Before you ship hazardous materials
If you prepare, package, mark or label a shipment for a hazardous material, you must first be
trained to do so according to US Department of Transportation requirements [49 CFR 173.1(3)(b)].
According to the US DOT, a hazardous material is defined as "...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 property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated".
This includes hazardous chemicals (corrosive, toxic, reactive, or flammable),
infectious substances, radioactive substances, compressed gases, dry ice
and more.
Shipping hazardous materials can be complicated. And, the
consequences for doing it improperly can be high, including fines
and possibly imprisonment! It is very important that you be certified to ship
hazardous materials and understand and follow the
pertinent national and international regulations before
you ship anything hazardous.
International shipments may also be subject to Import/Export requirements.
Information on these requirements can be found on the UW’s Office of Sponsored
Programs website . You can also contact Carol Rhodes,
the univeristies Export Control Specialist, for more information. Carol can be reached at 206-543-2139 or by email
at carhodes@u.washington.edu
Assistance with shipping your hazardous material
 EH&S, in coordination with several departments around
campus, offers assistance for UW students, faculty and staff
who need to ship hazardous materials.
For assistance in shipping
radioactive materials, contact the Radiation Safety Office at 206.543.6328.
For assistance with all other hazardous materials, contact the Hazardous Materials
Shipping Coordinator at 206.685.2849 or by email. We offer assistance only - you must
already be trained and currently certified.
Certification for shipping hazardous materials
EH&S offers a Shipping and Transporting
Hazardous Materials class which meets US DOT requirements. You
must be re-certified every two years.
DOT adopts new regulations concerning infectious substances
Starting Oct 1st, HM 226A comes into effect, which finally harmonizes the
domestic and international regulations concerning the shipment of infectious
substances. These changes and related documents are found here.
Transportation by personal vehicle
You cannot transport hazardous materials in your personal vehicle for work
related activities. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact the Hazardous Materials
Shipping Coordinator at 206.685.2849 or email
chmwaste@u.washington.edu.
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