Dangerous Goods Handout

Transporting Dangerous Goods
Welcome to Mayo Medical Laboratories Transporting Dangerous Goods training.
Disclaimer
This training is provided as a service to Mayo Medical Laboratories clients and
couriers. It is limited to shipping of medical specimens for diagnostic
testing, including Category A Infectious Substances and Category B
Biological Substances. Although we strive to ensure that the information is
current and accurate, we remind you that it is the employers responsibility
to perform and verify the training of their employees.
No training is endorsed or "certified" by ICAO, FAA, TSA, IATA, DOT, or any

other association or agency. Parts of this training apply only to shipments
originating or ending in the United States. Only Mayo Medical Laboratories
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clients and couriers should use this training. Non-Mayo Medical Laboratories clients
and couriers are encouraged to use one of the many commercial vendors
specializing in IATA and DOT training
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Our presenter for this training is Ranee Rasmussen, Quality Assurance Assistant in
the Laboratory Compliance Unit in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and
Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
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Welcome to training on how to ship Dangerous Goods.

We are going to help you understand how to legally and safely ship
medical specimensInfectious Substance, Category A and Biological
Substance, Category B.
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Dangerous Goods: Overview
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What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of

posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment, and
which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in the IATA
regulations or in the HazMat table in 49CFR. Generally, the term
DG or Dangerous Goods is used when shipping via air under IATA
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regulations, and the term HazMat or Hazardous Material is used when

shipping via air or ground within the United States under 49CFR regulations.
For purposes of this training, DG and HazMat are equivalent terms.
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Why am I here? Why is this presentation important?
Legally, anyone who is involved with shipping dangerous goods must follow the
regulations.
Its imperative to follow the regulations and to follow them correctly. If they are,
your specimen will not leak or be crushed in transit.
The U.S. government can assess substantial penalties for violations of these
regulations.
Keep in mind that there are numerous regulations that change all the time. One
person cannot understand or remember all the regulations, so dont be afraid to
ask or call someone if you are unsure.
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Who determines these regulations?
Various federal and state agencies

These agencies are often referred to by acronyms, which are used throughout this
presentation:
ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO is a specialized agency

of the United Nations that develops and maintains principles and arrangements to
ensure the safety of international civil aviation. ICAO is the law.
IATA is the International Air Transport Association, which is an association of

airlines. IATA is not the law although you must follow their regulations if you want
the airline to take your shipment. IATA closely follows ICAOs regulations. IATA
publishes dangerous goods regulations every year. These regulations are the
easiest to read and follow.
DOT is the U.S. Department of Transportation.

49 CFR is the code of Federal Regulationsit is a document published by the US
Government with regulations regarding transporting hazardous materials focusing
mostly on ground transportation. However, it also contains information regarding
transporting hazmat by air, rail, and boat. 49 CFR is the law in the United States.
The CFR is modified periodically and the changes are written in the Federal
Register. We subscribe to a service that reads the Federal Register for us and lets
us know when any changes may pertain to us.
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What are these regulations?
The regulations imposed on most laboratories are related to specimen

classification, packaging, labeling, documentation, and the proper training of
staff.
This presentation covers each of these regulations in detail.

Every mode of transportation has its own rules that we must follow in addition
to the legal regulations.
Its the responsibility of the sendout staff to follow regulations, and its the
employers responsibility to train the individual to follow the regulations.
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and the 49 CFR guidelines can help
you prepare a specimen for shipment.
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Dangerous Goods: Proper Classification of Specimens
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First, Dangerous goods must be classified into the correct hazard class:
There are 9 hazard classes. If a hazard class is wide in scope, it may

be divided into additional divisions.
For training purposes, you should know all 9 hazard classes exist. But
generally, you will only use 2 of these hazard classes.
Infectious substances fall under Class 6, Division 6.2. Dry ice falls
under Class 9, Miscellaneous.
When preparing a specimen for shipping, you must know the hazard
class to complete the packaging and documentation correctly.
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In addition to the 9 hazard classes most hazardous substances are further assigned
to a packing Group
The 3 packing groups indicate the degree of hazard the substance presents.
For training purposes, you should know the packing groups exist, however when
shipping medical specimens you will not need to refer to a packing group, as
neither 6.2 Infectious substances, nor Biological Substance Category B are
assigned to a packing group.
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You must specify a packing group if you ship an acid, corrosive, or

flammable substance.
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Infectious substances are substances which are known or are reasonably

expected to contain pathogens. Infectious substances are classified in
Division 6.2.
Class 6, Division 6.2 Infectious substances are divided into two categories:
Category A, Infectious
Category B, Biological Substance
Rules for packaging and shipping are determined by how an infectious
substance is categorized
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Category A Infectious substances:

