Ship + Mail

Hazardous Materials Shipping

Hazardous materials are substances or materials that pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported. These can include compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosive materials, radioactive and biological materials, and dry ice.

It is required that hazardous materials are processed, consigned, and shipped though Logistics, with the exception of compressed gases and radioactive materials. Compressed gases are delivered directly to the ordering department, and radioactive materials are handled by Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).

Close-up of a battery corrosion warning graphic on the side of a shipping envelope.

Required Documents

To ensure compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, departments must complete the following forms and steps:

  1. Hazardous Materials Transportation form (.PDF)
  2. Service Request form
  3. Safety Data Sheet (departments acquire this from the supplier)
  4. Attach all forms, including the Safety Data Sheet, to your package
  5. Place the package in your mailroom for pickup

Domestic packages require a minimum of 24 hours for processing; international packages require a minimum of 24-72 hour review and processing period prior to shipment. Shipments of dry ice must be in Logistics' possession by 12 p.m. for same-day shipping.

DOT regulations outline specific shipping requirements for hazardous materials. Depending on mode of transport and destination, these shipments are regulated by 49 Code of Federal Regulations parts 171-180 or IATA. When materials are exported, items that may not be considered hazardous in the United States may be classified as hazardous in other countries. To comply with shipping regulations, hazardous materials must be properly classified, documented, packaged, and handled.

Failure to meet regulatory requirements when shipping hazardous material may result in citations, fines, or imprisonment. Civil penalties to the university can be more than $1 million per violation. Individual researchers and shippers may be subject to criminal penalties of up to $500,000 and ten years imprisonment.

Contact Environmental Health and Safety when shipping radioactive, genetically modified material, and materials potentially infectious to humans, animals, or plants.