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The University has instituted a campus-wide program for shipping all hazardous materials, which can include biological samples. This program is intended to be in full compliance with all applicable federal regulations. Only trained and certified personnel are permitted to package and ship the regulated materials covered by the federal manadates. Hazardous materials can include compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosive materials, radioactive and biological materials and even dry ice. For shipments of biological and radioactive materials, transport or export permits and/or authorization may be required prior to shipment. EH&S personnel will prepare the paperwork and package hazardous materials for all campus departments [see shipping instructions below]. FAQs Regulations and Penalties: Federal regulations have outlined specific shipping requirements for hazardous materials. The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, which is within the United States Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration, is responsible for coordinating a national safety program for the transportation of hazardous materials by air, rail, highway and water. Depending on mode of transport and destination, these shipments are regulated by Hazardous Materials Regulations (Title 49 CFR parts 100-185) and/or International Air Transport Association (IATA). When materials are shipped out of the country, items that may not be considered hazardous in the United States may be classified as hazardous in other countries. To comply with shipping regulations, hazardous materials must be properly classified, documented, packaged, and handled. Hazardous
Materials Classification and Applicability
Hazardous material is generally defined as any substance that could adversely affect the safety of the public, handlers or carriers during transportation. Hazardous material, as defined by the DOT, is any substance that appears in the Title 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Table. (The link is found on the upper left hand side of the page Hazmat Table)
An explosive is a substance or article (including a device) that functions by explosion, i.e. an extremely rapid release of gas and heat, or which, by chemical reaction within itself, is able to function in a similar manner even if not designed to function by explosion, unless it is otherwise classified under the provision of the regulations. Explosives are divided into six divisions:
The following list contains some examples of explosives, but is not all inclusive:
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is an explosive, notify EH&S (545-2682) and ask to have a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ There are three categories of regulated gases:
Most regulated gases are listed by name in the DOT Hazardous Materials
Table or in the IATA Identification Table.
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship
is a compressed gas, or what division compressed gas it is, notify EH&S
(545-2682) and ask to have a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ Flammable liquids are defined as any liquid having a flash point of = 60.5º C (141º F). Flammable liquids may be shipped by a specific name, such as Acetone, or by a generic shipping description, such as Flammable Liquids. EH&S should be contacted to review the material to determine a proper shipping name. The following list contains some examples of flammable/combustible liquids, but is not all inclusive:
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship
is flammable/combustible, notify EH&S (545-2682) and ask to have
a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ Class four materials are broken into three subgroups. They are:
Flammable Solids are defined as wetted explosives that are Class 1 explosives when dry, but are sufficiently wetted to suppress explosive properties, self-reactive materials that are thermally unstable and can undergo strong exothermic decomposition even in the absence of oxygen, and readily combustible solids that can cause fire through friction, such as matches. Spontaneously Combustible material is defined as "Pyrophoric" materials (liquids or solids that can ignite after coming into contact with air) and as "Self-heating" materials (substances that, when in contact with air, are liable to self-heat). Dangerous When Wet materials are materials that, when in contact with water, are liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable or toxic gas. The following list contains some examples of Class 4 materials, but is not all inclusive:
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is a class 4 material, notify EH&S (545-2682) and ask to have a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ Class 5 - Oxidizers / Organic Peroxides Class five materials can be broken down into two groups:
Oxidizers are materials that can, generally by yielding oxygen, cause or enhance the combustion of other materials. Organic Peroxides are any organic compounds containing oxygen in a bivalent -O-O- structure and which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals. The following list contains some examples of oxidizers and organic peroxides, but is not all inclusive:
_________________________________________________________________________________ Class 6.1 - Poisonous Materials Poisonous Materials are materials, other than a gas, known to be so toxic to humans as to pose a health hazard during transportation, or which, in the absence of adequate human toxicity data is presumed to be toxic to humans because it has been proven to be toxic or cause extreme irritation when tested on lab animals. Poisonous materials may be shipped by a specific name, such as Phenol, or by a generic shipping description, such as Poisonous Liquids or Poisonous Solids. EH&S should be contacted to review the material to determine a proper shipping name. Some examples of a Division 6.1 poisonous material are listed below, but this list is not all inclusive:
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is poisonous, notify EH&S and ask to have a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ The following infectious substances and biologicals are regulated as dangerous goods.
