# Saf-T-Pak — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0018
- **title:** Saf-T-Pak — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-03-09
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0018 response to Saf-T-Pak concerning 173.199, 178.609.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0018.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0018.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0018
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070018.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
MAR
9 2007
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
Gail Ryckis-Kite
Reference No. 07-0018
Development and Quality Manager
Saf-T-Pak
17854 - 106A Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5S 1V3
Dear Ms. Ryckis-Kite:
This is in response to your January 24 and 25, 2007 e-mails to this agency concerning a final
rule we issued under Docket No. PHMSA-2004-16895 (HM-226A) (6/2/06, 71 FR 32244) to
revise the requirements for transporting Division 6.2 (infectious substance) materials under
requirements. You note that on page 32247, Column 1, paragraph 1, of the final rule we state
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) with international
a Category B infectious substance packaging must be capable of passing a drop test, but not a
to be capable of passing at a height of 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) the drop and steel rod impact tests
puncture or other performance test; however, under § 173.199(a)(4) we require this packaging
prescribed in §178.609(d) and (h), respectively. You ask if the regulatory text requiring the
steel rod impact test for this packaging is an error.
The answer is yes. A packaging used to transport a Category B infectious substance must be
capable of passing the drop test prescribed in § 178.609(d). The packaging is not required to
in a future rulemaking.
also be capable of passing the steel rod impact test in § 178.609(h). We will correct this error
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Hattie L. Mitchell, Chief
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
173. (a)4)
070018
178.409 (h)

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Edmonson
$173.199
3178.609 (h)
From: Gail Ryckis-Kite [mailto:GailRyckisKite@saf-t-pak.com]
Infections. Subtances
To: Edmonson, Eileen <PHMSA>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 5:24 PM
Packaging 07-0018
Subject: RE: Questions/Concerns regarding CFR173.199 Category B Packaging Requirements
Hi Elleen
forward to seeing the correction. In the interim, our company still has a probiem that
Thank you vary much for your reply. We can appreciate how this may happen and look
maybe you can help me with, or direct me to ancther authority.
This test came to our attention by the US DOT Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement.
commercially (Report Number 05435035 Supplemental). We would like to provide that
This specific test was requested to be performed on a small shippor that we privide
office with an appropriate response that invalidates the requirement of this specific test.
to comply to ail regulations. in reaching compliance we have had to inform our customers
in addition, as a supplier of compliance training and packaging material, we do our utmost
of the regulatory text and the changes required to meet the standard. We wou d ask that
we may provide both to the DOT testing authority and our customers showing that this
the US Dopartment of Transportation provide us with some sort of formal response that
178.600(h).
was indeed inadvertently text and compliance is not required to the steel rod impact test in
Thank you again for your assistance in this matter.
Gail Ryckis-Kite
GaiRyckisKite@sattpak.com
Development and Quality Manager
www.sai-t-pak.com
1-800-814-7484
This communication (including any attachments) is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain
alacements) is strictly prohible. If you have receivedy his communication in ror, please nily us immediately by ermain nor
legally privileged or confidential information. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authorized
permanently delete the communication and any attachments from your system
From: Gail Ryckis-Kite [mailto:GailRyckisKite@saf-t-pak.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:49 PM
To: Edmonson, Eileen <PHMSA>
Subject: Questions/Concerns regarding CFR173.199 Category B Packaging Requirements
Dear Ms. Edmonson,
I am the Development and Quality Manager at Saf-T-Pak in Edmonton Alberta Canada. This
regarding a change in the package testing requirements for Category B infectious substances
company is a certified packaging and compliance training supplier and I have some questions
(49CFR173.199). In particular, the addition of a puncture test specified in 49CFR178.609(h).
Upon review of the Federal Register Vol. 71 No. 106 Friday June 2, 2006 | understand that the
PHMSA proposed to harmonize with other requirements applicable to the transportation of
Division 6.2 materials and adopt packaging requirements for Category A and Category B

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Instructions.
infectious substances consistent with those in the UN Recommendations and ICAO Technical
capable of passing a drop test, but need not be capable of passing a puncture or other
In the preamble to the Section by Section review it reads that Category B packagings must be
erformance test (p. 32247), However, the amended 49CFR173.199 section specifically state:
Recommendations and ICAO Technical Instructions do not place this requirement onto the
hat a puncture test (referenced only as 178.609(h)) must be successfully passed. Both the Ur
Category B infectious substances packaging.
discuss any recommendations and insight you might provide to us regarding international
shipments in and out of the USA
This material may demand a bit of your time for review thus I submitted this email first. Unless
ote report 1202-36 or or you prefer may be c acted bye ma or he number sted one
below - at your convenience.
I look forward to discussing this material with you and receiving a bit more clarification.
Kindest Regards,
Gail Ryckis-Kite
GailRyckisKiteKosaftpak.com
Development and Quality Manager
www.sai-t-pak.com
1-800-814-7484
gally privileged or confidential information. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or an authc rize
is communication (including any attachments) is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and inay conta
alasment is the ride. yout you are evely no ren that at disemir, please intry or eaten year nar
permanently delete the communication and any attachments from your system
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