DCHAS-L Archives Jun 26 2009 - Re: Sharing Chemicals w/Thailand Research Lab

Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:33:09 -0500
Reply-To: Beth Shepard <Beth.Shepard**At_Symbol_Here**SIAL.COM>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Beth Shepard <Beth.Shepard**At_Symbol_Here**SIAL.COM>
Subject: Re: Sharing Chemicals w/Thailand Research Lab

Good morning-- 

While Rob is correct in that a material is hazardous or not, regardless of 
quantity, from a health & safety perspective, some of the transportation 
regulations do vary with quantity of material in how packages have to be 
packed/marked/labeled. For example, the DOT has a small package exception 
for <=30ml or g of materials in certain hazard classes.   

Beth

Technical Compliance Specialist
Sigma-Aldrich Corp.
6000 N. Teutonia Ave.
Milwaukee, WI  53209

414-438-2608, x 5471



It the chemicals meet the OSHA definition of hazardous, then they are 
required to have MSDS's (with a few exceptions, none of which apply here): 

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/hazardous.html 
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/partb.html#required (the exceptions) 

"Hazardous" is an intrinsic property of a material.  A material is 
hazardous or it is not, the amount does not matter.   Risk is an extrinsic 
property as it varies with the amount of the material: 

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/partb.html#minquantity 

When shipping research quantities of chemicals that you have created, then 
you are required to have MSDS's to accompany the shipments: 

http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/partc.html#laboratory and references therein 

If the materials are hazardous, the Post Office will generally not touch 
them: 

http://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/Q601.htm 

UPS and FedEx are your best bets, but keep in mind that normal mortals can 
not ship HazMat - the shipper of HazMats has to be certified in order to 
do that: 

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/hazardous/index.html 
http://fedex.com/us/services/options/hazmat/ 

I have a contact who has made regular trips to Thailand and collaborated 
with chemists there.  He's probably done what you need to do and may be 
able to offer specific advice.  I will send you his information by private 
mail. 

Rob Toreki 

On Jun 25, 2009, at 2:11 PM, Mary Cavanaugh wrote: 

Hello all, we have a new situation here on which I hope some of you can 
advise me. 
 
One of our chemists has about a dozen chemicals used for research that 
need to be sent to a collaborating chemist in Thailand. 
 
The chemicals are not new, all have been used in their research here in 
the US, and they have no real commerical value.  The quantities are all 
small (50 g or less). 
 
All the chemicals have "non-hazardous" DOT/IMDG and IATA labels and are in 
their original bottles. 
 
All are solid or crystalline at room temp except triethanolamine, which is 
a viscous liquid. 
 
What considerations do we need to have in shipping these chemicals to 
Thailand?  For example: 
-          What kind of container can we use to ship them in? 
-          Is IATA what applies, or do we need to look elsewhere to see if 
maybe Thailand may regulate them for import or transport? 
-          Can we ship them in US Mail, UPS, FedEx, or anything we want? 
-          Are there special permissions or forms we have to obtain or 
send to Thailand?  (IÕm already working with our Export Controls Officer). 

-          Do we need to acct for them on our waste manifests in some way? 

-          Do we need to include the MSDS for each one in the shipment, 
even though we didnÕt manufacture them? 
 
Thanks in advance. IÕd especially love links to any guidances that may 
address this. 
 
-mm 
 
 
Mary M. Cavanaugh CIH 
University Industrial Hygienist 
Safety & Workers' Comp. Office 
cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**appstate . edu 
(828) 262-6838 Direct 
(828) 262-2936 Fax 
ASU Pager #162 

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