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Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know

Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know

From classification and freight requirements to DOT regulations and hazard markings, ensure your business navigates shipping hazardous materials effectively.

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Many important factors go into safely shipping hazardous items. Depending on the freight your small or medium-sized business produces, your shipment may require special shipping needs or will require classification as a hazardous item. Shipping hazardous items is an entirely different scenario than other standard freight pieces. Here’s a breakdown of how to correctly ship hazardous items.

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Classifying Hazardous Freight

The term HAZMAT is an abbreviation for “Hazardous Materials.” The main contrast between hazardous shipping items and other kinds of freight is how it is defined and classified. There are essentially two steps of “classification” for hazardous materials. They include organizing the type of hazardous material and its freight class. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has specific rules for shipping hazmat items. They classify these risky shipments into nine classes:

  • 1: Explosives
  • 2: Gases
  • 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids
  • 4: Flammable Solids
  • 5: Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides
  • 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
  • 7: Radioactive Items
  • 8: Corrosives
  • 9: Diverse Hazardous Items

Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know

Most of these classes also contain class divisions for more specific items. The DOT also provides a Hazardous Materials Markings, Labeling, and Placarding Guide that hazmat shippers should familiarize themselves with. These risky items are also determined by a list of levels. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rates them here in the U.S. These levels are:

  • Red – Flammable
  • Blue – Health Hazard
  • Yellow – Instability Hazard
  • 4 – Ranges from Lethal to Explosive
  • 3 – Ranges from Permanent Injury to Explodes
  • 2 – Ranges from Temporary Injury to Violent Chemical Change
  • 1 – Ranges from No Hazard to Stable
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Shipping Hazardous Items: What You Need to Know faq’s

Q. What is the Best Way to Ship Furniture and Office Supplies?

A.

Hazardous substances risk health, safety, property, or the environment. These can include chemicals, flammable liquids, explosives, corrosives, and radioactive materials.

Q. What Regulations Govern the Shipping of Hazardous Items?

A.

Shipping hazardous items is regulated by various bodies to ensure safety. International regulations are set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the United Nations (UN). In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversee these regulations.

Q. How Should Hazardous Items Be Packaged?

A.

Packaging hazardous items requires careful attention to detail. They should be contained in UN-certified containers specifically designed for hazardous materials. Packages must be clearly labeled with the appropriate hazard class labels and handling instructions, and all containers must be securely sealed to prevent leaks.

Q. What Documentation is Required for Shipping Hazardous Items?

A.

Proper documentation is crucial when shipping hazardous items. Shipping papers must describe the hazardous materials, their hazard class, UN number, packing group, and quantity. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should also be included, providing detailed information about the material’s properties and handling requirements. For air shipments, a Declaration of Dangerous Goods is also necessary.

Q. How are Hazard Classes Determined?

A.

Hazard classes are determined based on the material’s properties. These classes include explosives, gases, liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous goods.

Q. What Training is Required for Handling Hazardous Shipments?

A.

Personnel involved in shipping hazardous materials must receive training on regulations and compliance, packaging and labeling, emergency response procedures, and safety measures to ensure proper handling and adherence to legal requirements.

Q. What Are Common Challenges in Shipping Hazardous Items?

A.

Shipping hazardous items comes with several challenges, including regulatory compliance to avoid fines and legal issues, ensuring safety to prevent accidents and exposure, maintaining accurate documentation to avoid delays, and managing higher shipping costs due to specialized handling and packaging requirements.

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