Hazardous Materials Shipping

BACKGROUND

Regulatory Agencies

Shipments of hazardous materials are regulated by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in order to promote safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials and to ensure minimal threats to life, property, and the environment.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

Who Needs Certification?

Any employee of TTUHSC El Paso who ships hazardous items must first be trained and certified in the applicable rules. The Department of Safety Services offers and coordinates training classes for TTUHSC hazmat employees. A hazmat employee is any employee who handles, offers for transport, transports, or causes hazardous materials to be transported.

TYPES OF TRAINING

Due to the clinical nature of the majority of regulated shipments from TTUHSC El Paso, multiple training programs will be maintained so that employees may focus their certification to the types of shipments that apply to them. Each program requires initial training, followed by recurrent refresher training every two years.

Classroom Training

Safety Services provides both initial and refresher classroom training for general hazmat and Infectious Substance shipments which will provide the trainee with certification to ship hazardous materials in accordance with national and international rules.

Self-Study Modules

In addition, self-study modules have been developed to assist shippers in getting the certification that is most applicable to their needs.

Initial/Refresher Training

Each class or module may serve as either the initial training or the refresher training. Contact Department of Safety Services at 915-215-4820 for assistance in determining the best program for your needs. The following training programs are available through Safety Services.

Hazmat Shipping Training Programs 

DESCRIPTION

Certifies the employee to ship all classes of hazardous materials.

EXAMPLE SHIPMENT

A hazardous chemical, such as Chloroform.

CLASS FORMAT

Classroom; Approx. 8 hours.

CONTACT PERSON

Jackie Lomeli
Unit Manager
915-215-4820

DESCRIPTION

Certifies the employee to ship Class 6.2 Infectious Substances and Dry ice.

EXAMPLE SHIPMENT

A pathogenic microorganism, such as the flu virus, or a human specimen from a patient infected with a pathogen such as HIV.

CLASS FORMAT

Classroom; Approx. 3 hours.

CONTACT PERSON

Jackie Lomeli
Unit Manager
915-215-4820

DESCRIPTION

Certifies the employee to ship Dry Ice as a refrigerant for otherwise non-hazardous items.

EXAMPLE SHIPMENT

A non hazardous protein sample, such as an antibody in buffer solution, on dry ice.

CLASS FORMAT

Self-study module; Review material available on the website at your own pace.

CONTACT PERSON

Jackie Lomeli
Unit Manager
915-215-4820

DESCRIPTION

Certifies the employee to ship human specimens with only a minimal likelihood of containing pathogens.

EXAMPLE SHIPMENT

A sample of human blood, body fluid, or tissue from a healthy individual.

CLASS FORMAT

Self-study module; Review material available on the website at your own pace.

CONTACT PERSON

Jackie Lomeli
Unit Manager
915-215-4820

SHIPPING LIMITATIONS

All hazmat shippers must be trained in order to package, ship, sign-off, or offer packages for transportation. Copies of training certificates and copies of any shipping declaration forms must be forwarded to Safety Services.

Remember that nothing may be shipped to countries under sanctions by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In addition, international shipments may be subject to export controls regulations and licensure if the item appears on the Controlled Commodities List (CCL), or the United States Munitions List (USML). See “Resources” section below for web links. Select Agents and toxins as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and United States Department of Agriculture may not be shipped to any foreign country, under any circumstances.

POLICY

TTUHSC policy on shipping hazardous materials:

RESOURCES

CONTACTS