Office Of Environmental Health & Safety

Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
229 Forsyth Building
Boston, MA 02115-5000

phone: 617.373.2769
fax: 617.373.7622

ehs@neu.edu Image 2

Shipping Dry Ice

Procedure for Shipping Samples with Dry Ice

What you need to do:

  1. Hazardous Materials Declaration Form
  2. Training
  3. Packaging
  4. Labeling
  5. Air Bill
  6. Questions
Hazardous Material Declaration Form
A hazardous material declaration form must be filled out and submitted to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) for any dry ice shipment whether it contains a hazardous material (dangerous good) or not. This is important to ensure all dry ice shipments are categorized and labeled properly. Samples that contain no hazardous materials can be processed the same day. Those that do contain hazardous material could take up to a week to process. You can determine whether a material is a hazardous material by going to the following table: http://www.myregs.com/dotrspa/. Please plan ahead. A hazardous material declaration form can be obtained at: Hazardous Materials Declaration Form.

Training
Only personnel that have received United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Material training can ship packages containing dry ice if it is shipped by air or water. Personnel at EHS have received this training and are able review packaging, labeling, shipping papers and will authorize the shipment for you. If the shipment contains a hazardous material, a representative from EHS must sign the "Shippers Declaration of Dangerous Goods" for you (unless you have received DOT training).

Packaging
Packages for dry ice must allow for the release and venting of gaseous carbon dioxide. The material you're shipping and the dry ice must be enclosed in a Styrofoam box with a sturdy cardboard outer cover. Shipping companies are not accepting Styrofoam boxes as outer layers.

Labeling
The class 9 miscellaneous "dry ice" label is provided free by FedEx; you may order them through their toll free number 1-800-Go-FedEx, or (800-463-3339). This label satisfies the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Air Trade Association (IATA) marking and labeling requirements when accurately completed. The dry ice label must be outside the outer container. Please remove or obliterate any existing labels on a box that you may be reusing. Clearly mark outer packaging on the same side with:

1- Sender and Recipient

From: Your Name
Department Name
Northeastern University
Boston, MA, 02115
2- A DOT shipping class 9, miscellaneous label
3- Marking on the label the following information:
UN1845
Dry Ice
Net weight of dry ice in kilograms. 		To: Recipient's Name
Address
City, State, Zip

4- These markings are in addition to markings that may be required by the sample if it is a hazardous material. Please note until January 1, 2005, the "Air Eligible" label is optional.

Air Bill
The air bill (Figure I) must be filled out properly and can be signed by the shipper (you) once all paperwork and packaging has been reviewed by a representative of EHS. If the shipment contains a hazardous material, then the Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods (Figure II) must be signed by a representative of EHS. Please note: EHS will require a copy of the air bill and Shipper's declaration of dangerous goods for its files, so the forms can be maintained for the appropriate period of time as required by DOT.

Figure 1

Figure 2



Questions
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Environmental Health and Safety at x2769.