Category A is an infectious substance transported in a form that, when
exposure to it occurs, is capable of causing permanent disability, lifethreatening or fatal disease to humans or animals.
(Note: An exposure occurs when an infectious substance is released outside
of the protective packaging, resulting in physical contact with humans or
animals.)
49 CFR and IATA require a Hazard Class 6 label
IATA packing instruction 620
The proper shipping name is Infectious substance Affecting Humans
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Category B Infectious substances:

Category B is an infectious substance, referred to as a biological
substance, that does not meet the criteria for Category A.
49 CFR and IATA require a UN3373 marking
IATA packing instruction 650
The proper shipping name is Biological substance, Category B
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How do you know if a substance is Category A, Infectious or Category

B, Biological?
It is the responsibility of the laboratory staff to classify the specimen.

This slide lists some examples of Category A, Infectious or Category
B, Biological substances.
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The proper shipping name for Category A is Infectious Substance,

affecting humans. When the infectious substances to be transported
are unknown but suspected of meeting the criteria for inclusion in
Category A, the technical name is Suspected Category A Infectious
Substance. Per IATA regulations, if there is doubt as to whether or not
a substance meets the criteria, it must be included in Category A.
This slide lists Category A, Infectious examples from IATA regulations.
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The regulations for possessing, using, or transferring Select Agents from, to, or
within the United States are found in 42CFR, Parts 73.0 through 73.21. Most
diagnostic testing laboratories would not be involved with these agents and
toxins. Thus, it is beyond the scope of this presentation to cover this material.
Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control website: www.cdc.gov for more
information.
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IATA paragraph 3.6.2.2.3.5 classifies patient specimens for which there is minimal
likelihood that pathogens are present as Exempt Human Specimens. Examples
include:
Dried blood spots

Blood or blood components that have been collected for the purpose of
transfusion
Blood or urine tests to monitor cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, or

hormone levels
Tests conducted for insurance or employment purposes to determine the

presence of drugs or alcohol
Pregnancy tests
The classification of Exempt Human Specimen applies only to shipments by aircraft.
The US Department of Transportation considers these samples to be outside of their
regulations and thus does not assign them a classification at all.
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Cultures:
Cultures are the result of a process by which pathogens are intentionally
amplified or propagated in order to generate high concentrations. As such,
the risk of infection is increased if exposure occurs. This definition does not
include cultures intended for diagnostic and clinical purposes.
Cultures can be classified as Category A, Infectious or Category B, Biological
Substance:
Any culture intended for the intentional generation of pathogens as well as
any culture shipped for identification purposes must be shipped as Category
A, Infectious.
Cultures can be shipped as Category B, Biological if they arent intended for
the intentional generation of pathogens and are not found in the Category A
list in the IATA regulations.
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Dangerous Goods: Proper Packaging & Labeling of Specimens
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All dangerous goods shipped by air are assigned a packing instruction:
Instructions for shipping by air are found in the yellow pages of the IATA
regulations.
Category A, Infectious substances use Packing Instruction 620.

Category B, Biological substances use Packing Instruction 650.
Dry Ice uses Packing Instruction 954.
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Packing Instruction 620 for Category A, Infectious substances requires UNcertified packaging:
UN-certified packaging is a combination package consisting of inner and

outer containers that have passed a series of tests required by IATA and
the DOT.
Tests include puncture tests, drop tests, and stacking tests.

UN-certified packing is tested as a combination package. The containers
by themselves are not considered UN-certified and are illegal to ship in
individually. You must always use the appropriate combination of
containers to ensure UN-certification.
NOTE: State Health Departments and the CDC may furnish their own
containers and documentation if you ship to them.
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Packing Instruction 620 for Category A, Infectious substances has additional

requirements:
Ensure the box is marked UN-certified, as indicated on the slide. This
marking tells the carrier that this box has been certified to carry an
infectious substance.
The Category A, Infectious substance must be packaged by itself in a
certified container. The preferred container is our small white certified
shipping container, MML supply number T-570.
You must use a box big enough to accommodate all the proper markings
and labels for the contents of the box. These labels must not overlap, be
obscured, or be folded over a corner. If there are any old/previous markings
or labels on your box, they must be completely removed or blacked out
before reuse.
See the slide for an example of a certified container.
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requirements:
It must arrive in good condition without presenting a hazard to the

public.
You must pack it in leak-proof primary and secondary packaging with

enough absorbent material to soak up entire contents of the bag.
It must include an itemized list of contents between the secondary

packaging and outer packaging.
It must withstand a barometric pressure differential of not less than

95kPa and temperatures in the range of -40F to +130F.
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requirements:
It must fit in a box with a smallest external dimension no less than 100
mm (4 inches).
Not be consolidated with any other types of specimens.

