Shipping of hazardous materials is highly regulated and violations may subject the shipper to fines and prosecution from regulatory agencies. At UCLA, shippers are directly responsible for the legal packaging, labeling, documentation and record retention of all hazardous materials shipments. This guide will assist you to get all the information you need to ship a hazardous material from UCLA.
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Definition of Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are defined as articles or substances that are capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. This includes chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the shipment of hazardous materials by ground and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) regulates shipment by air.
To determine if a material is classified as a hazardous material, review the Hazardous Materials Table available in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49 CFR Section 172.101. UCLA Office of Environment, Health and Safety is also available to assist in classifying the materials.
Categories and Process
If your package meets the definition of a hazardous material, you must determine the material's category and follow the instructions below.
Packaging and Labels
Once you have been properly trained, packaging and labels for your shipments can be purchased from any of the suppliers listed below or any other suppliers of your choice.
Courier Service Providers
As an alternative to becoming trained to ship the materials yourself, a courier service can be used to package and transport hazardous materials safely and according to regulation.
The shipment of a controlled physical item from the United States to a foreign country, such as a piece of scientific equipment or a biological material, may require an export license. Be sure to secure license approval or verify license exception prior to shipment of all controlled items. Contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research for further guidance. View the UCOP Shipping Export Controls webpage for more information.