{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, Transporting Infectious Substances Guidance","title":"Transporting Infectious Substances Guidance","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-08-01","effective_on":"2019-08-01","summary":"Transporting Infectious Substances Guidance Document Transporting Infectious Substances Overview.pdf (136.61 KB) This brochure describes the revised USDOT regulations for the classification criteria and packaging requirements for the transportation of infectious substances, adopted into 49 CFR, Parts 171-180, effective October 1, 2006. Issued Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-transporting-infectious-substances-guidance-41539fb3.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-transporting-infectious-substances-guidance-41539fb3.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-transporting-infectious-substances-guidance-41539fb3","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory-compliance/phmsa-guidance/transporting-infectious-substances-guidance","body":"Transporting Infectious Substances Guidance\n\nDocument\n\n Transporting Infectious Substances Overview.pdf (136.61 KB)\n\n        This brochure describes the revised USDOT regulations for the classification criteria and packaging requirements for the transportation of infectious substances, adopted into 49 CFR, Parts 171-180, effective October 1, 2006.\n\n          Issued Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nTransporting Infectious Substances\nOverview\nTransporting Infectious Substances\nAn infectious substance, including regulated medical waste, is regulated as a hazardous\nmaterial under the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 C.F.R., Parts 171-180). PHMSA develops and enforces the HMR to\nensure the safe transport of hazmat in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce by\naircraft, railcar, vessel, and motor vehicle.\nThe HMR apply to any material that DOT determines capable of posing an unreasonable\nrisk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce1, including infectious\nsubstances. An infectious substance must conform to all applicable HMR requirements\nwhen offered for transportation or transported by air, highway, rail, or water.\nThe HMR contain the requirements for classification, packaging, hazard communication,\nand, in some cases, security plans of infectious substances. Infectious substances\ngenerally fall into three classification categories:\n• Category A – An infectious substance in a form capable of causing permanent\ndisability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals\nwhen exposure to it occurs.\n• Category B – An infectious substance not in a form generally capable of causing\npermanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans\nor animals when exposure to it occurs.\n• Regulated Medical Waste – a waste or reusable material derived from the medical\ntreatment of an animal or human.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nTransporting Infectious Substances Safely Guidance\nSee DOT's Transporting Infectious Substances Safely Brochure and presentation for an\nimportant overview of the general transportation requirements for infectious substances.\nInfectious Substance Oversight\nOversight responsibilities for infectious substances are shared by several Federal agencies\nthat work together towards common goals. While the purview of the DOT is focused on the\nsafe transportation of infectious substances, other organizations provide the expertise on\nclassification, handling, workplace safety, waste disposal, and emergency or pandemic\nresponse.\nCDC\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),\npart of the Public Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,\nprotects the public health of the nation by providing leadership and direction in the\nprevention and control of diseases and other preventable conditions, and responding to\npublic health emergencies. The CDC conducts critical science and provides health\ninformation that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and\nresponds when they arise. The CDC is the authority for guidance on handling infectious\nsubstances before or after transportation.\nOSHA\nThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the U.S. Department of\nLabor, ensures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by\nsetting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and\nassistance. OSHA has standards for bloodborne pathogens and personal protective\nequipment to protect workers from occupational exposure to infectious substances. As\nsuch, some OSHA standards are incorporated into certain DOT packaging requirements for\nregulated medical waste.\nUSDA\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture,\nnatural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy,\nthe best available science, and effective management. Divisions within USDA and CDC\nform the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP), which regulate the possession, use, and\ntransfer of biological select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat\nto public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products.\nFEMA\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the U.S. Department of\nHomeland Security is tasked with helping people before, during, and after disasters. In the\nevent of an infectious substance pandemic, FEMA works closely with the Department of\nHealth and Human Services and state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a\nwhole government response.\nSpecial Topics\nEbola\nFor important information on the packaging of Ebola contaminated waste, see\nthe Packaging of Ebola Contaminated Waste page.\nCOVID-19\nFor important information on the COVID-19 pandemic, see the COVID-19 Information page.\nInfectious Substance Special Permits\nFor important information on infectious substance special permits, including the special\npermit for Ebola contaminated waste, see the Infectious Substance Special Permits page.\nLast updated: Thursday, April 2, 2020","truncated":false,"body_characters":5183}