Drum It Up

Risk Analysis Moves DOT

Howard Skolnik — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:19:29 +0000

The winds of change are blowing through DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). At a recent Council of Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) conference in San Diego, DOT was well represented by Bill Schoonover, Deputy Associate Administrator of Field Operations; Ryan Paquet, Director of Approvals and Permits; Charles Betts, Director of Standards and Rulemaking and a Skype appearance by PHMSA’s Associate Administrator, Dr. Magdy El Sibaie. In their numerous presentations, all four representatives stressed that DOT was focused on their new mission, ”To protect people and the environment from the risks inherent in the transportation of hazardous materials.”

They stated that DOT is now looking at risk analysis to determine the needs of regulatory direction, as well as adoption of standards and new policies. They have had to rethink how they will achieve this mission. One example of the emphasis of their focus has been seen by the increased number and speed with which special permits are now being approved. Only a few years ago, these permits ground to a halt and strangled many viable shipments. Another refocus of PHMSA has been for the purpose of their validation testing lab, LOGSA (aka: Tobyhanna).

With a reduction in Federal funding, Tobyhanna has been moved from Enforcement to Research with the mission to pair in-field risk with testing validation of hazardous materials packagings. Under enforcement, packagings that were sent to Tobyhanna validated the packaging marks and the end result was either a pass, or fine for failure of any aspect of the performance tests. The information learned from the wealth of these tests was not shared with industry to improve safety. Under the new policy, DOT will establish a “risk analysis” formula for selecting packagings which indicate an elevated in-field risk, and these packagings will then be validated. After testing, DOT will present, online, the testing standards, process, results and protocol that will be useful in understanding actual packaging performance. These results will allow industry to understand and benefit from the test process, thus meeting DOT’s mission to improve public safety. Furthermore, even though fines for failure will still exist, PHMSA will work closely with industry to reach the objective of the mission which is to link testing to improving public safety. It will be a goal of the PHMSA administrators to be able to state that “packagings tested at the LOGSA test lab are successfully passing at a rate of 100%!”

Call W.E. Train and Eliminate Possible Fines for HazMat Violations!

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:49:29 +0000

The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a final rule that, effective April 17, 2013 revises the references in its regulations to the maximum and minimum civil penalties for a knowing violation of the federal hazardous material transportation law or a regulation, order, special permit or approval issued under that law. As amended in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), effective Oct. 1, 2012, the maximum civil penalty for a knowing violation was increased from $55,000 to $75,000, and from $110,000 to $175,000 for a violation that results in death, serious illness or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property. This rule also reflects the removal of the $250 minimum civil penalty and the increase to $450 of the minimum penalty for violations relating to training. In addition to costly fines, undeclared hazmat shipments, especially those shipped by air, pose a great public safety risk. If you are not sure whether or not you are shipping, mailing, or in any way transporting a hazardous material, we have made special arrangements with Mr. Gene Sanders, of W.E. Train Consulting in Tampa, FL to address these questions. At no initial charge, Gene will assist Skolnik customers, and potential customers, for up to 15 minutes to determine if the product they are shipping is a regulated product and thereby subject to the shipping requirements of the CFR. If it is a regulated product, Gene will then charge to assist in package selection and determinations of documentation requirements. The small upfront cost for properly shipping hazardous materials can save you from receiving huge penalties for violation of these regulations. To contact Gene Sanders, you can reach him directly at: 813-855-3855 or gene@wetrainconsulting.com.

Using the Right Tools for the Job

Dean Ricker — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:10:10 +0000

We have written here before about the importance of caring for the exteriors of stainless steel wine barrels, like avoiding direct contact with uncoated carbon steel, preventing deep scratches and the occasional need for re-passivation. But just as important as it is to care for the exterior, the interior can be even more important, especially when using open head wine barrels for the small lot processing of grapes. The tools you use are key to care of the stainless wine drums. Most importantly, avoid carbon steel shovels, pitchforks and scoops as they can scratch the stainless steel. The best tools to use are those made of food grade polypropylene. These hygenic tools were specifically created for the handling of grapes, must and pomace and they are light-weight and easy to clean. These tool allows you to quickly move grapes and must, and they won’t damage or scratch stainless steel barrels, tanks or vats. Made of high-grade polypropylene which is virtually unbreakable and immune to rust or rot, they are approved under FDA regulations for direct food contact. They are also lightweight and can help vineyard and winery owners increase productivity and reduce labor costs by moving and processing grapes faster and more efficiently than ever before. Using shovels, rakes and pitchforks with tapered and starprofiled tines enable easy piercing and gathering of grapes and pomace. The material facing surface of the tines are flat, not round, so they won’t scratch or damage your stainless steel wine barrels. One of the primary benefits of using stainless steel wine barrels is their longevity, but they must be cared for and one of the best ways to do this is to use the right tools.