Outside of the package must be marked durably and legibly with the
name and telephone number of a responsible contact person.
Ambient temperature samples must have a positive means of closure,

such as heat seal, skirted stopper, or metal crimp seal. If screw caps are
used, these must also be secured by positive means, such as tape,
paraffin sealing tape, or manufactured locking closure.
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In addition to the proper packaging, Category A, Infectious substances must

be labeled a certain way:
It must be marked with the proper shipping name, Infectious Substance

Affecting Humans.
Use the UN-certified number, UN2814, as well as the name and address of
the shipper and consignee.
Place a 6.2 Infectious Substance label on the box.

If the box contains over 50 mL or 50 grams of a Category A, Infectious
substance, it must also be marked with a cargo-only aircraft label.
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When shipping Category A, Infectious substances, you must use the proper
label:
You must always use the 6.2 Infectious Substance label, as shown on
the left.
If you are shipping over 50 mL or 50 grams of a Category A, Infectious

substance, the box must also be marked with a cargo-only aircraft label,
as shown on the right.
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Packing Instruction 650 for Category B, Biological substances has the

following requirements:
Ensure the box is marked with the diamond-shaped mark, shown on the
slide. The mark must be at least 2 X 2 and include the marking UN3373.
The proper shipping name Biological Substance, Category B must be

marked on the box, adjacent to the diamond-shaped mark.
You do not need to ship Category B, Biological substances in a UN-certified

box.
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Packing Instruction 650 for Category B, Biological substances has additional

requirements for air transport:
It must be triple packaged with a primary receptacle, secondary

packaging, and rigid outer packaging.
You must pack it in leak-proof primary receptacle containing no more

than 1 L of any liquid, as well as leak-proof secondary packaging.
If your vials are glass, you must wrap them in bubble wrap or rubber
band them together so that they do not break in transit.
The package must contain enough absorbent material to soak up the

entire contents of the bag.
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Packing Instruction 650 for Category B, Biological substances has additional

requirements for air transport:
It must withstand a pressure differential of not less than 95kPa and

temperatures between -40F and +130F.
It must contain no more than 4L in the outer packaging, excluding ice.

It must include an itemized list of contents between the secondary
packaging and outer packaging. In the case of medical specimen
shipments, the vial is the primary container and the styro/box
combination is the outer packaging. The test requisition form (batch
sheet) serves as the itemized list of contents.
Use the proper shipping name, Biological Substance, Category B.

Outside of the package must be marked durably and legibly with the
name and telephone number of a responsible contact person.
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49 CFR for Category B, Biological substances has additional requirements for

ground transport:
Shipping by ground is very similar to shipping by air, with many of the

same requirements.
It must be triple packaged with a primary receptacle, secondary

packaging, and rigid outer packaging.
You must pack it in leak-proof primary receptacle containing no more

than 1 L of any liquid, as well as leak-proof secondary packaging.
If your vials are glass, you must wrap them in bubble wrap or rubber
band them together so that they do not break in transit.
The package must contain enough absorbent material to soak up the

entire contents of the bag.
The box must be capable of passing a drop test from the height of 4
feet.
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When shipping Category B, Biological substances, you must use the proper
markings and labels:
You must always use the UN3373 marking, as shown on the left. Place the
mark next to the words Biological Substance, Category B.
If your specimen needs to be shipped on dry ice, use a dry ice label. This label
must include the weight of the dry ice, marked in kilograms.
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This slide shows an example of a box marked with the proper shipping name,
Biological Substance, Category B next to the UN3373 marking.
These are the only markings required for air or ground shipments.
If the specimen is liquid, your boxes needs to display orientation labels
on opposite sides. Since most of our shipments contain liquid, our
boxes are preprinted with these arrows.
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When packing microbiology cultures:
Both Category A, Infectious substances and Category B, Biological

cultures should be sent in a Mayo Medical Laboratories (MML)supplied secondary container. Doing so ensures the safety of lab
personnel.
For Category A, Infectious cultures, the secondary container must be

placed in the appropriate temperature color-coded bag and in a UNcertified box.
For Category B, Biological cultures, the secondary container must be

placed in the appropriate temperature color-coded bag. Place a blue
C label on the bag.
Note: The blue C label is a Mayo Medical Laboratories supply item.
Use of the blue C label is not a regulatory requirement; rather Mayo
Medical Laboratories requests our clients to use this label on Category B
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culture shipments.
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When shipping Category A, Infectious cultures:
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Package Category A, Infectious cultures according to Packing

