Hazardous Materials
Transportation and Security

According to 49 CFR 171.8, the
definition of a hazardous materials is:
“A substance or material, which has
been determined by the Secretary of
Transportation to be capable of
posing an unreasonable risk to health,
and property when transported in
commerce.”

Examples:
1. Most laboratory chemicals
2. Solvents/flammables
3. Alcohols
4. Acids and bases
5. Compressed gases
6. Infectious substances
7. Radioactive materials
8. Certain paints and pesticides



A group of hazardous materials that
share dangerous characteristics.
U.S. DOT has identified nine hazard
classes based on the dangers posed in
transportation.
Most common to ETSU:
1.
Class 2.1 Flammable Gas
(acetylene and nitrogen)
2.
Class 3 Flammable Liquid
(methanol, acetone, diethyl
ether)
3.
Class 5.1 Oxidizer (hydrogen
peroxide and ammonium
nitrate)
4.
Class 6 Poison (potassium
cyanide and mercuric
chloride)
5.
Class 7 Radioactive
(Hydrogen-3, Carbon-14,
Phosphorous-32)
6.
Class 8 Corrosive (sulfuric
acid and sodium hydroxide)

Is the material I plan to ship or
transport a DOT hazardous
material?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Yes, if it was shipped to you as a DOT
hazardous material which will be
noted on the shipping paper or if the
package is DOT labeled or marked.
Yes, if it is listed in the DOT
Hazardous Material Table.
Yes, if it has a “UN” number, which
refers to the DOT Hazardous
Materials Table.
Yes, if it exhibits a characteristic of a
hazardous material:
 Explosive
 Gas
 Organic peroxide
 Radioactive
 Flammable
 Corrosive
 Dangerous When Wet
 Oxidizer
 Poison
Regulated and enforced by many State
and Federal agencies including:
1.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA)
2.
International Air Transportation
Association (IATA)
3.
Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act (HMTA)
4.
Hazardous Materials
Transportation Uniform Safety Act
of 1990
5.
Federal Aviation Association
(Dangerous Goods Regulations)

Any faculty, staff and students
involved in shipping, receiving
and/or transporting
hazardous materials are
considered ETSU HazMat
employees and must obtain
training .

ETSU must test and certify
HazMat employees before
shipping hazardous materials.

All hazardous materials must
be prepared and shipped
according to DOT Hazardous
Materials or IATA Dangerous
Goods Regulations.

The ETSU Environmental Health &
Safety Office provides training for
employees who during the course of
employment directly affects
hazardous materials transportation
through one or more of the following
activities:
1.
Loads, unloads, or handles
hazardous materials.
2.
Tests, reconditions, repairs,
modifies, marks or otherwise
represents containers, drums or
packaging as qualified for use in
the transportation of hazardous
materials.
3.
Prepares hazardous materials for
transportation.
4.
Signs hazardous materials and/or
waste manifests.
5.
Operates a vehicle used to
transport hazardous material.

EH&S Office will provide
technical information, oversight,
training and emergency response.

Department heads must identify
all faculty, staff and students who
require training and ensure that
they are trained before being
allowed to ship, transport and/or
receive hazardous materials.

All faculty, staff and students
must properly handle, classify,
package, label and document all
shipments of hazardous materials
and must not ship materials for
which they are not trained and
certified.

Packaging groups are used for
the purpose of determining
the degree of protective
packaging required for
dangerous goods during
transportation.
1.
Group I: great danger and
most protective packaging
required.
2.
Group II: Medium danger.
3.
Group III: Least danger
among regulated goods, and
least protective packaging
within the transportation
requirements.





The shipper is responsible for all
aspects of the packing of hazardous
materials.
Is the first line of defense in ensuring
that the material is not released
during transport.
All markings on the outside of a
hazardous material package must be
durable, easy to read, in English and
unobstructed.
The outside of each package must be
marked with the (a) proper shipping
name (b) the UN or NA identification
number and (c) the name and address
of the consignee or consignor who
sent the package.
Package must be labeled with a
hazard label(s) that corresponds to
the hazard class of the material it
contains.

All hazardous materials transported in
commerce are required to be accompanied by
shipping papers such as a bill of lading or a
manifest.

The following five items must appear on the
shipping papers:
1.
A basic description consisting of the
following:
a. Proper shipping name
b. Hazard class or division
c. UN or NA identification number
d. Packing group number
2.
A 24 hour emergency response telephone
number.
3.
Total quantity of hazardous material
being shipped.
4.
Certification statement: the shipper
certifies that the material listed on the
shipping papers have been properly
classified, described, packaged, marked
and labeled and are in proper condition
for transport.
5.
Signature: the signature of the shipper or
the agent signifies that the shipment is in
compliance with all relevant regulations.

Chemicals which are
considered hazardous cannot
be transported in privately
owned or personal vehicle.

All transport must be in a
University vehicle driven by a
University employee.

Chemicals can only be
transported for the purpose of
conducting research, field
investigations, educational
purposes and other official
university business.





Hazardous materials loaded or
unloaded to and from transport
vehicles are to be secured
immediately against unauthorized
access.
Loading hazardous materials or
receiving shipments must only occur
in authorized areas.
Visitor access to hazardous materials
storage and handling areas, including
truck drivers and delivery people,
will be on a strictly controlled basis.
Security devices including locks,
gates, doors and other barriers will be
utilized to the greatest extent possible
to protect against unauthorized
access.
All deliveries will be inspected for
shipping documentation and damage
to packages that may cause a release
of a hazardous material.

The shipper will be notified
immediately of missing or
damaged items.

Deliveries of hazardous materials
will only be accepted when
verified as expected and when
delivered by a carrier known to
the University.

Hazardous materials will only be
received when authorized
personnel are available to receive
and promptly store them in a
secure manner.

Personnel observing the delivery
of hazardous materials will watch
for abnormal behavior.

Be aware of your surroundings at all
times.

Report suspicious activities to ETSU
Public Safety at 439-4480 and/or the
EH&S Office at 439-6028.

Make sure not to leave vehicle
engines running unattended and do
not leave keys in transport vehicles
that are unattended.

Lock unattended transport vehicles
or those vehicles that are not in use,
making sure that the vehicle keys are
secure or returned to the designated
key storage area.

Do not preload hazardous materials
shipments during times of heightened
threat levels.
In the event of a security breach
including suspicious incidents or
individuals, ETSU employees
should immediately contact ETSU
Public Safety at 439-4480.

In the event of a spill due to
damaged or leaking package,
ETSU employees should
secure the location and
immediately contact ETSU
Public Safety at 439-4480.

Trained spill response
personnel will then be
notified to manage the
situation.

LIFE SAFETY IS
PARAMOUNT!
1.
Examples of hazardous materials at ETSU are acids and bases, flammable solvents, compressed
gas, dry ice, most laboratory samples and chemicals:
True
False
2. Hazard class 8 represents a corrosive and an example would be sulfuric acid:
True
False
3. Any faculty, staff or student involved in shipping, receiving and/or transporting hazardous
materials are considered ETSU HazMat employees and must obtain training:
True
False
4. Loading of hazardous materials or receiving shipments does NOT have to be conducted in an
authorized location:
True
False
5. In the event of a security breach, including suspicious incidents or individuals, ETSU employees
should immediately contact ETSU Public Safety at 439-4480:
True
False
Name: ______________________________________
Date:________________________