University of Maryland Baltimore
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Contact:
Environmental Health
  and Safety
714 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-7055
Fax 410-706-8212

 
Hazardous Material Shipments/Transportation Policy

D R A F T

I. Purpose:

To ensure all shipments of hazardous materials on and off campus are prepared in accordance with applicable Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, to ensure proper hazardous materials shipments and to protect all persons from inadvertent exposure to hazardous materials during their transport.

II. Definitions:

Hazardous Materials: means “a substance or material, which has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and/or property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated. The term includes hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, elevated temperature materials”... “, materials designated in [49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)] §172.101, and materials that meet the defining criteria for hazard classes and divisions in [49 CFR §]173.”

Hazmat Employee: means “a person which is employed by a hazmat employer who in the course of employment affects the hazardous materials safety.” .. “This term includes an individual who prepares hazardous materials for transportation, is responsible for safety of transporting hazardous materials, or operates a vehicle used to transport hazardous materials.”

Hazmat Employer means anyone “who uses one or more of its employees in connection with: transporting hazardous materials in commerce,” or “causing hazardous materials to be transported or shipped in commerce ...”

Carrier: means “A person engaged in the transportation of passengers or property” 

III. Policy

  1. All hazardous materials intended for commercial shipment must be packaged and shipped in accordance with applicable DOT or ICAO regulations.
  2. Training. The Department of Transportation requires University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), a hazmat employer, to ensure that each of its hazmat employees is trained in accordance with the applicable regulations. In order to ensure compliance with this requirement:
    1. All individuals which through the course of their work conduct duties that would classify them as a hazmat employee must obtain general awareness, function specific and safety training commensurate with their involvement.
    2. Individuals may not conduct job functions which would classify them as a hazmat employee until they have been properly trained or unless they are under the direct supervision of a properly trained hazmat employee.
    3. Once trained, hazmat employees must be re-trained every two years.
    4. The training can be administered either by Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) or by other public or private sources.
    5. Employee’s proof of successful completion of applicable training will be submitted to EHS.
    6. If a department does not have appropriately trained personnel to ensure proper packaging and shipment of hazardous materials, EHS should be contacted for assistance.
    7. Under no circumstances will a hazardous material be offered for shipment unless the package is fully and accurately classified, packaged, marked, labeled, described on shipping papers and is in all respects in proper condition for transport in accordance with applicable international and federal regulations. Additionally, a material that is not a hazardous material will not be offered for shipment if the package and shipping papers indicate the inclusion of a hazardous material.
    8. Shippers shall include a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) either in or on the shipping container. If affixed on the outside of the container, the MSDS must be placed in a weather resistant envelope.
    9. Shippers will be responsible for all cost incurred as a result of shipping hazardous materials.
    10. Under no circumstances can radioactive materials be shipped from UMB without prior permission and knowledge of the UMB Radiation Safety Officer. In addition, all packages of radioactive materials arriving on campus must be delivered to the Radiation Safety Office.
    11. All shipments must be made via a hazardous material carrier. The UMB mail room will not be associated with shipments of hazardous materials.
    12. Hazardous materials arriving at the
      Central Receiving Warehouse at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) are subject to the following requirements:
      1. Packages will be inspected, but not opened, prior to entering the campus delivery service.
      2. Damaged hazardous material packages will be held at the warehouse and EHS and the ordering department will be notified of the damaged package. EHS will assess the risk associated with transporting the package and will make appropriate recommendations.
      3. Ordering departments are responsible for notifying Procurement of any damaged hazardous material packages after the package has been opened by knowledgeable personnel in appropriate work areas.
    For additional information, contact EHS at 6-7055.

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