How to Handle Hazmat Packages

Ever received a package in the mail that didn’t arrive the way it was supposed to? Maybe there were some dents or a few tears, or even worse, the package itself sustained damage. This is all well and good for standard packages, but things get a bit dicier when the package contains hazardous materials.

A skull and crossbones may come to mind when you hear the term ‘hazardous materials,’ but in reality, many of the products and items we use daily would fall under this category: paint, cleaning supplies, bleach, etc. They vary widely in danger and chemical composition, which is why their shipping labels must stand out from other shipping labels. Otherwise, a lost package may break open and contaminate other packages--and this is just one of the potential disasters.

Chances are you’ve never shipped or received hazardous materials in the mail, but hey, you never know where life might take you. Today, we’re going to break down the process of shipping hazardous materials: how to contain the materials themselves, how to label the packages, and how to remain compliant with federal transportation regulations.

For starters, there are unique labels for shipping hazardous materials. These labels are brightly colored and diamond-shaped, which makes it easy to distinguish hazardous packages from non-hazardous packages. These labels comply with the United Nations’ dangerous goods identification system, but differences in design and color may differ slightly from country to country. This uniform labeling system also makes a broken package spill easy to clean up, ensuring greater personal and public safety.

However, it’s not just enough to have the labels on there. You must include the name of the shipper, ID number, the scientific name of the product, special permits for packaging, environmental handling, consignment information, and marine pollutants. Whew! That’s quite a mouthful. All of this information will make it much easier to handle your hazardous material package with the care it requires. Furthermore, they’re necessary to remain compliant with federal transportation regulations, which have changed recently.

The Department of Transportation has recently implemented some changes to its policies concerning the shipment of hazardous materials. The DOT requires that all packages containing hazardous materials must have a label on them (just not on the bottom) and must be near the shipper’s name on the package’s surface. Some speculate that this is to cut down on time spent identifying and assessing the package, but ultimately it is to promote public safety.

Not all hazardous materials are created equal, though. FedEx, for example, lists accepted hazardous materials and prohibited hazardous materials for shipment. Approved hazardous materials include flammable liquids and solids, non-flammable gases, oxidizers, organic peroxide, radioactive material, and corrosive material. Prohibited hazardous materials include most explosives, materials that are dangerous when wet, spontaneously combustible materials, infectious substances, and poisonous gases, and other toxic materials. FedEx also lists the appropriate labels for these materials on their website for anyone curious about how to ship hazardous materials correctly.

Fun fact: Alaska and Hawaii prohibit the shipment of aerosols, nail polish, and paints. These are three great examples of everyday items that are classified as hazardous materials.

Depending on the hazardous item you want to ship, you might have to take a few extra steps. For example, some explosives require additional information, such as EX numbers (explosive identification numbers issued by the DOT), national stock numbers, or product codes on your packaging or shipping labels. Many of these extra steps require affixing labels to the package explicitly stating that the item being shipped complies with federal transportation regulations. Many times, the label will look something like this: “This package conforms to 49 CFR 173.13”.

There are a few labeling exemptions for hazardous materials. According to FedEx’s website, “packages shipped as a Limited Quantity may be exempt from the labeling requirements, those shipped under a DOT special permit may also be exempt from labeling requirements, and those prepared under 49 CFR 173.13 do not require a diamond-shaped hazard label.”

There are plenty of websites that can provide you with the correct hazmat labels for shipping hazardous materials. HazmatPac, for example, can even do custom labels for unusual or uncommon hazardous materials. 

So with all of this talk about hazardous materials, what are some of their defining traits?

HazmatPac’s definition is “[a] dangerous good is any solid, liquid or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.” Various federal committees oversee the shipping and handling of hazardous materials. The DOT has classified nine types of dangerous materials. They are divided according to their key features and chemical compositions. For international shipping, HazmatPac recommends checking the transportation regulations of the country to which you’re shipping your package. Non-English-speaking countries may require extra attention, such as using the local language for an address.

Should your package suffer any accidents or spills mid-transit, dangerous goods call centers like Chemtrec are ready to assist you in handling the crisis. Their staff members must undergo extensive hazardous materials training and certification before helping any customers. This training boosts their combined decades’ worth of experience as EMTs, first responders, firefighters, hazardous material specialists, and military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians.

With over six million Safety Data Sheets in their library, Chemtrec has built an expert network of toxicologists, doctors, chemists, and hazardous materials pros that collaborate with them to provide the most up-to-date information to customers. They also cater to a global clientele with interpreters for over 240 languages.

Chemtrec also specializes in handling hazardous materials accidents or spills. Shippers and handlers can use their handler information network, incident report service, and crisis response and communication. However, they also offer non-emergency services.

The world of hazardous chemicals is much more sophisticated than it appears. The shipping industry may be much more chaotic without such careful attention to some of these dangerous materials. Thankfully, many businesses in the industry take their work seriously, cooperate with federal standards, and overall strive to help people streamline their hazardous materials shipping experience.