Building the World’s Largest HazMat Containers

Howard Skolnik — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:30:59 +0000

Supertankers often transport huge quantities of dangerous goods. Ever wonder how supertankers are constructed? Thanks to the Discovery Channel, they will be broadcasting a series of six programs showing how the world’s largest vessels — Maersk Line’s 18,000teu Triple-E containerships were built. Maersk has given the Discovery Channel access to every stage of the Triple-E build from the design of the vessel’s unique hull, to the construction of the enormous engines and propellers, from the environmental improvements and safety systems, to the ship’s naming ceremony and maiden voyage on the Asia-Europe route.

“The Triple-E is an exceptional ship, in terms of its size as well as its energy saving technology and design. We’re excited about these vessels and proud to have Discovery Channel as a partner for showing how it is built and the people and passion behind it,” says Morten Engelstoft, Chief Operating Officer, Maersk Line.

The World’s Largest Ship will air on Discovery Channel in November, but to save you waiting all that time, Maersk Line has made available a time lapse video of the building of the Triple-E, that consists of 50,000 photos taken over a three-month period. (March 28 — Costha Post)

Understanding the UN Marks on your Packaging

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:53:02 +0000

In order for a drum to be compliant with UN certification, each packaging must be embossed and durably marked with a proper UN nomenclature sequence. Though inconsequential to the test performance of a package, DOT markings are critical for package identification and regulation. For the most part US packaging manufacturers are putting the required information on packaging in both durable and embossed formats, but some minor errors have surfaced. For instance, for the UN emblem, the letters “un” must appear vertically in lower case – upper case letters are non-compliant. If the emblem is not used, then the upper case letters positioned horizontally are required. Also, for packagings that have more than one certification, some manufacturers were noting the year of manufacture only once, when this information would have to be a part of each certified marking. CFR 178.503 specifically states the sequence for marking information. While the DOT does not consider these non-compliance issues to be a safety issue, it is best that all manufacturers and fillers verify that the markings on their packagings are compliant. To better understand the marking sequence, we have prepared 4 examples of UN markings with a break out of the meaning of each character. Click here to see the UN markings.

Use of Oak Barrel Alternatives Increasing

Dean Ricker — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:50:45 +0000

There has been a recent trend towards "naked" or "un-oaked" wines made in stainless steel wine barrels, but there still remains a high demand for wines that are made in oak barrels. We continue, however, to see more and more wine makers using our stainless steel wine barrels with oak alternatives. From helping winemakers at smaller wineries compete at lower price points to broadening their oak "spice racks," winemakers are using oak alternatives in as many different ways as there are alternative products. While many winemakers still use oak barrels, they do report the quality, consistency, flavor and aroma profiles of oak alternatives have improved, and some say they can depend on oak alternatives almost like barrels. The use of spiral oak inserts help add not only oak seasoning with aromas of vanilla and toast and other attributes but also help with the tannin structure and mouth-feel. About 20 years ago, the introduction of micro-oxygenation and competition to make better—yet still affordable—wines drove winemakers to use some of the earliest oak alternatives. Back then it was the odds and ends from coopers, folks just tossed them in the tank to bump up the oak notes on finished wines. Soon, though, suppliers saw the potential and invested in improving the alternative products. Wine makers still want to see barrels, but there’s so much success in this alternative to oak; it’s much more precise than it used to be. With the wine mainly staying in tanks there’s less risk of contamination from barrels or during racking or filling. It’s also easier to modulate oak flavors by adding more alternatives or moving the wine off the oak. When winemakers have to deal with several green lots because of cooler vintages, oak alternatives used early in primary and secondary fermentation can really help tone down green aromatic and green olive flavors. The same goes for pronounced pyrazine flavors, with a little bit of micro-oxygenation and oak chips in the tank can help deal with them. The quality of oak alternatives has now been matched in consistency. Winemakers can now craft a wine profile and have a hit every time, which is important to many clients who may start with one batch but require almost exponential growth if the wine is popular with consumers. Some would wager that most consumers wouldn’t be able to perceive taste differences between wines matured in barrels versus wines aged with oak alternatives. And one wouldn’t be surprised if critics or those in the trade would be able to get it half right when presented with a flight of barrel and stave-aged wines. With the quality there, winemakers are increasingly open about their use of staves because they believe in the quality, and they are looking to expand their winemaking style and offer affordable wines. While for some winemakers a new oak barrel is still preferred, there are many cases now where stainless steel wine barrels, like those manufactured by Skolnik, used in conjunction with these oak alternatives, give the wine maker more tools to play with rather than none at all.

DOT Clarifies HazMat Employer Definition

Howard Skolnik — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:36:07 +0000

During a recent audit of a Department of Energy supplier, one of the lead auditors stated his belief that all vendors to a company manufacturing UN packaging were, in his opinion, hazmat employers. The significance of this statement links to the definition of a hazmat employer as defined in CFR 171.1 for Applicability of Hazardous Material Regulations to persons and functions. The definition of a hazmat employee includes, among various other possible functions, an individual who designs, manufacturers, fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package, container or packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting hazardous material in commerce. As a hazardous material employer, a company is subject to the requirements of CFR 172.700 for employee training, training record retention, and thus, possible fines for non-compliance with these requirements. Per the January 24th, 2013 Letter of Interpretation issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), they do not agree with the opinion of the DOE auditor, and state that these suppliers are not subject to CFR 171.1, nor 172.700. PHMSA states that while reference is made to manufacturers of packaging components in the definition of a hazmat employee, the intent of their inclusion is not to cover producers of parts that may be sold by a manufacturer who is not aware that the purchasers’ intent is to utilize the component in a hazardous materials packaging. Click here to see the complete PHMSA response.

