PHMSA Updates Hazardous Materials Incident Report Form
Published Date: 9/21/2026
Notice
Summary
PHMSA is updating the form used to report hazardous materials incidents during transport. These changes will make the form easier to fill out by adding new info, clarifying questions, and simplifying the layout. Anyone involved in shipping hazardous materials should check out the draft and send comments by December 21, 2026—no extra costs, just smoother reporting!
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
When You Must Update A Report
Under Sec. 171.16(c) explained on the form, a filer must update an incident report within one year when a death results from the incident, hazardous material or package information was misidentified, damage/loss or related cost becomes known after the initial report, or damage/loss changes by $25,000 or more or by 10% of the prior total estimate, whichever is greater. The new form uses the plainer term "update existing report" for providing new or revised information.
Form Modernization to Cut Burden
PHMSA proposes a revised Hazardous Materials Incident Report (DOT Form 5800.1) that adds new data elements, clarifies questions, removes or reorganizes fields, and modernizes the visual layout. PHMSA says these changes are intended to reduce burden on filers and staff and improve data accuracy; commenters may review the draft PDF in the docket and submit comments by December 21, 2026.
New GPS & Mode Details Requested
The proposed form adds a checkbox for locations without a street address and requests GPS latitude and longitude coordinates, and it asks filers to identify other modes used or planned for the shipment. PHMSA says GPS coordinates should improve location accuracy and support geospatial safety analysis.
New Battery Incident Data Field
The Census Bureau evaluation recommended adding content to address incidents caused by batteries (for example, lithium-ion batteries) that undergo thermal runaway; the proposed form adds fields to capture that information. PHMSA says these incidents were not captured previously and the new fields would improve reporting and analysis.
More Detailed Packaging Options
The new form expands packaging-type choices (for example, Drum, Box, Bag, Jerrican, Barrel) and adds a separate category for Nurse Tanks used for anhydrous ammonia. PHMSA says these additions align with UN Performance Oriented Packaging categories and should improve data completeness and clarity.
PHMSA Encourages Digital Submissions
PHMSA encourages filers to submit incident reports using the HAZMATICS portal or XML data submissions because those methods better accommodate incidents with multiple packaging types or hazardous materials; the PDF remains an option. PHMSA will assess software and database changes needed to reflect the revised collection in HAZMATICS and XML.
New Questions on Other Agency Reports
The proposed form expands the 'reported to another Federal DOT agency' question to ask whether the incident was reported to other Federal, state, or local regulatory agencies and collect agency names and report numbers where known. PHMSA acknowledges this could increase filer burden but may improve coordination with responding agencies.
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