Newsflash


Packaging and Shipping Dangerous Goods

Many seemingly harmless items used every day around the workplace or house may be classified as dangerous goods or hazardous material when transported by air.

Offering undeclared or improperly declared dangerous goods/hazardous materials for shipment could result in heavy penalties being imposed by the regulatory authorities.

To assist you in handling and shipping dangerous goods, FedEx would like to draw your attention to the following information:

Training...it’s the Law
If you are shipping dangerous goods/hazardous materials, you are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable laws governing the shipment of dangerous goods/hazardous materials. This includes the correct use of documentation, interior and exterior packaging and labeling.  You are also required to ensure that any employees involved in the preparation of dangerous goods/hazardous materials for shipment are trained in accordance with current IATA/ICAO dangerous goods regulations.

Be Safe: Defining dangerous goods
As a shipper you are responsible for identifying, classifying, packing, marking, labeling and documenting your dangerous goods shipments correctly. The following are some examples of items which are considered dangerous goods and which must be shipped as regulated:

  • Explosives: Common fireworks, sparklers, ammunition or other explosives.
  • Flammable liquids: Fuels, oil-based paints or paint products, perfumes/colognes, gasoline-powered weed trimmers, generators, and solvents.
  • Compressed gases: Aerosol cans, spray paint, liquefied gases, cigarette lighters, self-defense sprays, CO2 cartridges and liquefied refrigerated gases.
  • Corrosives: Liquid and solid drain cleaners, wet cell batteries, and products containing mercury.
  • Miscellaneous: Chemical and First Aid Kits, Consumer Commodities which contain Class 2 non-flammable gas or Class 3 flammable liquid, Dry Ice, Internal Combustion Engines, Lithium batteries. Dry Ice, also known as Carbon Dioxide Solid, is often used as a coolant for foodstuffs, chemicals, and medical shipments.
  • Chemicals

Full dangerous goods listings can be purchased via the IATA website as follows: http://www.iata.org/ps/publications/dgr/Pages/index.aspx 

Be Smart: Meeting regulatory requirements

  • Training: You must provide initial training for all new employees, as well as those whose jobs have changed and now handle hazardous materials. Recurrent training must be offered at least once every two years. 
  • Record Keeping: You are required to maintain records of current training for each “hazmat” employee during the period of employment.
  • Certification: All employees who handle hazardous materials must be certified to do so. You must provide proof of training and certification information to regulatory enforcement agencies upon request.

For more information on dangerous goods training please go to the IATA website at http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dangerous_goods/Pages/faq.aspx

If you have any questions on shipping dangerous goods with FedEx, please do not hesitate to contact your local Customer Service team.