Hazardous Materials Shipping Program
Executive Summary
The federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 510etseq.), is the basic statute regulating
the transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat) in the United States. This law requires the training of
all hazmat employees. A hazmat employee is anyone who directly affects hazardous materials (hazmat)
transportation safety. This includes anyone who: loads, unloads, or handles hazmat; tests, reconditions,
repairs, modifies, marks, or otherwise represents packaging as qualified for use in the transportation of
hazmat; prepares hazmat for transportation; is responsible for safety of transporting hazmat; or
operates a vehicle used to transport hazmat. The purpose is to increase a hazmat employee's safety
awareness and be an essential element in reducing hazmat incidents.
The regulations for hazmat transportation by ground are written by the US Department of
Transportation and are contained in 49CFR171-177. Hazmat shipping by air is governed by the Federal
Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); however, given the
complexity of these regulations, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) writes interpretation
of these regulations that are required to be followed when items will be shipped through a carrier in
that organization. All national and international carriers are members of IATA, thus the IATA
interpretations of the regulations are what must be followed when shipping hazmat by air.
This program is intended to assist all hazmat employees become and continue to be qualified to ship
hazardous materials. Environmental Health and Safety does not ship hazardous materials for the
university (except for hazardous waste), but EHS is responsible for assisting the university in complying
with all applicable federal, state and local regulations. Hazardous materials shipping is one of those
highly regulated areas.
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Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................................1
Roles and Responsibilities..............................................................................................................................................3
Employees .................................................................................................................................................................3
Hazardous Material Definition ......................................................................................................................................3
Chemicals ..................................................................................................................................................................4
Biological Hazards.....................................................................................................................................................4
Radioactive Materials ...............................................................................................................................................4
Training..........................................................................................................................................................................4
Initial Training ...........................................................................................................................................................4
Recurrent Training.....................................................................................................................................................4
Training Records........................................................................................................................................................5
Training Certification.................................................................................................................................................5
Training Courses That Meet the Requirements.........................................................................................................5
Training for Certification to Ship Chemical Hazardous Materials by Ground .......................................................5
Training for Certification to Ship Chemical Hazardous Materials by Air...............................................................5
Training for Certification to Ship Biological Hazardous Materials by Air..............................................................6
Training for Certification to Ship Radioactive Materials by Air or Ground............................................................6
Shipping Hazardous Materials.......................................................................................................................................6
Transportation (Other Than Shipping) of Hazardous Materials....................................................................................6
Hand or Cart Carry between Buildings......................................................................................................................6
Transport in a Vehicle................................................................................................................................................7
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Roles and Responsibilities
Employees, supervisors and EHS all have a role in the safe and compliant shipping of hazardous
materials. The responsibilities of each role are defined below.
Employees
Employees that ship or prepare for shipment hazardous materials must:
Complete the prescribed training appropriate to the type of hazardous material being shipped
and the method by which it is being shipped.
Properly package, mark and label all packages of hazardous materials for shipment.
Accurately complete and sign all shipping paperwork.
Maintain shipping paperwork for hazardous materials shipments for a period of at least 3 years.
Supervisors
Supervisors of employees that ship or prepare for shipment hazardous materials must:
Ensure that employees that ship or prepare for shipment hazardous materials complete the
prescribed training appropriate to the type of hazardous material being shipped and the method
by which it is being shipped.
Not require employees to ship or prepare for shipment hazardous materials if they have not
been appropriately trained.
Ensure shipping paperwork for hazardous materials shipments are maintained for a period of at
least 3 years.
Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Health and Safety shall:
Review and approve courses for hazardous materials shipping and make information on such
courses available to employees.
Be the exclusive shipper of all hazardous waste.
Provide certification to all employees that have completed hazardous materials shipping
training.
Periodically review and update this program.
Maintain all training records for employees who are certified to ship hazardous materials.
Hazardous Material Definition
Hazardous material means a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined
is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in
commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of Federal hazardous materials
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transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine
pollutants, elevated temperature materials, materials designated as hazardous in the Hazardous
Materials Table (see 49 CFR 172.101), and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes
and divisions in part 173 of subchapter C.
The types of hazardous materials that have special requirements for shipping fall into three general
categories, chemicals, biological hazards and radioactive materials.
Chemicals
Chemicals defined as hazardous materials are listed, by name, in the Hazardous Material Table (HMT) of
49CFR 172.101.
Biological Hazards
Biological hazards are listed in the HMT as Infectious Substances, Biological Substances and Regulated
Medical Waste. The shipper must classify the biological material per Department of Transportation
(DOT) definitions. Biological agents are not specifically named on the HMT. Consequently, certification
to ship biological materials requires additional training.
Radioactive Materials
Similar to biological hazards, radioactive materials are not listed by name. The shipper must classify
radioactive materials per DOT definitions. Aside from transport of portable gauges, shipping of
radioactive materials must be done by the radiation safety officer.
