Shipping Hazardous Materials: Difference between revisions

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<p>[[Safety Policy]]&nbsp;| [[Deadly Weapon Policy]]&nbsp;| [[Shipping Hazardous Materials]]&nbsp;| [[Latex Sensitivity]]&nbsp;| [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]]&nbsp;| [[Waste Handling]]</p>
<p>[[Safety Policy]]&nbsp;| [[Deadly Weapon Policy]]&nbsp;| [[Shipping Hazardous Materials]]&nbsp;| [[Latex Sensitivity]]&nbsp;| [[Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure]]&nbsp;| [[Waste Handling]]</p>
<p>POLICY NO: <strong>2002</strong><br />EFFECTIVE DATE: <strong>08/10/06 </strong></p>
<p>POLICY NO: <strong>2002</strong><br />EFFECTIVE DATE: <strong>08/10/06 </strong></p>
<p><big>'''Shipment of Hazardous Materials or Dangerous Goods Policy'''</big></p>
<p>The shipment of hazardous materials or dangerous goods is a serious matter that requires University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) compliance with regulatory requirements. All employees who ship hazardous materials or dangerous goods, which includes dry ice, Category A Infectious Substances affecting humans and/or animals, Category B Infectious Substances (biological substances), patient specimens (except human or animal specimens) and cultures, shall follow regulatory requirements for the applicable mode of transportation (e.g., air, ground).</p>
<p>The shipment of hazardous materials or dangerous goods is a serious matter that requires University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) compliance with regulatory requirements. All employees who ship hazardous materials or dangerous goods, which includes dry ice, Category A Infectious Substances affecting humans and/or animals, Category B Infectious Substances (biological substances), patient specimens (except human or animal specimens) and cultures, shall follow regulatory requirements for the applicable mode of transportation (e.g., air, ground).</p>
<h2>Basis for Policy</h2>
<h2>Basis for Policy</h2>
<p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides instructions for all modes of transportation. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) impose more stringent requirements for air transportation by providing technical instructions. Violations of these regulations may result in fines ranging from $500 to $32,500 per day per violation.</p>
<p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides instructions for all modes of transportation. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) impose more stringent requirements for air transportation by providing technical instructions. Violations of these regulations may result in fines ranging from $500 to $32,500 per day per violation.</p>
<h2>Definitions</h2>
<h2>Definitions</h2>
<p>'''Hazardous material''' is a substance or material which is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated by the DOT. The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, and elevated temperature materials as defined, materials designated as hazardous under 49 CFR &sect;&sect;172.101, and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in 49 CFR Part 173.<br />'''Dangerous goods''' means articles or substances which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or to property when transported and are classified by ICAO or IATA as dangerous goods.<br />'''Patient specimens''' are those collected directly from humans or animals, including but not limited to excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluid swabs and body parts, being transported for purposes such as research, diagnosis, investigational activities, disease treatment and prevention<br />'''Cultures''' are the result of a process by which pathogens are intentionally propagated.<br />'''Exempt human or animal specimens''' are patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present.<br />'''Infectious substances''' are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as preons, which can cause disease in humans or animals.<br />Category A: An infectious substance which is transported in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans.<br />Category B: An infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion into Category A. Infectious substances in Category B must be assigned as &ldquo;Biological Substance, Category B, UN 3373&rdquo;.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Hazardous material</strong> is a substance or material which is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated by the DOT. The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, and elevated temperature materials as defined, materials designated as hazardous under 49 CFR &sect;&sect;172.101, and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in 49 CFR Part 173.</li>
<li><strong>Dangerous goods</strong> means articles or substances which are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or to property when transported and are classified by ICAO or IATA as dangerous goods.</li>