Many other materials, which do not meet the definition of Infectious or Biological substances per IATA, may still be regulated under different IATA or DOT regulations. Because a material is not captured through one of the following definitions does not automatically exclude it from shipping regulations. Personnel shipping materials should contact EHS personnel to ensure that the material is shipped properly.
Infectious Substances are substances which are known to contain, or are reasonably expected to contain, micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, parasites, fungi) or recombinant micro-organisms (hybrid or mutant) that are known or are reasonably expected to cause infectious disease in humans or animals. Infectious Substances are not regulated if they are unlikely to cause human or animal disease or are incapable of spreading disease when humans or animals are exposed to them.
These are organisms which have had genetic material purposely altered through genetic engineering in a way that does not occur naturally. There are four types of genetically modified organisms regulated as dangerous goods.
Genetically modified organisms and microorganisms which do not meet the definitions shown above are not regulated through this portion of IATA regulations.
Diagnostic Specimens are defined as any human or animal material including, but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids, being transported for diagnostic, or investigational purposes, but excluding live infected animals.
Clinical and Medical Waste is defined as wastes which are derived from the medical treatment of humans or animals or from bioresearch, where there is a relatively low probability that infectious substances are present. Infectious waste must be shipped as infectious, but waste which was infectious, but has been decontaminated may be shipped as clinical or medical waste.
Most select agents and many toxins are regulated as dangerous goods. If these materials do not meet the definitions of other regulated materials listed above, they must be reviewed on a case by case basis to ensure that they themselves are not regulated dangerous goods. Toxins from plant, animal or bacterial sources which do not contain any infectious substances or toxins which are contained in substances which are not infectious substances must be considered for classification as a dangerous good. Please contact EHS when shipping any select agent or toxin for review prior to shipment. If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is poisonous, notify EH&S (545-2682)and ask to have a determination made. Return to Classifications Class 7 - Radioactive Materials Currently, radioactive material means any material having a specific activity greater than 0.002 microcuries per gram (µCi/g). The specific activity of a radionuclide means the activity of the radionuclide per unit mass of that nuclide. The specific activity of a material in which the radionuclide is essentially uniformly distributed is the activity per unit mass of the material. If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is a radioactive material, notify the Radiation Safety Office at EH&S 545-2682 and request a determination. Return to Classifications Corrosive Materials are liquids or solids that cause full thickness
destruction of human skin at the site of contact within a specified
period of time; or a liquid that has a severe corrosion rate on steel
or aluminum. Corrosive materials may be shipped by a specific name,
such as Hydrochloric Acid, or by a generic shipping description, such
as Corrosive Liquid or Corrosive Solid. EH&S should be contacted
to review the material to determine a proper shipping name. Corrosive materials may be acid or alkaline, organic or inorganic. The following list contains some examples of corrosives, but is not all inclusive:
If there is a question as to whether the material you wish to ship is corrosive, notify EH&S (545-2682)and ask to have a determination made. _________________________________________________________________________________ Class 9 - Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials is a catch all for materials that present a hazard during transportation but don't meet the definitions of other hazard classes. This includes material that has an anesthetic, noxious, or similar property that could cause extreme annoyance or discomfort during transportation, or any material that meets the definition of an elevated temperature material (a material which must be transported in a heated packaging), a hazardous substance (a material defined as environmentally hazardous), or a marine pollutant. Some examples of Class 9 materials are, but are not limited to:
_________________________________________________________________________________ Some Hazardous Materials are forbidden to transport regardless of packaging,
quantity or any other special arrangements. These materials are typically
highly unstable, reactive, toxic or other highly hazardous items. Some
of these materials may be shipped if put into solution or otherwise
made stable. Those wishing to ship highly hazardous material should
contact the EH&S department early in the process to prevent any
delays in shipping. EH&S must be contacted early to allow enough
time to develop procedures to ensure safe shipment.
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