# Allegheny Airlines, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0037  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-03-24

99-0037 response to Allegheny Airlines, Inc concerning 173.134.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S.Department
of Transportation
100 Seventh Street, S.
Vashinaton. D.C. 2059
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
MAR 2 4 1999
Mr. Wayne S. Lester
Reference No. 99-0037
Manager, Safety Programs
Allegheny Airlines, Inc.
1000 Rosedale Avenue
Middletown, PA 17057
Dear Mr. Lester:
This is in response to your recent letter concerning differences in the text accompanying the
ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label in our DOT Chart 10 (1994) and
DOT Chart 11 (1998), entitled "Hazardous Materials Marking, Labeling & Placarding
Guides." You asked if placing this label on a package in transportation indicates the package
. contains a Division 6.2 (infectious substance) hazardous material.
The answer is yes. Under 49 CFR 173.134(a)(1) of the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180), a material meeting the definition of an etiologic agent in 42 CFR
72.3 of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) regulations also meets the definition of an infectious substance under the
HMR. The ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label, depicted in 42 CFR
72.3(d)(1), is required by CDC to be displayed on the outside of a package containing an etiologic
agent. Such a package is also required to display the INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE label depicted
in 49 CFR 172.432, unless otherwise excepted. For example, under § 173.134(b), an etiologic
agent that is a biological product or a diagnostic specimen is not subject to any of the
requirements in the HMR.
You also stated that sometimes your company is offered packages of donor organs for transport
that display the ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label but do not display
the INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE label. You asked if these shipments are subject to the HMR.
Shipment of a donor organ is not subject to the HMR unless the item as packaged contains a
material that is otherwise subject to regulation, such as "Carbon dioxide, solid" (dry ice). For
questions concerning the display of the ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL
label on such packages, I suggest you contact Jonathan Y. Richmond, PhD., Director, Office of
Health and Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta,
GA 30333, (404) 639-2453.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

""
•
Mack
1240 NI
Allegheny
99-0037
Airlines, Inc.
Wayne S. Lester
Mgr. Safety Programs
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
Director OHMS
400 7h Street, SW
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
Re:
DOT Chart 10 Confusion
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
I am writing to ask for a written clarification on a placard, which appears in the DOT
Chart 10.
I am told that there is a new DOT Chart 11 available and I have ordered these
charts, but in the meantime I need your assistance.
The DOT Chart 10 (dated February 1994) shows two labels under Class 6, Division 6.2.
One is the Infectious Substance label and the other is a Biomedical Material label.
• The
Biomedical Material label is the one giving our company trouble.
Our Flight Training Department instructs our pilots on the carriage of hazardous
materials using the DOT Chart 10. Because the Biomedical Material label appears on the
chart with the Infectious Substance label, our pilots believe this label to be a hazardous
materials label. We have explained that this is an OSHA label and the mere appearance
of the Biomedical Material label (or the Biohazard label) on a package does not indicate
that the package is a hazardous material. This has not swayed the opinion of our flight
crews and they continue to reject the shipment of donor organs simply because of the
Biomedical Material label. We have reviewed 49 CFR 173.134, where the regulation
talks about exceptions, however this does not satisfy our Flight Training Department
concerning the appearance of the Biomedical Material label on the DOT Chart 10
It would help us greatly if we could receive written confirmation from the DOT
indicating that, although the Biomedical Material label does appear on the DOT Chart 10,
this label appearing by itself on a package does not constitute a hazardous material
Please reply to the attention of: Wayne Lester, Manager of Safety Programs, Allegheny
Airlines, Inc., 1000 Rosedale Ave., Middletown, PA, 17057.
Your help in dealing with this matter is greatly appreciated
Sincerely,
Navne S. Leste