<li><strong>Patient specimens</strong> are those collected directly from humans or animals, including but not limited to excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluid swabs and body parts, being transported for purposes such as research, diagnosis, investigational activities, disease treatment and prevention</li>
<li><strong>Cultures</strong> are the result of a process by which pathogens are intentionally propagated.</li>
<li><strong>Exempt human or animal specimens</strong> are patient specimens for which there is minimal likelihood that pathogens are present.</li>
<li><strong>Infectious substances</strong> are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as preons, which can cause disease in humans or animals.</li>
<li><strong>Category A</strong>: An infectious substance which is transported in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans.</li>
<li><strong>Category B</strong>: An infectious substance which does not meet the criteria for inclusion into Category A. Infectious substances in Category B must be assigned as &ldquo;Biological Substance, Category B, UN 3373&rdquo;.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Procedures</h2>
<h2>Procedures</h2>
<ol>
<ol>
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<li>Certified employees may ship packages from departmental locations. All shipments must be packed and shipped by a certified individual.</li>
<li>Certified employees may ship packages from departmental locations. All shipments must be packed and shipped by a certified individual.</li>
<li>The shipper shall review the following for each hazardous material or dangerous goods shipment to ensure compliance with the regulations.</li>
<li>The shipper shall review the following for each hazardous material or dangerous goods shipment to ensure compliance with the regulations.</li>
<ol>
<ol type="A">
<li>&ndash;Applicability to regulations</li>
<li>Applicability to regulations</li>
<li>&ndash;Limitations</li>
<li>Limitations</li>
<li>&ndash;Classifications</li>
<li>Classifications</li>
<li>&ndash;Identification</li>
<li>Identification</li>
<li>&ndash;Packaging</li>
<li>Packaging</li>
<li>&ndash;Packing specifications and performance tests</li>
<li>Packing specifications and performance tests</li>
<li>&ndash;Marking and labeling</li>
<li>Marking and labeling</li>
<li>&ndash;Documentation</li>
<li>Documentation</li>
<li>&ndash;Handling</li>
<li>Handling</li>
<li>&ndash;Radioactive material</li>
<li>Radioactive material</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<li>Only FAA- or DOT-approved shipping containers, if required, shall be used when specified. Some containers are available in the UNMC Mail Services Department. Individual departments who utilize their own specialized or reusable containers must ensure that the vendor supplies a package performance test certification, if required, for each type of container used, if the material being shipped requires it. The certification must be kept on file by the individual shipper and will be audited for compliance.</li>
<li>Only FAA- or DOT-approved shipping containers, if required, shall be used when specified. Some containers are available in the UNMC Mail Services Department. Individual departments who utilize their own specialized or reusable containers must ensure that the vendor supplies a package performance test certification, if required, for each type of container used, if the material being shipped requires it. The certification must be kept on file by the individual shipper and will be audited for compliance.</li>
<li>A person who offers a hazardous material for transportation must provide an emergency response telephone number, if required, (including the area code or international access code) for use in the event of an emergency involving the hazardous material.</li>
<li>A person who offers a hazardous material for transportation must provide an emergency response telephone number, if required, (including the area code or international access code) for use in the event of an emergency involving the hazardous material.</li>
<ol>
<ol type="A">
<li>UNMC has registered with CHEMTREC to provide an emergency response information. CHEMTREC was founded by members of the Chemical Manufacturers Association and is the nation's premier hazardous material emergency response source. CHEMTREC specialists have access to over 1.5 million MSDSs and can ensure that emergency personnel at the scene of an accident or spill have the assistance they need.</li>
<li>UNMC has registered with CHEMTREC to provide an emergency response information. CHEMTREC was founded by members of the Chemical Manufacturers Association and is the nation's premier hazardous material emergency response source. CHEMTREC specialists have access to over 1.5 million MSDSs and can ensure that emergency personnel at the scene of an accident or spill have the assistance they need.</li>
<li>All shippers will use the CHEMTREC telephone number as the emergency contact number for domestic shipments. The CHEMTREC number is (800) 424-9300.</li>
<li>All shippers will use the CHEMTREC telephone number as the emergency contact number for domestic shipments. The CHEMTREC number is (800) 424-9300.</li>