities, and they deserve recognition for their attention to detail and situational awarenessEach year millions of tons of hazardous materials are transported throughout the country on interstates, state highways, rural roads, etc. Think about it, when commuting to and from different destinations, you more than likely notice some type of hazardous material. While these materials are essential; they are also very dangerous, and someone must deliver these dangerous necessities to their destination. The drivers who transport these hazardous chemicals daily are by far the unsung road heroes. Every day these unsung HEROES navigate the roadways in various conditions with little to no incidents and should be recognized for making this major task as flawless as possible. Considering the number of serious incidents and the miles driven, the probability of these drivers having an event is relatively low, and that's a direct result of the driver's attention to detail and situational awareness. The U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration estimates that there are more than 800,000 hazmat shipments every day and more than 3.1 billion tons are transported each year. However, these encounters go seamlessly with hardly any events. Operating heavy equipment on the roadway is a considerable risk; however, that exposure is compounded when the driver is transporting hazardous materials. Just to be clear, the definition of Hazardous Material means a substance or material, which has been determined to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce [49 CFR §171.8] there are several managing agencies that I will elaborate on in the article. Transporting hazardous materials is no easy task however regulations are in place and intended to protect the driver, those around you, and the environment. These unsung HEROS are equipped with specific guidance on how to package the materials safely as well as how to load, transport and unload the materials. Nevertheless, spilt chemicals, especially in bulk, can quickly create dangerous concentration levels that can either overcome the driver and create dangerous situations for first responders or cause a flammable atmosphere. Hazmat drivers are the only drivers that have dual roles as a driver RECOGNIZING OUR HAZMAT DRIVERS - OUR UNSUNG ROAD HEROESBy James Griffin, Vice President EHS and Operational Excellence, Axis Energy Services
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