to ensure proper delivery. Also, remember that if you use an overnight carrier, the address must also contain a street address, not just a P.O. Box or general address such as department and institution.
Documentation
The Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is a legal document that serves as a contract between the shipper and carrier; it must be accurate and legible and have no spelling errors. However, if minor discrepancies in typing or punctuation are present, they are no longer considered errors if they do not compromise safety. The document must be either handwritten by one person or typed. Two copies of the Shipper’s Declaration must be completed and signed for each shipment. One copy is retained by the shipper, and the other is forwarded with the package; one copy can be a carbon copy. This document is required for shipping infectious substances and toxic substances; it is not required for shipping diagnostic specimens or biological products. If there are no dangerous goods in a shipment with dry ice, the Shipper’s Declaration is not required. It is important for personnel within the laboratory to thoroughly understand these regulations and to have sample copies of appropriate documentation for referral. A checklist used by carriers to decide to accept or reject a package is widely used; a copy of this document should also be on file within the laboratory.
The current editions of the Code of Federal Regulations can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Inquiries about Postal Service publications may be directed to U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC 20260-5365. Dangerous Goods Regulations can be obtained from Publications Assistant, International Air Transport Association, 2000 Peel Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2R4.
References
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