# Mr. Steven Smith — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 01-0277
- **title:** Mr. Steven Smith — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2002-02-01
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 01-0277 concerning 173.22.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0277.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0277.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0277
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010277.pdf
**body:**

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400 Seventh St., S.W.
asearch an
FEB 1
Washington, D.G. 20590
dimini stration
2002
Mr. Steven Smith
843 Lindenwood Drive
Ref. No. 01-0277
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-2536
Dear Mr. Smith:
telephone conversations with this office's staff concerning a leaking package of "1, 1, 1-
This responds to your October 15, 2001 letter, and November 30 and December 5, 2001
Trichloroethane solution, 6.1, UN 2831, PG III" you found on your truck when you worked for
Consolidated Freightways (CF) in 1996. You stated CF's management directed a dock worker to
load the package after discovering it was damaged. You asked us if it was CF's responsibility to
put the leaking package in another authorized container before loading it on your truck.
Although the shipper is primarily responsible for ensuring that a hazardous materials is properly
packaged, as stated in § 173.22, if a leaking package is discovered before it is loaded on a motor
vehicle, § 177.801 prohibits the carrier from accepting it for transportation. If the leaking
package is discovered after it is loaded, § 177.854(b) requires the package to be managed for
disposal by the safest practical means as provided in § 177.854(c), (d), and (e).
You also stated CF filed a false incident report that incorrectly described the package's condition
when loaded. Submitting false, fictitious, or fraudulent written statements to the federal
government may be a violation of 18 USCS § 1001. In addition, you stated that CF did not
provide you with a material safety data sheet (MSDS) when offering you the load, although in
earlier correspondence you stated you carried an emergency response guidebook (ERG) in the
cab of your truck. As we stated in our October 5, 2001 letter, provided the information is
consistent with the emergency response information requirements in 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart
G, use of a separate document, such as an ERG, in a manner that cross references the description
of the hazardous material on the shipping paper with the emergency response information
contained in the document may be used in place of at MSDS.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
HINNIHI
|73.22
010277

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Steven Smith
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43 Lindenwood Dr

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10/09/2001
14:53
41234374548
PAGE 01
.:
400 Seventh St.. S.W.
Research and
Washington, D.C. 20500
Special Programs
Administration
...
OCT 5 2001
Mr. Steven Smith
843 Lindenwood Drive
Ref. No. 00-0255
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-2536
Dear Mr. Smith:
This is in response to your letter and telephone call with the staff of the Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards asking what a shipper's responsibilities are under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR: 49 CFR Parts 171-180) when it has offered a damaged package of hazardous material for
transportation. You stated a shipper loaded a leaking package of adhesive described as "1, 1, 1-
Trichloroethane solution, 6.1, UN 2831, PG Ill" on your truck, but did not provide you with a material
safety data sheet on the material ox salvage packaging to contain the damaged packáge. You also
stated you carried an emergency response guidebook (ERG) in the cab of your truck. i apologize for
the delay in responding and any inconvenience this may have caused.
A shipper is required to ensure that a hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged,
marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required under the HMR (see § 173.22). Under
§ 171.2(a) and (h), no person may accept a hazardous material for transportation or transport a
hazardous material in commerce unless it meets these conditions. Further, under § 177.801, no person
may accept or transport by motor vehicle a hazardous material unless it conforts to all applicable
requirements. A leaking hazardous materials package may not be transported unless it is placed in a
salvage drum (see § 173.3(c)).
You are cotrect that a shipper must provide emergency response information to accompany a
hazardous materials package if a shipping paper is required. The shipper can present the information
on the shipping paper; an accompanying document, such as a material safety data sheet (MSDS); or in
a separate document, such as the ERG you carried on your truck. The information must be consistent
with the provisions in 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart G.
j' a dock worker at consolidatio 11
Fightiay was told to load damased
shesement ofts management war made
in file the the shiren wes comane?
aresent to DoT. on hour shipient was loade

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10/09/2001
14:53
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02
Sections 172.700-172.704 of the HMR require all hazmat employees who perform functions
subject to requirements in the HMIR be trained. This traiting must cover measures to protect the
employee from the hazards associated with the hazardous materials to which they may be
exposed in the workplace and specific measures the employer has implemented to protect
employees from exposure (see § 172.704(a)(3)(ii)).
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
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