You may be in violation of Federal Law and create a public safety hazard if you ship dry ice, hazardous materials, or any other “Dangerous Goods” unless you have received specific training and the material is properly packaged and labeled.

The training and certification must be repeated every two years.

“Dangerous Goods” include, but are not limited to, materials that are flammable, combustible, corrosive, reactive, oxidizing, toxic, radioactive, infectious, asphyxiating, elevated in temperature, or compressed, including aerosol cans. Dry ice is also regulated. If you are unsure whether your material is a “Dangerous Good” consult your MSDS, check with EH&S at 723-0448, and/or see the below tabs to determine if a material is designated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as a hazardous material for shipping.

• Important: Stanford personnel are not allowed to directly ship any radioactive materials. If you need to have radioactive materials shipped, contact Health Physics at (650) 723-3201
• The person(s) packing the material and/or signing the shipping papers must be trained and certified in the shipping of dangerous goods.

  • EHS-PROG-2650 provides instruction in identification, packaging, and air shipment of small quantities of hazardous chemical materials.

  • If you are shipping only biological or other materials and using Dry Ice to preserve the samples, see the Biosafety & Biosecurity Shipping subtopic for information regarding the on-line training program.

  • If you are shipping Dry Ice with only non-hazardous materials, see the Packing Dry Ice with Non-Hazardous Materials SOP.

Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods

The Shipper’s Declaration is only required for:

• Infectious substances (Category A)
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• Any regulated hazardous material in amounts exceeding “Excepted Quantities”.

A Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is not required for Biological substances or Dry Ice without any regulated materials.

As of January 2011, any substances requiring a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods that are shipped through FedEx require you to use the FedEx Ship Manager software to complete the form. The Buying and Paying Support Center (buyandpay@stanford.edu or 650 723-2772) can provide information and instructions on that process, and can have a FedEx representative contact you to help you with the installation.

If your current fedex.com account has more than one PTA, you will need to choose one as a default, to pay any FedEx invoices which do not have a PTA indicated.

Four copies are needed; three go with the carrier and you retain one for your records.

Regulations require that you keep your copy for 2 years.

Completing FedEx Labels

For instruction on how to complete FedEx labels online see the SOP Shipping Dangerous Materials by FedEx, Domestically, Completing Labels Online.

If you need training or assistance in preparing to ship any other “Dangerous Goods” from Stanford, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at (650) 723-5069 to consult with a certified hazardous materials shipper on our staff. EH&S personnel are available and ready to help prepare any “hazardous material” for shipment.