Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 12:22:00 -0400
Reply-To: g.c.walton**At_Symbol_Here**reactives.com
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: George Walton <g.c.walton**At_Symbol_Here**REACTIVES.COM>
Organization: Reactives Managment Corporation
Subject: Re: Acceptable Methods For Shipping Chemicals -- one way of
looking at things.

First, we all make mistakes.  It may be that one was made.

Second, three groups -- US DOT, International Maritime Organization, 
International Civil Aviation Organization -- all have definitions of 
hazardous materials.  They overlap significantly but there are 
differences.  If a material is "hazardous" it must be packaged, marked, 
labeled, and in all respects in proper condition for transportation and 
certified or declared as such.  For most situations, the International 
Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations may be substituted for the 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations.

Third, there are three ways a hazardous material may be packaged: a 
limited quantity, a non-bulk quantity, or a bulk quantity.  Within 
limited quantities, there are exempt quantities and limited quantities 
(a rather redundant use of the term in the regulations).  When shipping 
exempt and limited quantities, because of the smaller size of the inner 
packaging or receptacle and therefore a smaller hazard, less secure 
packaging may be used.  I cannot imagine a situation where, when opening 
a shipping package, the inner receptacle may be breached accidentally.  
Depending on the mode of transportation (DOT, IMO, IATA) and the 
specific packaging requirements, the proper shipping name and 
identification number of the hazardous material may not be required on 
the outer shipping package.  "Required" and "a good idea" are not 
necessarily the same things.  Just because it is not required does not 
mean it is not a good idea to fully and accurately describe the nature 
of the hazardous material in the inner package or receptacle.

Fourth, when a person is exposed to an unknown hazard created by perhaps 
inappropriate or unauthorized packaging, that is probably the 
operational definition of a bad situation.  Allowing bad situations to 
continue is always a bad thing.  Stick to your guns.  Be good, do good, 
and be safe.

George Walton
Reactives Management Corporation
1025 Executive Blvd., Suite 101
Chesapeake, VA  23320
Office:  757-436-1033    Fax:  757-548-2808

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of 
stan arango
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 6:39 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Acceptable Methods For Shipping Chemicals

question for posting

I wanted to get some feedback on a situation that I encountered 
recently. I was told by my supervisor that the e-mail I sent to a vendor 
was inappropriate and unprofessional (scroll to the bottom of the 
screen). According to my supervisor if the chemical was really toxic the 
vendor would not have chosen to ship their product in a plastic bag. It 
seems to me that shipping any type of chemical in a plastic bag is a bad 
idea. Here is an excerpt from the MSDS that was e-mailed to me:

Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as 
indicated in Section 8.
Spills/Leaks:ELIMINATE all ignition sources. Do not touch damaged 
containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective 
clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Absorb or cover with 
dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to 
containers. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Handling: Avoid breathing dust, vapor, mist, or gas. Avoid contact with 
skin and eyes. Avoid ingestion and inhalation.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Store in a tightly closed 
container.
Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection Engineering Controls: 
Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an 
eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate ventilation to keep 
airborne concentrations low. 

I was the CHO for my company for three years and completed the ACS three 
day CHO course back in 2007. After it became apparent to me that 
Management was not genuinely concerned with creating a safe work 
environment I have since resigned as the CHO. I still function as the 
Lab Manager for the medicinal chemistry department and one of my 
responsibilities is receiving incoming chemicals. Part of my frustration 
comes from the scientist's perception that because they are 
knowledgeable about chemicals they are knowledgable about chemical 
safety. In my opinion there is a big difference between the two. 
Interested to hear what other non-scientists that are functioning as a 
safety officer have to say. Also, I am not a doctor I just play one on 
TV. :-)

Thanks,

Stan Arango


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------

From:  
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 12:45 AM
To: Stan Arango
Cc: Subject: Reply: Fw: Fw: Unsafe shipment of chemical

 

Hi Dr Stan Arango,

Thank you very much for your info.

Firstly, Please accept my sincerest apology for shipping method and 
packaging.

For Clearance purpose, our shipping agent ship the compound by other 
sample's name, and we are requested print the CAS number and our Catalog 
number on the Label, and it is allowed send the MSDS with the compound 
together. Please see attached MSDS.

Regarding packing, sorry again for the inconvenience. I have forward it 
to our Logistics Dept, and we will improve it in future, I can assure 
that the similar things could not occur again in the future.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or conerns.

Sorry once again for any inconvenience!

Yours faithfully,
=E6=9D=A8=E6=B0=B8=E5=AE=81
********************************************************

> To Whom It May Concern,

> 

> Your shipping method for your product catalog # 60-61118 is 
unacceptable. During the process of opening the aluminum foil envelope 
that the chemical came in the plastic bag containing the chemical was 
inadvertently also opened (see attch'd photos). This is an especially 
dangerous shipping practice because your product did not include a 
chemical name or MSDS so I do not know what type of chemical I have been 
exposed too. Thanks in advance for your speedy reply concerning this 
matter.

> 

> Stan Arango

> Lab Manager, Associate

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