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Interpretation Letters
Requester
Wayne S. Lester
Date Received: 2/9/99
Company
Allegheny Airlines, Inc.
Tracking Number: 99-0037
Phone
717-948-5411
Revision Date: 2/9/99
Date Assigned 2/9/99
Date of Letter 2/9/99
Staff
Mack
First Draft Due: 3/2/99
Section
1240NI
First Draft Date:
Subject
Labeling
Concurrence
Status
Status Date
Sign Date
Signor
HBPE
Copy to Docket
Copy to DHM-60
Comment
sir Alley deceit cornermat
ma normat
constitutte
onuper.
- Danororgans bood
mail
products-not
infections
Itut comes form lab it well
have osHA maro
14 141 45°

<<<PAGE 4>>>

TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION RECORD
Specialist Placing Call: Eileen Mack
ROUTING
Date of Call: 2/23/99, 9:45 a.m.
SYMBOL
INT
Person (s) Contacted: (1) Jerry Davis, Consumer
Safety Officer; (2) Mary Ganikos, PhD., Chief,
Public and Professional Education Branch,
Their Organization: (1)Office of Compliance, Center
for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and
Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 400
South, Rockville, MD, 20852, (301) 827-6220, (2)
Division of Transplantation, Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA), 5600 Fishers Lane,
Rockville, MD, 20857, (301) 443-7577
Date of Incoming Letter: Re: Letter from Wayne
Lester, Allegheny Airlines, Inc., 100 Rosedale,
Ave., Middletown, PA 17057, (717) 948-5411, No date
(Received 2/9/99)
Specific Subject (including section #'s and key
words): Are donor organs biological products? Does
any agency within the Department of Health and
Human Services regulate the transport of donor
organs?
Summary: While preparing the response to Mr. Lester's letter on
whether donor organs with the ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL
MATERIAL label are regulated by DOT in transportation, the
question came up as to whether donor organs were excepted from
regulation as a biological product. Mr. Davis said the answer is
no and that the FDA does not regulate donor organs. He referred
me the HRSA. I spoke to Dr. Ganikos, who explained her agency was
concerned with organ procurement and information outreach but had
no regulations regarding how they are to be transported. On
2/22/98, I placed a call to Dr. Jonathan Richmond, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, to learn if CDC has any
regulations regarding donor organs. I am awaiting his response.
Comments for Further Action: Revise the draft to refer Mr. Lester
to Jonathan Richmond and Jerry Davis. Include the recent phone
report. Forward the draft for concurrence and signature.
Specialist Signature:
Giler Mack
Date: 2/23/99

<<<PAGE 5>>>

TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION RECORD
Specialist Placing Call: Eileen Mack
ROUTING
Date of Call: 2/18/99, 3:45 p.m.
SYMBOL INT
Person (s) Contacted: Wayne Lester, Manager,
Safety Programs
Their Organization: Allegheny Airlines, Inc.,
1000 Rosedale Ave., Middletown, PA 17057,
(717) 948-1910
Date of Incoming Letter: No date (Received
2/9/99)
Specific Subject (including section #'s and
key words): Is placing the ETIOLOGIC AGENTS-
BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label on a package an
indication that this package contains a
Division 6.2 (infectious substance) material?
Summary: Mr. Lester says Allegheny does not carry hazardous
materials. They move company mail and donor organs.
Occasionally, donor organs come in with the ETIOLOGIC
AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label and the pilots refuse to
carry them.
When they consult the DOT Charts 10 and 11,
shippers and carriers are confused as to whether the
ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label belongs to OSHA
or CDC and if the item is infectious or not. DOT Chart 10
says the label is from CDC's regulations. DOT Chart 11 says
the label is from OSHA's.
I informed Mr. Lester that if the
ETIOLOGIC AGENTS--BIOMEDICAL MATERIAL label is used, the
item is infectious. I also explained that the reference in
DOT Chart 11 to OSHA regulations is incorrect. I explained
that OSHA's symbol is a trefoil with the words BIOHAZARD
written underneath it. I also explained that it is used
to
express
OSHA's universal precautions
regulations, which
provide relief for materials containing human blood only
when it is known they do not contain a blood borne pathogen.
Comments for Further Action: Forward the draft for
concurrence and signature.
The incoming letter is not
dated, do not include a letter date in response.
Specialist Signature:
Giler 6. Mack
Date: 2/18/99

