January 30th 2020

Guide on Hazardous Materials

From cosmetics to household products, elements of hazardous materials are a part of our daily lives. Strict regulatory compliance and safety measures must be taken while shipping hazmat classified products. Management of these materials and shipping them require a level of expertise and several certifications, as the risk factors involved are high. This guide on hazardous material will tell you everything you need to know about them. Let's start by defining hazmat and hazardous materials.

Hazmat and hazardous materials

Any product that may pose danger to humans and the environment is classified as hazardous materials. They include biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical agents which have the potential to cause harm either by itself or through the interaction.

· The chemical agent refers to mist, a vapor, a gas, fumes or dust of a chemical compound that may cause harm to the health of humans.

· The biological agent could be an animal, an insect, a parasite, bacteria or a micro-organism that can be hazardous to health.

There are specific rules and regulations that are identified globally in transporting them. They are mainly classified into nine hazard categories that include, explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, and organic peroxides, toxic materials, radioactive material, and corrosive material.

Hazardous materials can be highly toxic, corrosive, highly flammable, dangerous for the environment and can even be explosive. Some of the most common hazardous materials are flammable liquids, corrosives liquids and solids, biological materials, battery-powered equipment that contain aggregate lithium content, small gas cylinders and aerosols.

Shipping Hazardous materials

The hazmat shipping category is not usually handled by all carriers. Hence, it is imperative to identify and recognize the carriers that may have the necessary certifications and permits. There are regulatory authorities that permit such carriers in shipping hazardous materials. Whether you are shipping non-regulated chemicals and regulated hazardous materials inter-city or inter-country, you must be watchful of the entire documentation process and strict adherence to transportation regulations.

Strict hazardous materials transportation regulations are implemented to keep workers, environment and public safety. The labeling and documents must indicate UN/ID/NA Number to identify hazardous chemicals or classes of hazardous materials worldwide. The shipments can be denied by carriers if you fail to declare hazmat items, if it's not handled by properly trained employees, if they are mislabeled or in inappropriate packaging, and, if shipping papers are not documented properly,

At EZ-Ship, we understand shipping hazardous materials can be a tedious and complex task. Our hazmat shipping experts are always available to answer all your queries and clarify your concerns related to shipping hazardous material. Get in touch with us today and see how we can simplify your everyday shipping.