Training
The training required depends on how a hazardous material will be shipped. Unless a ground service is
used, it should be assumed that at some point a hazardous material prepared for shipment will be
transported by both ground and air. Training must include: general awareness/familiarization, functionspecific instruction, safety and security awareness. In-depth security training is required if the
regulations require a security plan. Driver training is also required for each hazmat employee who will
operate a motor vehicle.
Initial Training
A new employee, or an employee who changes job functions, may perform hazmat job functions before
completing training, provided: the employee does so under the direct supervision of a properly trained
and knowledgeable hazmat employee; and the hazmat training is completed within 90 days of
employment or change in job function.
Recurrent Training
Recurring training is required at least once every three years. The three-year period begins on the actual
date of training completion. Relevant training received from a previous employer or other source may
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be used to satisfy the requirements, provided a current record of training is obtained from the previous
employer or source (i.e., OSHA, EPA, and other Federal or international agencies.) Training must address
components specified in 172.704(a) of the HMR to be considered applicable.
Training Records
Training records must include: hazmat employee's name, completion date of most recent training,
training materials (copy, description, or location), name and address of hazmat trainer and certification
that the hazmat employee has been trained and tested.
Training Certification
Although transportation is NOT an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) function, EHS has evaluated
the available training and herein prescribes training required to be certified by Arkansas State University
as qualified to ship hazardous materials. Employees wishing to pursue a training track not listed below
may nominate an addition to this list by contacting EHS.
Training Courses That Meet the Requirements
Only persons (faculty, staff, students) who have completed the appropriate course from the following
list, provided a copy of the completion certificate with a score of 70% or above to Environmental Health
and Safety (EHS) and received a certification of training back from EHS are authorized to ship hazardous
materials.
Training for Certification to Ship Chemical Hazardous Materials by Ground
2-day UPS Dangerous Goods Seminar for 49CFR Requirements (DOT); see website for schedule
and cost ($600). http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/hazardous/seminar.html
1-day Environmental Resource Center Seminar DOT Hazardous Materials Training: The Complete
Course; see website for schedule and cost ($429 webcast or $449 for scheduled seminar).
http://www.ercweb.com
Free online US Department of Transportation training modules 0-5 (certificates must be
submitted to EHS for each module) http://dothazmat.vividlms.com/ . A 70% or greater must be
achieved on the quiz for modules 1-5.
Training for Certification to Ship Chemical Hazardous Materials by Air
1-day Environmental Resource Center Seminar Transportation of Dangerous Goods: Compliance
with IATA Regulations; see website for schedule and cost ($559 webcast or $579 for scheduled
seminar). http://www.ercweb.com
2-day UPS Dangerous Goods Seminar for IATA Requirements ; see website for schedule and cost
($600). http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/hazardous/seminar.html
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Training for Certification to Ship Radioactive Hazardous Materials by Air
Only the Radiation Safety Officer or Assistant Radiation Safety Officer is permitted to ship radioactive
hazardous materials. Contact EHS for details.
Transport of the neutron probe is considered hazardous materials shipping. Thus training for “shipping”
this device is required. The following training is acceptable to meet this requirement:
Nuclear Gauge Training plus HAZMAT from Troxler Labs ($129).
http://www.troxlerlabs.com/Training/Online-Training-NEW
HAZMAT Certification/Recertification from Troxler Labs ($49).
http://www.troxlerlabs.com/Training/Online-Training-NEW
Training for Certification to Ship Biological Materials by Air or Ground
IATA self-study course with online examination Shipping Guidelines for Infectious Substances;
see website for purchase and cost ($310). http://www.iata.org/training/courses/tcgp43.htm
One of the courses required for chemical hazmat by air plus SAF-T-PAK DVDROM. See website
for purchase and cost ($465 to include reference manual; limited to 6 users and expires with
calendar year). http://www.saftpak.com/Training/dvdtraining.aspx
1-day SAF-T-PAK Compliance Seminar; see website for schedule and cost ($290).
http://www.saftpak.com/Training/seminartraining.aspx
One of the courses required for chemical hazmat by air plus SAF-T-PAK Online Course ($360 for
three users, must be purchased in threes).
http://www.saftpak.com/Training/InternetTraining.aspx
Shipping Hazardous Materials
It is the responsibility of the shipper of hazardous materials to ensure that a package is properly
prepared for shipment and to ensure that all of the appropriate paperwork is completed prior to the
materials being shipped. EHS will offer assistance to any trained individual that wishes to ship hazardous
materials, but the work must be completed by the individual shipping the material.
Transportation (Other Than Shipping) of Hazardous Materials
Hand or Cart Carry between Buildings
Hazardous materials may be hand carried between laboratories and buildings on campus without
restriction so long as common sense packaging is employed and the requirements of the Biological
Safety Manual and the Chemical Hygiene Plan are met.
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Transport in a Vehicle
Hazardous materials may NOT be transported off campus in a personal motor vehicle without specific,
written permission from Environmental Health and Safety. Non-regulated hazardous material may be
transported off campus in an A-State motor vehicle. Regulated hazardous material may only be
transported off campus by EHS personnel, in an A-State vehicle without the aforementioned written
permission