<<<PAGE 6>>>

DOT CHART 10
Transportation
U.S. Department of
Hazardous Materials Marking,
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
Labeling & Placarding Guide
lerkeral mgulations
Refer to 49 CFR, Part 172:
Marking - Subpart D
Labeling - Subpart E
Placarding - Subpart F
Emergency Response - Subpart G
NOTE:

<<<PAGE 7>>>

Hazardous Materials Warning Labels
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.1
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.2
1.4
CLASS 1 Explosive
1.5
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.8
CLASS 2
Division
2.1
CLASS 2
Division
2.2
CLASS 2
Division
2.2
1.3
FLANIIABLE GAS
< NON-FLAMILIABLE GAS?
OXYGEN
*Include appropriste
compatiblilty group latter.
division number and
*Include appropriate
compatiblilty group letter.
*Include appropriate
compatibillty group letter.
*Include appropriale
compatibillty group letter.
Flammable gas
Non-flammable gas
Oxygen
CLASS 2
Division
2.3
CLASS 3
CLASS 4
CLASS 4
Division
4.2
CLASS 4
Division
4.3
CLASS 5
Division
5.1
CLASS 5
Division
5.2
POISON GAS
•FLAMMABLE LIQUID
DANGEROUS
OXIDIZER
ORGANIC PEROXIDE
Poison gas
Flammable liquid
Flammable solld
Spontansously Combuslible
Dangerous when wet
Oxidizer
Organic peroxide
CLASS 6
Division
6.1
CLASS 6
Division
6.1
CLASS 6
Division
6.2
CLASS 7
CLASS 7
"
CLASS 7
IlI
POISON
HARMFUL
STOW AWAY
INFECTOUS SUBSTANCE
RADIOACTIVE I
RADIOACTIVE II
RADIOACTIYEMI
Polson-Packing Group I and Il
Polson-Packing III
Infectious substance
agent label may apply.
42 CFR 72.3 Etiological
CLASS 8
CLASS 9
SUBSIDIARY RISK LABELS
FOR AIRCRAFT
Explosive
Flammable liquid
Flammable gas
Cargo Aircraft Only
CORROSIVE
Flammable solid
Oxidizer
Corrosive
EMPTY
Polson
Spontaneously Combustible
Dangerous when wet
MASTERIKED
label (see Section 172.402).
The class number may not be displayed on a subsidiary
Corrosive
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION-2001
Empty
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION-2001
CHLORINE
FLAMMABLE SOLID
IRRITANT
INNER PACKAGES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PACKAGE MARKINGS
PRESCRIBED
COMPLY WITH
CONSUMER COMMODITY
SPECIFICATIONS
DAPOKA
i car hao bees
ORM-D
§173.25(a)(4)
MARINE POLLUTANT
vita
$172.322
its or poison lesto, sia
INHALATION
§172.316(a)
HAZARD
CONSUMER COMMODITY
11 11
HOT
ORM-D-AIR
§173.9
$172.313(a)
§172.312(a)
$172.325
§172.316(a)(1)
Keep a copy of the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook handy!

<<<PAGE 8>>>

nazaraons Malerais Varking,
Special Programs
Administration
Labeling & Placarding Guide
100
regulati
feeleral
Refer to 49 CFR, Part 172:
Marking - Subpart D
Labeling - Subpart E
Placarding - Subpart F
Emergency Response - Subpart G
NOTE:

<<<PAGE 9>>>

Hazardous Materials Warning Labels
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.1
CLASS 1
Explosiva
55
1.4
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.5
CLASS 1
Explosive
1.6
CLASS 2
Division
2.1
CLASS 2
Division
2.2
CLASS 2
Division
2.2
FLAMMABLE GAS
NON-FLAMMABLE GAS
OXYGEN
division number and
*Include appropriate
compatibilty group letter.
*Include appropriate
compatibllty group letter.
*Include appropriate
compatiblty group letter.
*Include appropriate
compatibility group letter.
Flammable gas
Non-flammable gas
Dxygen
CLASS 2
Division
2.3
CLASS 3
CLASS 4
Division
4.1
CLASS 4
Division
4.2
CLASS 4
Division
4.3
CLASS 5
Division
5.1
CLASS 5
Division
5.2
INHALATION
HAZARD
FLAMMABLE LIQUID
DANGEROUS ™
OXIDIZER
ORGANIC PEROXIDE
2
3
Polson gas
Flammable liquid
Flammable solid
Spontaneously Combustible
Dangerous when wet
Oxidizer
Organic peroxide
CLASS 6
Division
6.1
CLASS 6
Division
6.1
CLASS 6
Division
6.1
CLASS 6
Division
6.2
CLASS 7
CLASS 7
INHALATION
HAZARD
POISON
HARMFUL
NFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE
HONCHCAL
MATERIAL
TOW AWA
RADIOACTIVE T
RADIOACTIVEN
POISON
only, Zone A or B.
Poison-Inhalation Hazard
more of PG I or I!, other than
Placard 454 kg (1,001 ibs) or
29 CFR 1910.1030 BIOHAZARD
marking may be used for
Zone A or B, inhalation hazard.
Poison-PG III
Infectious substance
Ragulated Medical Waste
SUBSIDIARY RISK LABELS
(RhW).
Radioactive WHITE-I
Radioactive YELLOW-II
CLASS 7
CLASS 8
CLASS 9
FOR AIRCRAFT
Flammable gas
Explosive
Flammable solld
Flammable guid
RADIOACTIVE MI
CORROSIVE
Oxidizer
Corrosiva
EMPTY
MATERIE
Poison
Dangerous when wet
Spontaneously Combustible
Cargo Aircraft Only
Radioactive YELLOW-HII
TRANSITION-2001
Corrosive
TRANSITION-2001
Miscellaneous
he class number may not be displayed on a subsidia
TRANSITION-2001
bel (see Section 172.402
TRANSITION-2001
TRANSITION 2001
Empty-Radloactive
TRANSITION-2001
FLAMMABLE SOLID
IRRITANT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MARKINGS
INNER PACKAGES
PRESCRIBED
COMPLY WITH
CONSUMER COMMODITY
SPECIFICATIONS
DANGER
ORM-D
§173.25(a)(4)
MARINE POLLUTANT
§172.322
INHALATION
§172.316(a)
PIES ON
HAZARD
CONSUMER COMMODITY
11 11
HOT
DO NOT ENTER
ORM-D-AIR
$172.302(g) and §173.9
§172.312(a)
§172.325
8172.313(a)
§172.316(a)(1)
Keep a copy of the North American Emergency Respons

<<<PAGE 10>>>

- Bloodbonie pathogens. - 1910.1030
• '
•
http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1030.html
OSHA
Dacupatist Satcty is Health Administration
15. Orparturot of Laloes
OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)
Bloodborne pathogens. - 1910.1030
• OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - Table of Contents
• Standard Title: Bloodborne pathogens.
• Standard Number: 1910.1030
• SubPart Number: Z
• SubPart Title: Toxic and Hazardous Substances
Interpretation(s)
(a)
infectious materials as defined by paragraph (b) of this section.
Scope and Application. This section applies to all occupational exposure to blood or other potentially
(b)
Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following shall apply:
"signated representatives the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, or
"Blood" means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.
cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV)
"Bloodborne Pathogens" means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can
and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
"Clinical Laboratory" means a workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are
performed on blood or other potentially infectious materials.
"Contaminated" means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other
potentially infectious materials on an item or surface.
"Contaminated Laundry" means laundry which has been soiled with blood or other potentially
infectious materials or may contain sharps.
"Contaminated Sharps" means any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not
limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires.
"Decontamination" means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy
transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or
bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of
disposal.
1 of 25
2/17/1999 8:39 AM

<<<PAGE 11>>>

http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_gif/10ZBHSC.gif
BIOHAZARD
1 of 1
2/17/1999 8:39 AM

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990037.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `fb12ff02917c96ace5467e868b10d9c1e3fafb35c2ce7255169ebc8c2996401b`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:57:57.480Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0037`

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