# Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 05-0006
- **title:** Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-03-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 05-0006 response to Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc. concerning 173.197, 178.603.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0006.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0006.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-05-0006
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2005/050006.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

J.S. Department
of Transportatior
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
lazardous Materiais Safet
ipeline an
MAR
8 2005
Administration
Mr. Manuel Rosa, Jr.
Reference No. 05-0006
2385 Amann Drive
President, Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc.
Belleville, IL 62220
Dear Mr. Rosa:
This is in further response to your December 22; 2004, letter to Don Burger, General Engineer,
Office of Hazardous Materials Technology, requesting clarification on how to properly drop test
a bulk wheeled-cart packaging for the transport of "Regulated medical waste, 6.2 (infectious),
UN 3291, PG II," under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you stated § 173.197(d)(2)(iii) requires the drop test for non-bulk packagings
prescribed in § 178.603, but provides no guidance on how to perform this test on a bulk wheeled
cart. Mr. Burger forwarded your letter to this office for response.
The reference to § 178.603 in § 173.197(d)(2)(iii) is an error. The correct reference is § 178.810,
which prescribes drop test requirements for intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). Because a
wheeled cart is similar in size and structure to an IBC, it was our intention to require wheeled
carts used for the transportation of regulated medical waste to be capable of meeting the drop test
requirements in § 178.810 at the Packing Group II performance level. We will correct this error
in a future rulemaking. In the interim, you should utilize the drop test requirements in § 178.810.
Note that the standard for wheeled carts is a capability standard. Capability may be
or other means.
demonstrated using testing, previous handling or transportation experience, design specifications,
I hope this information in helpful.
Sincerely,
Hothe z. Mitchet
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173.197
050006
178.603

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Message
Page 1 of 1
Drakeford, Carolyn
From: Gorsky, Susan
Edmonson
Sent:
Wednesday, January 05, 2005 8:48 AM
To:
Drakeford, Carolyn
8173.197
Subject: FW: Wheeled Cart for Regulated Medical Waste
$178.603
Carolyn,
Can you put the email below (with pictures) into the interp system? Thanks.
lesting
Susan
05-0006
-----Original Message--...
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 8:47 AM
From: Burger, Donald
Subject: FW: Wheeled Cart for Regulated Medical Waste
To: Gorsky, Susan
-----Original Message-.-.-
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 3:48 PM
From: propack [mailto:propack@mcleodusa.net]
Subject: Wheeled Cart for Regulated Medical Waste
To: donald.burger@rspa.dot.gov
time we discussed this, there were no regulations for wheeled carts in place (see 2001 CFR 49) and so we
I once again have an issue with the same wheeled cart that you and I discussed back in 2002. The last
in place for wheeled carts but the regulations are not clear enough for me to perform the required tests. In section
treated it as a "large" packaging and dropped it once on the bottom at your suggestion. Now there are regulations
173.197(d)(2) (iii), it states that "Each cart must be capable of meeting the requirements of 178.603 (drop test), as
cart(s) are to be dropped from 47.2". Section 178.603(a) does not address which type of container a wheeled cart
specified for solids at the Packing Group I! performance level." All I can gather from this statement are that the
is considered to be which also means I do not know how many carts are to be dropped or in which orientations.
Can you help me out here? I have attached pictures of the cart that I have. I appreciate your help Don.
Manuel Rosa, Jr.
President
618-277-1160 phone
Pro-Pack Testing Laboratory, Inc.
618-277-1163 fax
www.propacktestlab.com
m.rosa@propacktestlab.com
1/10/2005

<<<PAGE 3>>>

REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE
Division 6.2, UN 3291, PG IL
1.H2/Y27.2/S/02/USA/+AA 2638
MEDICAL SYSTEMS NG
SAINT LOUIS, MO S3110
En egeney Respocne 314-644-6100

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