In light of increased awareness for homeland security, all package shippers the university conducts business with are working to comply with international, national and state shipping regulations. Transportation industry trends indicate the university can expect increased packaging requirements to insure the safety of not only the shipper’s employees, but also everyone who handles packages.
Federal Department of Transportation legislation requires any package with a Hazardous Materials label, signage or other wording contain exactly what is described. This requirement applies to both new and recycled/reused shipping containers. United Parcel Service inspects all packages to assure this requirement is met.
Iowa State has received reports from UPS that some university employees are using packaging material and shipping containers with visible Hazardous Materials labels, signage or wording that do not accurately describe the package contents. Shippers who use mislabeled packages (for example, a sending department here at Iowa State University) can be subject to fines.
Crossing out or covering up Hazardous Materials labels, signage or wording on packaging material or shipping containers is not sufficient. These labels, signage or wording must be removed to meet regulations. UPS suggests all shipments, regardless of content, be sent in NEW packaging material.
Compliance to these shipping requirements is critical. United
Parcel Service has informed the university it will no longer accept
packages from customers who do not meet their mandated regulations.
We can be reached at 4-7790 to assist with questions about packaging or shipping requirements. Environmental Health and Safety (4-5359) is available to assist you with all regulations and shipping preparation requirements for regulated items or materials.
Here are examples of improperly labeled packages:
Packages that contain aerosol cans ALWAYS require documentation and hazardous materials warning labels.
Partially obscured blue hazardous materials warning label. Label must be completely removed prior to shipping because the package does not contain what the blue hazardous materials warning label indicates.
ORM-D label indicates the package contains a regulated substance. Contact Environmental Health & Safety to determine the proper packaging requirements and documentation that must be on this package. This package can be shipped UPS Ground Service ONLY!
Package contents are not what this hazardous materials label indicates. CROSSING THROUGH LABEL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Label must be completely removed from package.
Box does NOT contain hazardous material. Label must be completely removed to meet Federal Department of Transportation regulations.
ORM-D-AIR label indicates the package contains a regulated substance. Contact Environmental Health & Safety to determine the proper packaging requirements and documentation that must be on this package. Depending on contents, this package must be shipped UPS Next Day or UPS Second Day service ONLY.
Reused package where original UPS delivery bar code has not been completely removed. This package could come back to the sender. All bar code labels should be completely removed from shipping container. Also, brownish-red stains on right side of package may be blood or some other hazardous material.
AND THE WINNER IS...
This package has so many labels and label fragments on it, it's hard to tell where it's going or what's inside!
www.fpm.iastate.edu/postal_parcel/sidebar_links/reused_packaging.asp