Module 9

Transport of
Hazardous materials

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 Introduction
Clinical and research laboratories often receive and ship
hazardous material
– Biological specimens and microorganisms
– Chemicals and reagents
– Gas cylinders
– Radioactive isotopes
– Laboratory waste
– Expired chemicals and hazardous waste

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 "Dangerous Goods"
for carriage
Criteria defined under 9 UN hazard classes
Classify and assign UN number and proper shipping
name
Each has entry in Dangerous Goods List which indicates
– limitations
– packaging
– labelling
– special provisions

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 Hazmat classification of
Hazardous material
Hazardous
materials

CLASS IV CLASS V CLASS VI CLASS VII CLASS IX

CLASS I CLASS II CLASS III CLASS VIII
Other flammable Oxidizing & Toxin & infectious Radioactive Miscellaneous
Explosives Gases Flamable liquids Corrosives
Substance Organic peroxidase Substance materials dangerous Goods

Division 2.1
Division 3.1 Division 4.1 Division 5.1 Division 6.1
Division 1.1 Flammable
Flameable liquis Flamable solid Oxidizers Toxic substances
Gas

Division 2.2
Division 3.2 Division 4.2 Division 5.2 Division 6.2
Division 1.2 Non-
Combustable Sp. combustable Organic Infectious
flammable
liquid \solid peroxidase substance
Gas

Division 1.3 Division 2.3 Division 4.3

Toxic Flameable in
water

Division 1.4

Division 1.5

Division 1.6

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 Hazardous material classification
transport symbols
Hazardous
materials

CLASS IV CLASS V CLASS VI CLASS VII CLASS IX

CLASS I CLASS II CLASS III CLASS VIII
Other flammable Oxidizing & Toxin & infectious Radioactive Miscellaneous
Explosives Gases Flamable liquids Corrosives
Substance Organic peroxidase Substance materials dangerous Goods

Division 2.1
Division 3.1 Division 4.1 Division 5.1 Division 6.1
Division 1.1 Flammable
Flameable liquis Flamable solid Oxidizers Toxic substances
Gas

Division 1.2 Division 2.2

Division 3.2 Division 4.2 Division 5.2
Division 1.2 Non-
Combustable Sp. combustable Organic
flammable
liquid \solid peroxidase
Gas

Division 1.3 Division 2.3 Division 4.3

Toxic Flameable in
Division 1.5 water

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 Transport of
Biological Materials
Individual workers responsibilities
That means
YOU!

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Classification
Packaging
Labelling
Documentation

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 International agreements for
transport of dangerous goods
UN Recommendations/ Model Regulations form
the basis for international, regional and national
regulations

Road ADR
Rail RID
Air ICAO (IATA)
Sea IMDG

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 Regulations - Road and Air
transport
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of
Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004
– cross references to ADR (& RID)
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use)
Regulations 2000

Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of

Dangerous Goods by Air - ICAO

Dangerous Goods Regulations - IATA

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Class 6.2 - Infectious substances

Substances known or reasonably expected to contain

pathogens
Can cause disease in humans or animals
Certain biological materials meet definition
– stringent requirements for classification, packaging and labelling
Consider any other hazardous properties
Other biological materials
– specific requirements to package safely

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 UN numbers and
proper shipping names
Cat. UN No Biological material

A UN 2814 Infectious substance affecting humans

Genetically modified microorganism
A UN 2900 Infectious substance affecting animals only,
Genetically modified microorganism
B UN 3373 Biological Substance
UN 3291 Clinical waste, Unspecified Bio medical Waste,
regulated medical waste
UN3245 Genetically modified microorganism
Exempt human/animal specimen
UN 1845 Dry ice, Dangerous goods
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Category A: an infectious substance which is
carried in a form that, when exposure to it occurs,
is capable of causing permanent disability, life-
threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy
humans or animals
Assign to UN 2814 or UN 2900

Category B: an infectious substance which does

not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category A
Assign to UN 3373

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 Following not subject to
regulations
Micro-organisms that are not human or animal
pathogens
GMMs that can be handled at CL 1 and are not vectors
(and plasmids, naked DNA etc)
Samples from non- human and non-animal sources,
that are either unlikely to contain pathogens or may do
so at natural level
Exempted materials
Blood, tissues or organs collected for blood
transfusion, preparation of blood products or for
transplant (all in humans)

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 Following not subject to
regulations
Dried blood spots
Faecal occult blood screening tests
Not controlled if material not derived from humans or
animals and
– possibility, but low probability, contains pathogens, and
– concentration at natural levels
Examples include foodstuffs, water and environmental
samples

