Shipping Dangerous Goods Training

Environmental Quality Management Department (EQM) provides assistance to the UK community regarding the shipping of dangerous goods by providing the training required to originate such shipments.   This training is required by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) which also mandates compliance with the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) training requirements.  The DOT has established regulations for domestic transport (within the United States) of hazardous materials by rail, air, vessel (ships), and motor carrier (ground).  While IATA has established guidelines exclusively for the transport of dangerous goods by air (both domestic and international). The DOT term “Hazardous Material” and the IATA term “Dangerous Good” are used interchangeably by UK.

When shipping via air (international or domestic), you must use the IATA guidelines.  Each commercial carrier may also have special provisions that must be met before a package containing dangerous goods can be transported on an aircraft.  In addition, when shipping internationally, some countries have specific requirements for dangerous goods. All of these are addressed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.  Following IATA regulations are required regardless of the routing and whether the shipment ends up physically moving by air transportation, ground transportation, or a combination of these. Dangerous goods include such obvious materials as chemical solvents, oxidizers, reactives, corrosives, and poisons but also some biological substances and other more common items including:
 

Who Needs DOT/IATA Training?”

Anyone who is involved in any aspect of shipping dangerous goods, including:

• Packing
• Labeling
• Transporting
• Signing Shipping Papers

Initial Training

All UK faculty, staff and students who are involved in any aspect of shipping dangerous goods as described above must be trained in conformance with DOT/IATA.   The EQM offers, free of charge to the UK community, training that is commensurate with this regulatory standard.  This training is provided on regular basis in either in-person or virtual formats depending upon the specific requests received.   Class size is limited and preregistration is required. The contact information to find out more about the availability of the Initial DOT/IATA Training Course or to register for the class is provided below as are the training dates which are currently available for 2025:

Charles Lowe
Sr. Hazardous Waste Specialist
859-257-3147
charles.lowe@uky.edu

Available Training Dates for 2025 

January 16, 2025*  

February 20, 2025 

March 20, 2025*

April 17, 2025  

May 22, 2025*

June 26, 2025  

July 24, 2025*

August 21, 2025  

September 18, 2025* 

October 23, 2025  

November 20, 2025*

December 18, 2025  

* - In person training (limit of 6 people)

All others are via zoom 

All training starts at 1:30pm 

Refresher Training

At least every two (2) years following the completion of the Initial Training course, it is required to complete DOT/IATA Refresher Training to maintain the legal ability to ship dangerous goods. This refresher certification can only be taken by individuals who have previously successfully completed the Initial Training course. If Refresher Training is not completed within two (2) years of the Initial Training date, the classroom training must be retaken.

This class is available ONLINE.

Shipping Dry Ice

Dry ice is a common and necessary preserving material accompanying many shipments of materials originating from UK. Therefore, the following basic information is provided but additional assistance can also be provided by contacting EQM:

• The box must be labeled “Dry Ice”, “UN 1845” and the net quantity of dry ice (in Kilograms, kg.).
• Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice), when offered for transport by air, must be in packaging designed and constructed to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas and to prevent a build-up of pressure that could rupture the packaging.
• All specific dry ice requirements are in addition to the labeling and packaging requirements for Biological Substances, Category B materials.

Shipping Biological Substances

Biological specimen shipments have specific DOT and IATA packaging requirements.  The following information is a summary of those requirements:

Required Container Markings for Infectious Substances (Division 6.2)

• DOT Primary Hazard class label - must have at least one
• Two (2) orientation arrows - on opposing sides of the package
• Proper shipping name
• UN number
• Full name and address of the shipper and consignee
• Name and phone number of person responsible

(NO PAGER NUMBERS PERMITTED)

• An itemized list of contents, placed between the primary and secondary packaging
• All markings must be on one side of the package
• Container must be designed for infectious substances, i.e., a marking of “Class 6.2” must be indicated

Packing Requirements for Infectious Substances (Division 6.2)

Packaging must include:

• Watertight primary container

• Watertight secondary packaging
• An itemized list of contents, enclosed between the secondary and outer packaging
• Rigid outer packaging (no envelopes)
• A container specifically designed for the transportation of infectious substances
• When the infectious substances to be transported are unknown but suspected of meeting the criteria for inclusion in Category A and assignment to UN 2814 or UN 2900, the words “Suspected Category A Infectious Substance” must be shown in the parentheses following the proper shipping name on the itemized list of contents and the Shipper’s Declaration, but not on the outer packaging.

Required Container Markings for Biological Substances, Category B (UN 3373)

• DOT Primary Hazard class label (must have at least one)
• 2 orientation arrows (on opposing sides of the package)
• Proper shipping name
• UN number
• Full name and address of the shipper and consignee
• An itemized list of contents, placed between the primary and secondary packaging
• All markings must be on one side of the package
• A name and 24 hour number of a person knowledgeable about the material being shipped must be on the container or shipping papers (It is recommended that the information also be placed on the itemized list of contents) 

Packing Requirements for Biological Substances, Category B (UN 3373)

Packaging must include:

• Primary receptacle
• Secondary packaging; and
• Rigid outer packaging (no envelopes)
• An itemized list of contents, enclosed between the secondary and outer packaging
• The completed package must be capable of successfully passing the drop test described in IATA Dangerous Goods regulations (6.6.1) except that the height of the drop must not be less than 1.2 m.
• A dangerous goods manifest is not required when shipping a biological substance, category B material.  An airway bill will suffice.
• Clear instructions on filling and closing such packages must be provided by packaging manufacturers and subsequent distributors to the shipper or to the person who prepares the package (i.e., patient) to enable the package to be correctly prepared for transport.  A copy of these instructions are to be kept for at least one (1) year.