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Shipping Hazardous and Infectious Materials
If you ship hazardous materials (list below), including infectious substances (list below) or diagnostic specimens (list below), you will need training every two years to fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the shipping companies.
EHS provides shipping training quarterly for hazard Class 6 and Class 9 materials. Register online for one of these sessions. To arrange training for all other hazard Classes, call 624-6060.
If you only ship these materials once in a while, use the HazMat Shipping Program and a trained individual will package and ship your material for a nominal fee.
Hazardous materials
Chemicals, Infectious Materials, Infective Materials, Flammables, Toxic Materials, Preservatives, Biologicals that are potentially infectious require shipping training. All shipments on dry ice are hazardous under the DOT and require shipping training. Animal samples or specimens are considered hazardous only if they are potentially infectious or if they are shipped on dry ice.
Infective GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) require shipping training.
Please see the classification chart if you have questions about who needs training.
http://www.dehs.umn.edu/Docs/Shipping%20Biologic%20Flow%20ChartJan%202006.doc
DOT Hazardous Materials Classes
Class 1 - Explosives
Class 2 - Gases: Flammables, Non-flammables, Toxics
Class 3 - Flammable Liquids
Class 4 - Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustibles, Dangerous When Wet
Class 5 - Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
Class 6 - Toxic Materials and Infectious Substances
Class 7 - Radioactive Materials
Class 8 - Corrosive Materials
Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods (GMOs, dry ice etc)
Infectious Substances
The most commonly shipped materials at the University are in Class 6.2 Infectious substances. Infectious substances are those that contain known or suspected pathogens, i.e. microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, parasites, fungi) or other agents which can cause disease in humans or animals. There infectious substances are classified according to the degree of hazard into two categories, A and B. Training is required every two years for anyone shipping any of these materials.
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Category A
A Category A infectious substance is one that is in a form that, when exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, life threatening or fatal diseases to humans or animals. These are subject to the strictest shipping requirements (special paperwork, labels, containers), whether in cultures or in human or animal specimens.
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Category B
All other infectious substances are classified as Category B infectious substances. These are still subject to the shipping regulations but with lesser requirements in terms of shipping papers and quality of containers.
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Clinical and Diagnostic Specimens
Also, included in Category B are all non-Category A human and animal specimens (blood, blood components, excreta, secreta, tissues, etc.) shipped for any purpose. This includes shipments from healthy subjects. These are subject to fewer controls but do require initial training for those shipping them.
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GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms
If a GMMO or GMO does not meet the definition of an infectious substance and does not fall into either category A (UN2814 or UN2900) or category B (UN3373), it must be assigned to the classification "Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms" (UN3245) in Class 9. GMOs do require training to ship them by air.
Preservatives
Hazardous or flammable chemicals used to preserve specimens are considered hazardous material by the DOT and shipping training is required every two years.
Dry Ice
Is a dangerous good and shipping training is required every two years.