# Cytyc Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 02-0302  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2003-01-23

02-0302 response to Cytyc Corporation concerning 173.24.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Research and
Washington, D.G. 20590
Special Programs
Administration
JAN 2 3 2003
Mr. Jeffrey Joaquim
Manager
Ref. No. 02-0302
Environmental Health and Safety
85 Swanson Rd
Cytyc Corporation
Boxborough, MA. 01719
Dear MI. Joaquim:
This is in response to your letter dated November 22, 2002
requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you
are asking if $ 173.24 (f) (1) (ii) requires the closure on a one
its
gallon plastic container to have a safety seal over or around
screw cap.
Section 173.24(f) (1) (ii) states that closures on packagings
shall be so
designed
and closed that under conditions normally
There is no requirement in S 173.24(f) (1) (ii) to attach a
incident to transportation they are secure and leakproof.
safety seal to a packaging that has been deemed secure and
leakproof without a safety seal.. However, for transportation
vibration or substantial temperature change.
secured to such an extent that it will not loosen due to
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173,24
020302
140919280207/4

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Page 1 of 1
3,24 (f)
INFOCNTR
From: Joaquim, Jeffrey [Jeffrey. Joaquim@cytyc.com]
tackaging
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 12:47 PM
02-0302
To:
Subject: Formal Interpretation of 49 CFR 173.24 (7) (i)
Infocntr, Infocntr < RSPA>
85 Swanson Rd, Boxborough, MA 01719. My phone number is 978-929-3354. My fax is 978-929-3346.
I am seeking a formal written interpretation of 49 CFR 173.24 (f) (i). I am the EHS Mgr for Cytyc Corporation,
Cytyc offers laboratories a cytology stain in a 1-gallon plastic screw capped containers. The contain wall
closure is secure and leak proof." Independent lab tests have demonstrated that the container does not leak.
thickness exceeds minimum requirements. My question deals with 49 CFR 173.24 (f) (ii) which states "The
(The cap is torqued down after the container is filled. The separate safety seal is not placed over the cap.)
Is it acceptable to ship a 1-gallon plastic container of hazardous material under 173.24 General Requirements
for Packaging without a safety seal device over or around the cap? Again, the closure and container design
temperature and vibration testing.
pass all applicable testing requirements including those associated with cap security when exposed to
I would appreciate a formal letter of interpretation.
Sincerely.
Jeffrey J. Joaquim, MS. CIH, CSP
EHS Manager
Cytyc Corporation
11/22/02

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020302.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `de06baa04f5cdcfc789f5d2b3d0802827fd1ec202b043eee09fb18184ef86f08`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T00:02:08.335Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-02-0302`

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