Have you ever wondered how hazardous materials are transported? Do you know if your company ships hazardous materials? Are they properly packaged and prepared according to U.S. federal regulations? Is your company about to begin shipping products categorized as hazardous material and you need help understanding the regulations? Is your shipping department trained and ready?

At UPS, the safety of our employees and the public is a top priority. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service while maintaining compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The vast majority of hazardous materials shipments tendered to UPS are consumer-oriented products such as paint, photo chemicals and cleaning agents-items frequently found on grocery and hardware store shelves. All hazardous material packages received at our company are audited by trained Acceptance Auditors to ensure they meet regulatory requirements. In addition, each shipment has its own “paper trail,” (which may be electronic) giving employees, customers and emergency responders specific knowledge of the package’s contents and location.

In order to remain compliant and provide first-in-class service to our customers, UPS provides a comprehensive hazmat training program to our employees based on their specific job function. The training ranges from in depth Acceptance Auditor training to emergency response training to general awareness. Anyone that may come in contact or affect the transportation of a hazardous material shipment receives job specific training.

10 tips for safe hazmat transport

Following are ten basic safety tips that a business should practice when handling these types of items:

1. Classify before you try (to ship). The first step in shipping hazardous materials is to classify your product. In the U.S., OSHA requires the manufacturer of any product to maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which identifies physical properties of the material and the risks associated with exposure. Knowing the classification of your shipment is crucial in hazmat.  If you’re shipping outside the U.S., you’ll need to understand the hazmat regulations in the country or countries to which you are shipping.

2. Understand your distribution environment. There are multiple modes of transportation your products could take to get to their final destination. You should closely evaluate the modes that will be used to move your product to the end consumer to determine the regulatory steps needed to prepare your shipment.

 3. Know the regulations. Based on the transportation mode, you must determine what regulations will apply to your shipments. Whether your shipment is going ground or air, domestic or international, each mode has its own set of regulations, and these regulations can be complex. Compliance with hazmat regulations is critical-the cost of getting it wrong could be heavy fines, undelivered products, lost market share, or potential injuries.

4. Package for protection. Proper packaging is key to the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Leaking hazardous materials packages can pose serious risks to the health and safety of transportation workers or even the general public. Once you determine which regulations apply to your shipment, you will be able to determine the specific packaging needed to meet those requirements.

5. Document everything. Paperwork describing the contents of your package helps ensure the proper handling and movement of the shipment throughout its journey. Proper documentation is mandated by the regulations.

6. Mark and label all shipments. This practice lets every party involved know, prior to actually handling the package, that the contents carry inherent risks if involved in an incident like a fire or an accident. Remember to remove all unrelated markings and labeling so that handlers only see relevant information.

7. Invest in training. According to D.O.T., anyone associated with the offering and transporting of a hazardous material must be trained for job-specific responsibilities. There are many public seminars available for training shippers in hazardous materials regulations. Ultimately, employers are responsible for ensuring each employee is properly trained and certified. 

8. Stay current on regulations. In today’s heightened state of security, the regulations associated with shipping hazardous materials are continually evolving. Information can be obtained through your carrier, hazardous material supply vendors, hazardous material industry organizations, or from the U.S. DOT at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.

9. Know your carrier. Many carriers have specific requirements and/or limitations regarding hazardous materials. It is important to know and understand these requirements prior to offering a shipment for transportation. Understand your carrier’s technology capabilities. For example, if you need to transport hazardous materials that must be maintained at a certain temperature, it is critical that your carrier has the technical capability to monitor and provide you with visibility of the shipment to verify that temperature standards have been maintained throughout the transportation cycle.

10. Communication is key. Keep open lines of communication with your carrier about any changes to your product, unique requirements, or special needs. If shipment visibility is important to managing your transportation needs, ensure your carrier has the technology available to meet your requirements.

Needless to say, shipping hazardous materials carries risk that can be mitigated. A thorough understanding of the hazmat regulations in the markets to which you’re shipping along with proper shipment preparation and good communications with your carrier will help ensure a safe shipment.  wt



Brad Cook is UPS’ Director of Dangerous Goods.