MCW Shipping of Specialty Materials

The federal government requires training for anyone involved in shipping hazardous materials that can pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. Any employee who is involved in the shipment of materials defined as “dangerous goods” or “hazardous materials” is required to undergo training every two years.

All registrants must minimally complete the Shipping General Awareness module plus at least one (1) of the material-specific modules.

Training

To begin any safety training course, you must have an active eBridge account. If you do not have an active eBridge account, please register here.

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Shipping General Awareness (Complete First)

This course must be completed before any other Shipping training.

Formerly titled "Shipping Biological Materials Awareness"

Course Description
This training covers the regulatory requirements, classification of hazardous materials, requirements for packaging, labeling, and marking shipments, completing shipping documentation, and the emergency response and security requirements surrounding the shipment of dangerous goods.

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Exempt Patient Specimens

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the packaging and marking requirements for specimens taken directly from a human or animal and which a professional determination has been made that the material has a minimal likelihood of containing any pathogens.

Examples
Screened patient urine samples sent as part of a clinical trial; human breast tissue biopsy (from patient with clear medical history) sent for cancer screening

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Dry Ice

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the dry ice packaging, labeling, and marking requirements and the safety risks when handling dry ice.

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Category B Infectious Substances

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the packaging, labeling, and marking requirements for Category B infectious substances, those substances which contain, or are suspected to contain pathogens, but do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the highly pathogenic Category A agents.

Examples
CSF fluid sample from patient potentially infected with HIV; human sputum sample testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Dry Liquid Nitrogen

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the dry shipping container requirements, safety risks, and exposure and spill response procedures when handling and shipping liquid nitrogen.

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Used Health Care Products

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for packaging and shipping patient-contacted health care products back to the manufacturer.

Examples
Medical devices that have been in contact with patients

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Genetically Modified Organisms

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the packaging, labeling, and marking requirements for organisms or microorganisms where the genetic material has been intentionally altered in a way that does not occur naturally.

Examples
E. coli containing a foreign plasmid; transgenic rodent tissue

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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Shipping Category A Infectious Substances

Prerequisite
Shipping General Awareness

Course Description
This training covers the packaging, labeling, marking, and Shipper’s Declaration requirements for Category A infectious substances, those substances capable of causing permanent disability, life-threatening, or fatal disease in healthy humans or animals.

Examples
Culture of Bacillus anthracis; scraping of human skin/pustules to test for possible smallpox (Variola virus)

Note
Shipping Category A substances is rare. If you have questions about whether your shipment classifies as Category A, contact EHS.

Renewal Required
Every 2 years

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