Whether your business is purchasing, selling or transporting hazardous materials it is critical that you and your employees understand packaging materials for hazardous materials basics. Properly labeling and packaging hazardous materials will guard against dangerous accidents and prevent costly lawsuits.

There are a number of guidelines and general protocols your business should understand and follow concerning hazardous materials packaging. Consider the following before buying, storing or shipping hazardous materials:

1. Learn about hazmat packing government regulations and guidelines to ensure you are following proper protocol.

2. Understand dangerous goods shippers guidelines and utilize examples of appropriate hazmat shipping boxes.

3. Learn how to properly store and package hazmat boxes and hazardous shipping supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain basic hazardous material packaging information and guidelines

Transporting hazardous materials can be dangerous and is regulated by federal guidelines that cover the proper packaging of hazardous substances. Whether you are transporting such materials by land, sea or air, your business must follow these specific instructions. Be sure you and your employees are educated about appropriate hazardous material packaging before transporting dangerous materials.

I recommend: Visit the National Archives and Records Administration to access Title 49 in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations; Parts 173, 178, 179 and 180 provide hazardous materials packaging guidelines. NEFAB provides useful information concerning packaging symbols.

Understand shipping guidelines and view hazardous materials packaging examples

Access hazardous materials shipping guidelines to ensure you are following protocol. This is important if you are shipping dangerous materials through your business or utilizing the services of a certified shipper. Viewing examples of properly packaged hazmat containers and appropriate hazmat shipping supplies will be beneficial as you can provide visuals for your employees to follow.

I recommend: UPS provides hazmat packaging guidelines for hazardous material shippers. Visit FedEx to view hazardous materials packaging examples to ensure you properly package such materials for shipment.

Learn how to safely and properly package and store hazardous containers

Storing hazardous materials safely is just as important as their transportation. Whether your business is storing dangerous materials for the long-term or temporarily before shipment, understanding appropriate packaging guidelines is essential. There are plenty of online resources to help you and your employees in your storing operations.

I recommend: View an article about packaging and storing hazardous materials at MySolutionSpot. Florida State University and PackageTech.com provide information about storing hazardous material boxes and containers to guard against accidents and spills.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always make sure to properly label a hazmat box during packaging. This will ensure that employees, consumers and transportation officials understand that the container holds hazardous materials and act accordingly.
• •  Visually inspect all hazmat containers and boxes before storing or shipping, to make sure that federal guidelines and protocol are being followed and guard against potential accidents.

Hazardous materials packaging is vital to keep harmful substances contained. Hazmat packing and hazmat shipping supplies must meet certain criteria in order to be used to safely ship waste materials. Use the Internet to find the hazardous shipping supplies that fit your needs.

Whether you need hazardous material boxes or other types of hazardous material packaging, a reputable vendor can offer you safe and affordable hazardous material shippers to suit your freight needs. Available in different varieties to fit your size requirements, find the appropriate hazmat packaging that meets your requirements and budget. When you buy packaging materials for hazardous materials, you should:

1. Ensure that hazmat boxes and hazardous shipping supplies meet state and federal regulations.

2. Purchase hazmat shipping boxes and other dangerous goods shippers from a reputable supplier.

3. Buy hazardous materials packaging that is cost-effective and safe to use for packing and shipping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Partner with a reputable dealer of packaging materials for hazardous materials

An experienced dealer of hazmat packaging products is aware of the state and federal regulations imposed on the shipping of hazardous materials. The supplier sells hazmat shipping boxes and other types of shipping containers that meet or exceed regulations to ensure safety during delivery.

I recommend: Work with HazPlus to supply your hazardous material packaging needs. HazPlus offers a wide variety of stock hazmat boxes and various hazardous containers or can supply custom packaging to meet your needs. HazPlus offers free testing and re-certification of your hazardous materials packaging, consulting to ensure your hazardous materials shippers are cost-effective for your business and a guarantee that all hazmat containers meet the Department of Transportation regulations.

Buy wholesale hazmat packaging in bulk

Bulk hazmat shipping boxes are the cost-effective solution to your hazardous material packaging needs.

I recommend: ULINE offers a line of hazmat packaging that is approved for UPS air and ground transportation use. Hazmat boxes, secure paint cans and pails and foam shipper kits can be purchased in bulk amounts to save you money. Browse the catalogs of HAZMATPAC and LPS Industries.

Search for hazardous materials packaging specifically made for your type of business

Buying business-specific hazmat packing supplies ensures that you are offered the optimal hazmat packaging to meet your needs.

I recommend: DG Supplies, Inc. sells hazmat packaging supplies for specific business needs. Whether you need to transport hazardous materials for an automotive business, the healthcare industry or a waste management firm, DG Supplies, Inc. offers the hazmat packaging to fit the unique needs of your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep hazmat charts and posters in your shipping area to easily access state shipping regulations on hazardous materials.

The use of packaging materials for hazardous materials or "hazmat" substances or items is a growing industry. As so much high-tech or high-energy product gets shipped around the world, the need for hazmat training and knowledge abounds.

It's almost impossible to over-stress how important hazmat training is in any business that will be handling hazmat shipping supplies. Business leaders can find solutions for their shops over the web to set up handy training programs for staff and get compliant and safe, to avoid any unforeseen disasters. Web training options include:

1. Links to colleges and schools through helpful education portals to find programs on hazmat packaging.

2. More hazmat packaging training from specialized companies through the web.

3. Public resources on hazardous shipping supplies available over the web at user forums and online journals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find hazardous material packaging training options from colleges and schools

Lots of educational institutions across the country offer comprehensive instruction on how to use hazmat boxes and other gear; find them with the help of detailed websites that will provide a connection to programs tailored to your staff's needs.

I recommend: Find options on learning how to package and ship hazmat materials at the Eduwhere hazmat transport portal. Or locate bio-safety or hazmat packaging courses directly, using sites like those of the Boston College to find programs that fit your staff's educational needs.

Locate more hazardous material packaging training options from 'academies' and learning centers

Other kinds of training centers also offer their course catalogs and other information online for getting quick and convenient hazmat training for a business. Find instruction on what to use for containing your volatile elements, how to seal off containers and other tips for the road.

I recommend: Take advantage of the online course catalog at iSi, a hazmat training center, to find courses covering hazmat shipping boxes and other aspects of transport. Find more at the Hazmat Academy online, as well as emergency and response training and more on the handling of hazardous materials. CARGOpak and Lion Technology specialize in training for hazmat packaging.

Look for more info on hazardous material packaging from public web forums

Another source of training and knowledge on hazmat packing is at specialized content forums where users post about the practicality of hazardous material boxes and other gear and how shipping hazmat has been done over the years.

I recommend: Get inside knowledge of shipping necessities for firearms and ammunition at the Shooter's forum. Find info on using wooden crates as hazmat shipping solutions at WoodenCrates.org.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For any kind of packaging materials for hazardous materials education and training option, make sure your program addresses compliance with all federal laws and regulations, as well as attention to worker safety standards advocated through OSHA and other federal agencies. This will safeguard critical aspects of your business and protect it from a lot of liability issues.