Dangerous Goods: Shipping Lab Samples

Are you having trouble shipping samples or dangerous goods from your workplace?

Often, chemical samples need to be shipped for analysis to labs across the country and sometimes the world. However, these materials, when considered hazardous under International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidance, are often rejected by shipping companies, because they are considered dangerous goods shipments.

Prior to offering a dangerous good to an air carrier, hazardous materials regulations require the shipper to classify, package, mark, and label the shipment. Only trained personnel can then prepare and sign the required paperwork to forward the shipment to the carrier. Dangerous Goods Package

For example, many paper mills in Maine must ship samples of their black liquor to laboratories in Canada or the Pacific Northwest for analysis. Black liquor, a by-product of the Kraft process that digests pulpwood, contains caustic, corrosive chemicals that must be properly identified according to IATA. This means these mills must employ personnel or a contractor to manage these shipments according to applicable regulations.

Declaring your hazardous materials is imperative to ensure you and your company stay in compliance. For those who knowingly do not comply with these regulations, a fine upwards of $500,000 can be imposed on an individual. Meanwhile, a company may be dealt fines greater than $75,000 per violation, per day.

At Maine Labpack, we offer full-service shipping options that help get your samples across the globe. Our trained dangerous goods shippers properly package, label, and prepare documentation for your sample shipments to get them to the lab without delay. 

Interested in our Dangerous Goods services? Contact us today to learn more!