Steel Drum Kiln Offers a Unique Firing Option for Potters

Howard Skolnik — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:18:39 +0000

Firing clay is the most critical process for a potter. Traditional kilns use gas or electric energy to reach extreme temperatures which vitrify the clay. These kilns are often brick lined, permanently positioned and require a permanent utility connection. As with any creative art medium, artists often venture away from the norm and in the case of pottery, firing options are being tested. As a part of the alternative firing process, steel drums, in particular Skolnik steel drums, are being used by several artists to encase the glazed pieces that will be fired. The Skolnik steel drums are made of steel that is thicker, stronger and heavier than industry standards and in the case of a ceramic firing, these drums withstand higher temperatures, fire hotter, and offer great reusability.

In addition, to prevent fumes from being omitted in the first firing, the drums used are unpainted.

Patty Kochaver, a professional potter and instructor at the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, uses the Skolnik steel drums for her saggar firings. To begin, the pot surface is carefully treated with terra sigilatta, then buffed and nestled into the saggar which is filled with beds of combustible materials, such as sawdust, less combustible organic materials, salts and metals. These materials ignite or fume during firing, leaving the pot buried in layers of fine ash. Ware produced in the filled saggar may display dramatic markings, with colors ranging from distinctive black and white to flashes of golds, greens and red tones. Click here to see the process as well as the range of finishes achieved in one of Patty’s recent steel drum firings. Patty’s work is available online at www.pattykochaver.com

Premiere Napa Valley 2013

Dean Ricker — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:27:41 +0000

In late February of this year, the highly anticipated annual Premiere Napa Valley event occurred with several Skolnik stainless steel wine barrel customers showing very well and fetching record prices for their wines. Founded in 1997, Premiere provides funding for the Napa Valley Vintners organization (NVV) to further its mission to promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley appellation, its wines and its community. Revenue comes from the auctioning of rare, ultra-boutique, one-of-a-kind wines, crafted in as few as 60 bottles and never more than 240. For Napa Valley winemakers, Premiere is a chance to express something they have always wanted to convey in a wine in very limited production for this one moment in time and then never again. For attendees, it’s the chance to preview the vintage coming into market. This year’s 67 successful bidders had the chance to choose from an array of wine lots as diverse as the grape varieties grown in the Napa Valley itself, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Semillon, Syrah, and even sparkling wine. The Napa Valley Vintners’ 17th annual Premiere Napa Valley today brought in a resounding $3.04 million, nearly matching last year’s record-breaking event. The auction’s 211 lots donated by 218 NVV members were purchased in just over three hours of lively and spirited bidding at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. For anyone with no aspirations of buying wine at the auction, the weekend’s primary point of interest lies in the tasting held before the auction, where these 212 barrel lots are made available for members of the trade and the media to sample. All lots are from the 2011 vintage and are due to hit the market it 12 to 24 months. 2011 was by many accounts the most challenging vintage Napa (and most of Northern California) has seen in decades. Thanks to very heavy early-season rains just before harvest, many vintners battled significant amounts of botrytis, mildew and grey rot on their generally soggy fruit. Those few who managed to pick before the rains had absolutely stellar fruit, if somewhat lower yields than normal. Those who managed to get their fruit dried out, took drastic action to combat botrytis and mildew, and then managed to get the fruit off the vine in late October had between 20 and 40 percent less crop, but good fruit at relatively lower sugars and higher acidity levels than normal. Those who waited into November took their chances with mixed results. With that said, many wine makers achieved spectacular results. Judging by the auction’s proceeds of $3.04 million, which didn’t quite top last year’s record haul of $3.1 million, the demand for Napa’s wine remains strong. We were happy to see several of our favorite stainless steel wine customers at the top of many critics lists of the 2011 vintage!

DOT Launches Free App Featuring Emergency Response Guidebook

Howard Skolnik — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:19:39 +0000

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today announced a free, mobile web app of its Emergency Response Guidebook 2012 (ERG). The new safety tool will provide the nation’s emergency responders with fast, easily accessible information to help them manage hazardous material incidents. The mobile ERG will make it easier for firefighters, police and other emergency first responders to quickly locate the information they need, thanks to an electronic word search function, and will ensure easy reading even during nighttime emergencies. The 2012 version of the ERG includes new evacuation tables for large toxic gas spills and standard response procedures for gas and liquid pipeline incidents.

Links to download this software are available from the Apple iTunes website at ERG 2012 for iPhone and from the Google Play website at ERG 2012 for Android. In addition, a version of the ERG is available in NLM’s Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) application. An instructional video for learning how to use the ERG2012 is also available on PHMSA’s website.