Page 16 - Occupational Health & Safety, December 2017

HAZMAT
ing the required lists of hazardous chemicals and the required Safety Data Sheets.
OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.134, respiratory protection, also is rele- vant to those working with hazardous materials, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Z, toxic and hazardous substances, contains important in- formation for construction workers.
PHMSA Distributes Hazmat Training Grants
There also are U.S. Department of Transportation hazmat regula- tions, such as a pending Federal Railroad Administration final rule that would require railroads to provide emergency escape breath- ing apparatus PPE for crew members on freight trains carrying poison inhalation hazardous materials and to train the crews to use the PPE properly. DOT announced in August 2017 that this rule has been delayed because FRA “cannot identify an economical means of compliance” and so it issued a guidance document that railroads will use to develop effective emergency escape breathing apparatus programs.
Another DOT agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, announced Oct. 5 that it had awarded a trio of hazardous materials training grants totaling $23,870,045. They consisted of:
■ $20,470,045 in Hazardous Materials Emergency Prepared- ness grants to states, territories, and Native American tribes to im- prove their emergency responders’ ability to protect themselves and the public when responding to hazmat transportation incidents
■ $2,400,000 in Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grants to non-profit organizations to train vol- unteer or remote emergency responders to safely respond to rail accidents involving crude oil and ethanol products; recipients in- cluded the Center for Rural Development ($950,000), the Univer- sity of Findlay ($950,000), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs ($500,000)
■ $1 million to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance through the Community Safety Training grant program, which allows com- munity organizations to help train state and local personnel respon- sible for enforcing the safe transportation of hazardous materials
“State, local, and tribal emergency officials are almost always the first to respond to hazardous materials incidents,” said Drue Pearce, PHMSA acting administrator. “These grants are another important resource PHMSA offers communities and response of- ficials to educate, plan, and stay prepared for transportation inci- dents, including those involving high-hazard flammable trains.”
“The department’s hazardous materials grants allow recipients to design and implement planning and training programs that meet their specific needs,” added U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. “Improving the response capabilities of our emer- gency responders is an integral part of our strong national safety program.”
Fred Elliott is a freelance author in Austin, Texas, who writes frequently about occupational safety and health topics.
Building a Better Protective Market
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16 Occupational Health & Safety | DECEMBER 2017
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