Send as non-dangerous goods - do not confuse with

sending as Exempt specimens

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Refrigerated/cooled materials
Typically use either wet or dry ice
Both may affect packaging
Dry ice on Dangerous Goods List
UN 1845 CARBON DIOXIDE, SOLID
– Minimal requirements for road transport
– Various requirements for air transport
Avoid using liquid nitrogen
– contact appropriate authority for advice

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 Key point
Category A infectious substances must not be
transported by untrained personnel
Transported in appropriate vehicle with driver trained
and certified
Must not be carried by passengers as/or in checked
baggage, carry-on baggage or on their person
Must always be transported as separate packages in
the hold and must always be declared

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 Packaging
All use triple layer system
For some must use UN type-approved packaging
No limits on quantities per package for road transport
Quantity limits on packages for air transport
Procedure and type specified in applicable Packing
Instruction

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 Triple layer system
Leakproof primary receptacle
– wrapped in sufficient absorbent material to absorb the
entire contents
Leakproof secondary receptacle
Outer packaging (rigid)

Enclose paperwork between secondary and outer

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 Triple Packaging
Primary receptacle (labeled,
primary water tight, leak
proof receptacle containing
the specimen)

Secondary receptacle
(durable, water tight, leak
proof receptacle containing
primary receptacle)

Outer shipping package

(rigid, bearing forms,
permits, etc.)

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Triple Packaging

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 Packaging Instruction
UN 2814 or UN 2900 (Category A)
– Packing Instruction 620/602 (UN type-approved)
UN 3373 (Category B)
– Packing Instruction 650/650
UN 3245 (non-infectious GMMs)
– Packing Instruction 904/913
UN 1845 (dry ice)
– Packing Instruction ---/904

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 Refrigerated/cooled
Ensure packaging maintains integrity when ice melts
or dissipates
Must permit release of gas - ALWAYS place dry ice
outside secondary
Use cold packs or similar for wet ice
If Category A must ensure use UN
type-approved packaging properly
Various options
Eg combination packs, overpacks, thermal control units etc

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 Labels
Delivery address
Senders details
Emergency contact details
– name and telephone number
And as appropriate
– UN number and proper shipping name
– Hazard warning label

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 Category A
Mark with UN number and proper shipping
name
UN 2814 Or UN 2900
And following hazard warning label

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 Category B
Mark with proper
shipping name
BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE,
CATEGORY B

And following mark

Note no biohazard
sign or Class number

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 GMM (non-infectious)
Mark with UN number and
proper shipping name
UN 3245 GENETICALLY MODIFIED
MICRO-ORGANSIMS

And following hazard

warning label

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 Exempt specimens
Mark as appropriate with words
EXEMPT HUMAN SPECIMEN
or
EXEMPT ANIMAL SPECIMEN
No UN number or hazard warning label is
required

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 Dry ice – transport by air
Mark with UN number, proper
shipping name and net
weight (Kg) of dry ice
UN 1845 DRY ICE ##Kg

And following hazard warning

label

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Packages containing liquids
Must display the following Package
Orientation label on two opposite sides

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 Paperwork/documentation
- within package
Between secondary and outer
Must include
– Senders details
– Delivery details
– Emergency contact details
– Description of the goods
UN number and proper shipping name
– And for UN 2814 or UN 2900
Add technical name after proper shipping name
Itemised list of contents

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 Sending dangerous goods by
courier
Must meet classification, packaging and
labelling requirements
Give full description of goods to courier in
advance
Some couriers will not carry dangerous
goods or impose additional requirements
It is illegal to conceal dangerous goods in
any packaging not showing appropriate
labels

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Sending dangerous goods by post

Must meet both legislative and Post Office

requirements
Various prohibitions and restrictions
– Category A prohibited in domestic mail
– Dry ice prohibited
– Maximum amount of infectious substances restricted
to 50g or 50ml
– Only certain persons can send by post
– Can not send dangerous goods in international
service (Exempt specimens allowed)

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 Security
Must take measures to minimise theft or misuse
Hand packages over only to properly identified persons
or companies
Packages must always be secure
– not accessible to general public
Additional considerations for packages containing
Category A materials - “ high consequence dangerous
goods”

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 Acknowledgement
The University of Edinburgh Health and
Safety Department
(http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk)
Asia-Pacific Biosafety Training Network
(http://apbtn.com)

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