As the pre-eminent hazmat shipping and packaging experts, Air Sea Containers believes in helping our customers to have all of the most critical information on GHS classifications. We’ve covered lots of tips for GHS hazard classes 1 through 5 in our columns, and now it’s time for something a little different: hazard class 6, the category that covers toxic and infectious substances. These substances have a wide range of different rules governing their transport, and they also can be among the most dangerous hazmat substances if not handled properly. Let’s dive in to find out what the key considerations are.
What Goods Are in Hazard Class 6?
Hazard class 6 covers poisonous and infectious substances, two types of goods that pose grave threats to health and safety if mishandled. The category’s general definitions of its divisions are:
- Division 6.1: Poisonous substances. These substances pose a substantial threat of injury or death through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion. Gases, however, are typically not included in this category, with the exception of tear gas.
- Division 6.2: Biohazardous substances. These substances can be reasonably suspected to contain some kind of pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria or fungus.
Some of the commonly shipped goods in hazard class 6 include:
- Cyanide compounds.
- Lead-based compounds.
- Tear gas.
- Medical waste.
- Laboratory cultures of pathogenic organisms.
- Human and animal tissue with reasonable suspicion of pathogenic infection.
Rules of Shipping for Hazard Class 6
Hazard class 6 contains a huge range of threats, so it’s critical to know and obey the specific instructions for each substance. Infectious substances, in particular, can be difficult to contain if their packaging is breached. The only acceptable way is to avoid mistakes in the first place but to be as prepared as possible to deal with any issues.
- Hazard class 6.1 (toxins) contains many materials that also fall under another hazard class, so research all categories that your goods may fall under.
- Labeling is critical with any hazmat substance. Always place the correct hazard class 6 placards or hazard class 6 vinyl stickers on your shipping vessels to alert anyone handling the cargo.
- For infectious substances, you’ll need to determine whether the cargo is in Category A, B or C. Each has its own packaging rules, as well as rules on which postal services can be used to ship them.
- As with all other categories, it’s important to know the specific rules governing your substance if you’re shipping hazard class 6. Refer to the DOT’s full hazardous goods shipping tables to learn about how to ship your substance, and make sure that you read the description and details in full.
- Make sure that you’ve got a good supply of hazmat shipper’s declaration forms to communicate the right information to your logistics partners.
- Have easy access to all relevant rules, including the IATA Dangerous Goods Code and the IMO Code, and keep copies of the Emergency Response Guidebook on hand.
How Air Sea Can Help You Ship Your Hazard Class 6 Materials
No matter which class and no matter the challenges, Air Sea Containers gives you cost-effective options to deal with hazmat shipping. We’ve got some great performance shipping solutions for hazard class 6 goods that demonstrate our true commitment to safety:
- Our signature Bio Bottle containers are specially designed to hold infectious substances and keep them safely at the proper temperature for up to 72 hours. We also offer special biohazard bags and sample tubes.
- Use our non-toxic dry ice alternative freezer packs to keep sensitive hazmat goods at the correct temperatures—particularly important for biological specimens.
- Our performance-grade vermiculite is ideal for absorbing shocks and moisture, and its chemically inert nature means it won’t react with most substances.
- We also offer performance HDPE shipping drums. Their durable and non-reactive nature makes them ideal for shipping many different kinds of hazardous goods.
Shipping hazard class 6 goods demands strict attention to detail in following best practices. Every day, Air Sea Containers strives to make hazmat shipping the safest and most headache-free experience possible—so if you need help or information, don’t hesitate to call us at (866) 596-9448! We love to help our customers find their perfect hazmat solutions.
