Chemical Emergencies

• There are two parts to shipping training: an online general shipping training, and an in person/webinar training specific to the materials you will be shipping. Shipping training is required by both shippers, and anyone else in the lab involved with the packing and preparing of a sample for shipment.  The online training portion must be completed every two (2) years.  The Shipping of Dangerous Goods training can be completed at miami.edu/blackboard and typing “Shipping” in the search box.
• Once complete, please reach out to EHS and ehs_shipping@umiami.edu to schedule the second portion of your training. The in person/webinar training is meant to provide specific guidance directly relevant to the materials you’re shipping, how to properly pack those materials, and how to adhere to all relevant regulations.  When reaching out, provide detail on the types of materials you will be shipping out, all biologicals, preservatives, and chemicals involved.  A training specific to your needs will be scheduled and provided.  This training is only required once, however we are happy to provide it upon request in the future if desired.
• Please see our training page for more information regarding shipping training and registration.
• Additional online trainings, such as IATA available on ULearn, are encouraged as supplemental instruction, however EHS shipping training is required for all biological and chemical shipments leaving UM.

The shipping of radioactive material can only be done by the Division of Radiation Control
305-243-6369

Permits may be required for importing/exporting biological materials.  If you're unsure whether an agent may require a permit, it's advisable to apply for the permit and let the permitting agency determine whether a permit is needed or not.  Applying for a permit is based on the agent pathogenicity. International shipments may be subject to import permits of the recieving country, applied for by your intended recipient, and must be in place prior to shipping samples.

• Human pathogens are subject to CDC permits.
  • CDC permitting is required for international imports of foreign biological agents, human disease, and vectors of human disease.
• Animal and plant pathogens are subject to USDA permits.
  • USDA permitting is required for the import, transit, and release of regulated veterinary biologics, plants, plant products, pests, organisms, soil, and genetically engineered organisms.  These permits are required domestically for both interstate and intrastate shipments.

For both domestic and especially international shipments, packages are subject to being open and investigated by both the transporting entity and customs, as applicable.  We recommend included a letter detailing the nature of teh shipment inside of your package to ensure any parties opening and reviewing your package can quickly glean relevant information to assist in an expedient review, and hence encourage a more timely delivery.  A template is provided below for your review and consideration.

• Nature of Shipment Document