HazMat and shipping issues

The following procedures were presented at a 49CFR/ICAO/IATA Hazardous Materials Transportation Certification class.

YOU NEED TO BE CERTIFIED to ship hazardous materials. The following description of our shipping procedures is listed in hopes of encouraging input on how other people are shipping their hazardous materials and how they are interpreting the federal regulations.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHIP HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WITHOUT PROPER CERTIFICATION!

Most of our shipments are specimens preserved in 70% and 95% ethanol. Ethanol’s hazard class is 3 (Flammable Liquids) and UN number is 1170.

Our shipments meet the requirements for the shipping category of “Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities.”

Under this shipping category, 70% and 95% ethanol are placed in Packing Group II which has restrictions on the quantity of fluid permissible for each parcel. The maximum amount of preservative for the inner packaging (individual vials) is 30ml and the maximum amount of preservative for the outer packaging (the entire parcel, all the individual vials combined) is 500ml. There are no extra surcharges when shipping a package under ‘Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities’ (IATA 2.7). See FedEx Dangerous Goods Shipping section.

If your specimens are larger and require more preservative, you could ship them under the shipping category of “Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities”. The maximum amount of preservative for the inner packaging (individual vials) is 0.5L and the maximum amount of preservative for the outer packaging (the entire parcel, all the individual vials combined) is 1L. There are different forms and signage for this shipping category than for “Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities”. The specific procedures, forms and signage for this type of shipment are not included here but may be listed in the future.

• Place specimen in a plastic tube with a secure screw or snap top
• Be sure each vial contains 30ml or less of preservative
• Double bag the vials, being sure not to place too many vials in each bag
• Heat sealing the bags would ensure containment if any of the vials leak
• Place your bags of vials in a third bag and add absorbent material (cotton or vermiculite) to this third bag
• Heat sealing this third bag would ensure containment if there is any leakage
• When packing hazardous materials (“Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities”) you CANNOT use any FedEx packaging. Use a regular cardboard (fibreboard) box that has been drop tested or a UN (United Nations) certified box. See drop test procedures at bottom of page.
• Line your ‘drop tested’ box with a plastic bag. Be sure the box is large enough to fit a waybill (see below)
• Place the triple bagged specimens in the middle of the box and fill in the sides with packing material (i.e. popcorn, peanuts, bubble wrap)

SHIPPING WITH FEDERAL EXPRESS “DANGEROUS GOODS IN EXCEPTED QUANTITIES”

• “Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities” sticker
• USA Air Waybill in pouch
  • Do not fold the waybill and use the appropriate sized FedEx issued pouch
  • Be sure your box is large enough, the waybill needs to fit on one side of the box
  • Use a typewriter to fill out form, to be sure there is no misreading of the information. If FedEx is unable to read your writing, you may be fined.
• Print the text from the FedEx webpage stating no surcharge for a ‘Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities’ package
  • Highlight the line that says there is no surcharge
  • Include this in the pouch with the waybill so the FedEx accounting dept. does not include a surcharge
• Specimen/Object Invoice and Receipt form – (optional)
  • This form is to deter any suspicions that there is something of value or something dangerous in your package
  • Put 1 copy of form in its own pouch and attach it to the outside of the box
• Arrow stickers on opposite sides of box to indicate top of box
• Postal inspector sticker – (optional)

• Specimen/Object Invoice and Receipt form – (optional)
  • Place a copy inside the box for recipient.
• Letter to postal inspector

SHIPPING WITH FEDERAL EXPRESS “DANGEROUS GOODS IN EXCEPTED QUANTITIES”

• “Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities” sticker
• Expanded Service International Air Waybill in pouch
  • Fold the Expanded Waybill in half and use the large FedEx issued purple pouch
  • Be sure your box is large enough, the waybill needs to fit on one side of the box
  • Use a typewriter to fill out form, to be sure there is no misreading of the information. If FedEx is unable to read your writing, you may be fined.
• Proforma Invoice
  • The 3 copies are for FedEx, the U.S. and the destination country
  • Place all 3 copies into the pouch with the waybill
• Print the text on the FedEx webpage stating no surcharge for a ‘Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities’ package (http://www.fedex.com/us/services/options/express/dangerousgoods/fees.html?link=4)
  • Highlight the line that says there is no surcharge
  • Include this in the pouch with the waybill so the FedEx accounting dept. does not include a surcharge
• CITES sticker, taped to outside of box
  • Place a copy of the sticker inside the box
• Specimen/Object Invoice and Receipt form
  • Place 3 copies in its own pouch and attach it to the outside of the box (original to go inside of box for recipient of loan)
  • This form is to deter any suspicions that there is something of value or something dangerous in your package
• Arrow stickers on opposite sides of box
• Postal inspector sticker - (optional)

• CITES sticker
• Specimen/Object Invoice and Receipt form
  • Place original copy inside the box for recipient.
• Letter to postal inspector

LASTLY: You have 6 months to file the Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife form with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Form available online, http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/3-177-1.pdf

GOOD LUCK!

The following information is from the 42nd edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. “The performance tests are designed to ensure that there will be no loss of contents under normal transport conditions.”

Fibreboard boxes are corrugated cardboard boxes

Drop Height for packing group II (70% and 95% ethanol) is 4 feet.

Criteria for passing the test is no leakage and ...