It's important to understand the various categories that exist when shipping materials, as each type requires specific handling, packaging, and regulatory compliance. Below is an overview of the different types of shipments you may encounter, each with unique requirements to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency.
Biological
Domestic and international agencies regulate the shipping of biological materials. At WCM, all shippers must complete the EHS Biological Materials and Dry Ice Shipment training to comply with all applicable regulations. The training includes general awareness and familiarization (video), function-specific training, and security awareness. The prerequisite for this training is "bloodborne pathogen" training for all shippers who handle human blood, body fluids, tissues, or human cell lines. Participation is required once every two years for all employees, graduate students, medical students, principal investigators, physicians, nurses, technicians, and post-doctoral fellows packaging, preparing shipping documents, transporting biological materials, patient specimens, and/or transporting on dry ice.
ABSA (American Biological Safety Association) has prepared a document outlining the shipping requirements for SARS-CoV-2 samples. Please contact the EHS Biosafety Team at ehs@med.cornell.edu if you have additional questions or need further assistance.
DNA "drop and ship" guidelines and locations can be found at https://research.weill.cornell.edu/core-facilities/genomics
Chemicals
When shipping hazardous materials within the United States, it’s important to be aware of and comply with chemical shipping regulations. Failing to follow these regulations can result in serious consequences.
Chemical shipping regulations are issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation and are found within 49 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). The regulations cover labeling requirements, which chemicals can and cannot be shipped together, loading and unloading procedures, and more. The Hazardous Materials table in 49 CFR 172.101 outlines specific shipping classifications for individual materials identified as dangerous goods.
Each violation of these requirements carries a maximum fine of nearly $200,000. Moreover, the transportation of hazardous materials is regulated by local, state, and federal agencies.
Before shipping chemical materials, please fill out the Shipping Assessment Form and send it to shipping@med.cornell.edu for verification and approval.
All chemical materials are required to be approved for shipment by the Shipping Team.
Radioactive
The WCM Medical Health Physics (MHP) Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) regulates radioactive materials, radiation-producing machines, X-ray medical and diagnostic equipment, and laser shipping, transfer, or purchase.
Only the RSO is authorized to ship, transfer, or purchase Radioactive Materials; for all shipping inquiries, please contact the MHP office at 212-746-4437 or mhp@med.cornell.edu.
Equipment
Some equipment may produce and contain hazardous materials or residue. Any equipment shipping domestically or internationally for repairs, calibration, etc., should be reviewed prior to shipping. Before shipping equipment, please fill out the Shipping Assessment Form and send it to shipping@med.cornell.edu for verification and approval.