Instruction 620.
Use a certified combination box.
You can combine Category A, Infectious with other Category A,

Infectious cultures, but Category A, Infectious should not be
packed with Category B, Biological cultures.
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When shipping Category B, Biological cultures:
September 2014
You can combine Category B, Biological with other Category B,

Biological substance specimens. If the culture is Category B,
Biological, it may be packed with other Category B specimens.
Place a blue C label on the bag and Styro containing the Category
B culture, as well as on the outside of the box.
If you have a courier pickup, they will take care of labeling the Styro
and box.
Mayo Medical Laboratories requests that you put the blue C label
on the outside of the bag.
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Dangerous Goods: Methods of Transportation & Documentation of

Specimen Shipments
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If you send specimens by U.S. Mail:
Follow the Post Offices Dangerous Goods regulations. These closely

follow the DOT regulations in 49 CFR, but may include additional
restrictions.
For details, contact the USPS for their Dangerous Goods regulations.
They can also refer you to their hazmat expert if necessary.
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If you send specimens by air:
Follow the IATA/ICAO Dangerous Goods regulations.

Call the IATA hotline if you need assistance.
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If you send specimens by ground carrier:
Follow the DOT Dangerous Goods regulations, found in 49 CFR.

Call the DOT hotline if you need assistance.
Also, review the federal safety requirements on the Office of
Hazardous Materials Safety website.
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If you operate your own private courier system or contract with a dedicated
contract courier:
Follow the DOT regulations for all Category A, Infectious substances.

For Category B, Biological substances by ground, you are exempt from
DOT regulations.
Substances exempt from DOT regulations must still follow OSHA

requirements, as stated in 29 CFR. This includes placing biohazard
labels on at least one of the containers.
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To ship legally and safely, it is important to identify the substance you are
shipping. To identify your substance correctly on your package and paperwork:
You must use the proper shipping name when shipping. The proper
shipping name is a standard name used to identify the article or substance
on the outside of the package and on the Shippers Declaration Form.
In the case of an infectious substance, you must know the technical name
of the substance as well. The technical name is a recognized chemical
namecurrently used in scientific and technical handbooks, texts, journals
which must accompany the proper shipping name when indicated in the
IATA or DOT regulations.
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Dangerous Goods regulations in both 49 CFR and IATA indicate when a substance
requires a technical name:
In IATA, substances followed by a bold star (*) need a technical name included
in the documentation.
In 49 CFR, substances marked by the letter G in column 1 need a technical

name. The slide shows this indication.
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When shipping Category A, Infectious substances, a Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods is
required:
The Shippers Declaration describes the contents of the consignment. By signing the shippers
declaration, the shipper declares the consignment is classified, packaged, marked, and labeled
according to international and national government regulations.
If this form is filled out incorrectly in any way, your shipment will be rejected. At least two copies of the
declaration must be given to the airline.
You must retain a copy of the Shippers Declaration for two years.
The following information must be filled in:
The name and address of the shipper and the consignee.
The airway bill number, along with page 1 of 1.
Cargo aircraft only must be crossed (Xd) out if you have 50 mL or 50 grams or less of an
infectious substance.
The airport of departure and the airport of destination must be filled in.
The word radioactive must be crossed (Xd) out, leaving non-radioactive showing.
The proper shipping name must be listed exactly the same as in the IATA regulations.
The technical name must be filled in parenthesis.
The class or division must be filled in, such as 6.2, as well as the UN number.
Under the quantity and type of packaging, you must fill in the quantity of the infectious substance
and the number and type of packaging.
An emergency contact number must be listed on the paperwork. This must be a 24-hour
emergency response number that is monitored at all times by a person knowledgeable about the
dangers or characteristics of substance being transported. Minimally, this person must have
immediate access to a person who possesses such knowledge.
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The name and title of the shipper, as well as the date must be filled in.
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When shipping Category B, Biological substances:
The only paperwork required is a domestic airway bill.

