11/04/08

Special Requirements for Safely Shipping Dry-Ice Packages

Did you know that dry ice is a hazardous material when transported by air?  If your answer is no, it is likely that you have not completed the necessary training to prepare a package with dry ice for shipment. An incidence occurred at the Lab in which a shipment that contained dry ice was improperly packaged and rejected by FedEx.

Those involved in shipping hazardous materials — whether it includes classifying hazardous material, final packaging for shipment, marking and labeling the package for shipment, preparing Lab shipping documents, or offering the package to a carrier such as FedEx — must complete appropriate training first. Shipping hazardous materials by air requires training under the requirements of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations. These requirements are very prescriptive and involve not only initial training but also refresher courses every 24 months. 

At Berkeley Lab, all hazardous-material shipments must be conducted by the Facilities Division’s Shipping Department (Building 69), trained EH&S Division employees, or other specifically trained and qualified staff. Unless you have received appropriate hazardous-materials transportation training and been specifically authorized to conduct such shipments, then the package must be taken to the Shipping Department for proper preparation. For more information on the shipment of hazardous materials, contact the Shipping Department (x5084) or Gale Moline with the EH&S Division (x4826).