Each airline has its own airway bill. This slide shows an example of a
FedEx airway bill.
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Dangerous Goods: Proper Training of Employees
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Employee training is an important element when shipping dangerous goods:
If you are audited by the FAA, your training records are typically
evaluated first.
Training requirements state that an employee may only be certified in

areas in which they can successfully perform their duties.
Training is required within 90 days of employment for all laboratory

employees who ship dangerous goods. Earlier training is
recommended.
Self-training is acceptable as long as it meets the requirements of

Security Awareness Training, as described in the next few slides.
Training must include general familiarization, function-specific

information, safety training, and security awareness training.
Training must be repeated every 2 years per IATA, every 3 years per 49
CFR
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Accurate training records must be retained in the event of an audit:
In general, these records must include: the employees name, the

most recent training completion date, and a description or copy of the
training materials used, such as a copy of this presentation.
While it is the hazmat employers responsibility to ensure that a

hazmat employee is properly trained and tested, the employer may
designate an outside source to train, test, and certify employees on
their behalf. The employer must determine a trainers qualifications
based on the employers need. Once the training is completed, the
name and address of the that training organization must be retained.
A test that ensures the employee can perform the assigned duties in
compliance with the regulations is required. No specific format must
be used, however. Training and testing may be accomplished in a
variety of waysperformance, written, verbal, or a combination. Once
the test is completed, a copy of the certification issued must be
retained.
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Security Awareness Training is required for all employees who ship dangerous
goods:
Fulfills the requirements of 49 CFR 172.704 (a)(4).

Required within 90 days of employment.
Recommended as soon as possible.
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Security Awareness Training must include:
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Risks of transporting dangerous goods.

Methods of enhancing transport security.
Ways to recognize security risks.
Steps for responding to security threats.
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The US Department of Transportation has training materials available to satisfy

these requirements. Use the link
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/Hazmat/digipak/ to access the
Security Awareness Training website.
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Per 49 CFR, employees must be knowledgeable in emergency response

information for all infectious substances. This includes:
Proper shipping name of the substance, Infectious Substance

Affecting Humans.
Technical name of the substance.

Telephone number for use in the event of an accident or other
emergency.
Ensure the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods or the

shipping paper is stored in the vehicle when transporting by ground
carrier. Three copies of the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous
Goods must be included when transporting by air.
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Employees can protect themselves when shipping dangerous goods by:
Participating in training--including the employers lab safety training,

OSHA training, and Employee Right to Know training.
Wearing gloves at all times.

Treating all spills as infectious substances.
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Dangerous Goods: Contact Us
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If you have questions about transporting your specimen, contact the Mayo
Clinic Laboratory Compliance Unit by phone or email.
September 2014
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Transporting Dangerous Goods

Welcome to Mayo Medical Laboratories Transporting Dangerous Goods training.

No training is endorsed or "certified" by ICAO, FAA, TSA, IATA, DOT, or any

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Welcome to training on how to ship Dangerous Goods.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods: Overview

Transporting Dangerous Goods

What are dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of

Transporting Dangerous Goods

regulations, and the term HazMat or Hazardous Material is used when

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Why am I here? Why is this presentation important?

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Who determines these regulations?

Various federal and state agencies

ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO is a specialized agency

IATA is the International Air Transport Association, which is an association of

DOT is the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

What are these regulations?

The regulations imposed on most laboratories are related to specimen

This presentation covers each of these regulations in detail.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods: Proper Classification of Specimens

Transporting Dangerous Goods

There are 9 hazard classes. If a hazard class is wide in scope, it may

Transporting Dangerous Goods

You must specify a packing group if you ship an acid, corrosive, or

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Infectious substances are substances which are known or are reasonably

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Category A Infectious substances:

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Category B Infectious substances:

Transporting Dangerous Goods

How do you know if a substance is Category A, Infectious or Category

It is the responsibility of the laboratory staff to classify the specimen.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

The proper shipping name for Category A is Infectious Substance,

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Dried blood spots

Blood or urine tests to monitor cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, or

Tests conducted for insurance or employment purposes to determine the

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods: Proper Packaging & Labeling of Specimens

Transporting Dangerous Goods

All dangerous goods shipped by air are assigned a packing instruction:

Category A, Infectious substances use Packing Instruction 620.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

UN-certified packaging is a combination package consisting of inner and

Tests include puncture tests, drop tests, and stacking tests.

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Packing Instruction 620 for Category A, Infectious substances has additional

Transporting Dangerous Goods

Packing Instruction 620 for Category A, Infectious substances has additional

It must arrive in good condition without presenting a hazard to the

You must pack it in leak-proof primary and secondary packaging with