Transporting Biological Hazards
Biological hazards and other dangerous goods must be safely transported during all stages of transport between the sender, carrier and receiver to prevent exposure or release and protect people and the environment. Biological hazards may need to be transported between buildings on site as well as between university sites or other locations or organisations nationally and internationally. The following is a brief summary of controls which required for transporting hazardous materials by university workers or using general carriers or dangerous goods carriers depending on the requirements. The detailed safety and transport requirements can be found in the relevant regulations and guidance and advice can be obtained from trained university personnel, general carriers and dangerous goods and from their transport coordinators and dangerous goods safety advisers.
Communications
It is essential to ensure that there are good communications and the relevant information is shared between the senders and receivers of biological hazards and other materials. If you are doing research or other work that requires other persons or organisations to send biological samples or other materials to the university or if you are sending biological samples or other materials to other persons or organisations then you should ensure that the appropriate packaging and transport mode will be used to send the samples. All consignments must be acceptable to the recipients and the carrier or dangerous goods carrier. You must communicate the relevant details of shipments to recipients for packages that you are sending and senders must communicate the relevant details of shipments to you. The relevant details of shipments will include the senders contact details, description of the biological and other hazards being sent, packaging system and the details of the carrier, delivery times and dates. This can be done using a variety of methods but it is recommended that written emails should be used in addition to other methods like the phone to communicate details in advance since these provide a reliable means of communicating and recording information. It is very important that the exact transport arrangements are agreed between all the relevant parties in advance to avoid any failures in compliance with the relevant regulations or issues arising during the chain of transport.
Internal Transport of Biological Hazards
Biological hazards must be appropriately packaged and safely transported between buildings and local sites in the immediate vicinity. You will need to use UN approved packaging containers or other suitable robust containers depending on the materials with correct hazard warning signs and the relevant information. Biological materials must be transported by trained and competent workers. In some cases you may need to take safety information, PPE and a spill kit in case of an accident.
External Transport of Biological Hazards
Biological hazards must be appropriately classified, packaged, labelled and safely transported. Biological materials may be transported by trained competent workers or by general carriers or dangerous goods carriers depending on the biological hazards, transport mode and destination. Note that many biological hazards require licences before they are transported into or out of the university, around the country or overseas including specified animal pathogens and specified plant pathogens and pests and all sorts of other materials. Category A infectious substances must not be transported by university workers in private vehicles, university vehicles or on public transport but must be transported only by dangerous goods carriers to comply with the transport regulations. The only exception is where a university vehicle is fully compliant with all the relevant safety and transport regulations and the vehicles have in place all the required hazard warning signs, safety information, competent trained and certified drivers and the necessary emergency arrangements and equipment. Category B infectious substances can be transported using suitable private transport or university vehicles provided that the materials are correctly packaged, labelled and the relevant documentation is provided in accordance with all the relevant safety and transport regulations and guidance. Non infectious biological materials can of course also be carried using suitable private transport or university vehicles provided that they are correctly packaged and safely transported using the relevant UN approved packaging containers or other suitable robust containers depending on the materials with the correct marking and labels and any relevant documents. You may need to have various emergency arrangements in place with the necessary equipment like communication methods (eg mobile phone), emergency contacts details, PPE and a suitable spill kit in case of an accident. Remember that you must ensure that all the relevant safety as well as transport requirements and controls are in place for all the hazards involved in transporting the biological hazards and materials or in any way part of the work including any chemicals and coolants. Taxi services can with permission be used to transport biological materials, excluding category A infectious substances, provided that the materials are correctly packaged, labelled and contain relevant documentation in accordance with the regulations. Public transport services may allow certain materials to be carried but you must check their specific regulations. Please note that you must never carry any kind of dangerous goods on your person or in cabin or checked baggage when using air transport or when travelling between different countries when using any mode of transport. The transport of live infected animals or plants requires special controls and it is usually best to transport animals and plants separately from infectious agents unless there is no alternative. Live animals infected with serious human or animal pathogens should not be transported outside the appropriate laboratory facilities. Live plants and plant materials infected with pathogens are of course much more straightforward to manage in most cases involving standard transport packaging and controls.
Postal Services
Various postal services may carry certain types of dangerous goods which are set out in their service regulations. Category A infectious substances cannot be sent by domestic mail services but category B infectious substances are accepted by some postal services usually within defined package limits, provided they are packaged and labelled in accordance with the regulations. Genetically modified organisms classified as UN 3245 and exempt human or animal specimens can also be sent by some domestic postal services appropriately packaged and labelled. You should read the full service regulations on their websites and contact them for advice if needed on transport of biological and other hazards. Material sent by postal services should be sent in accordance with air transport requirements since post may be carried by air in the UK. Category A and B infectious substances cannot be sent overseas using ordinary postal services and you will need to use dangerous goods carriers. If you are planning research that requires participants to send you biological samples or other materials then you should ensure that they use the appropriate packaging and transport mode to return the samples to you.
Dangerous Goods Carriers
Before sending any biological hazards or infectious substances or other material containing dangerous goods you should first establish that the carrier is able to handle the relevant dangerous goods. Dangerous goods carriers provide detailed guidance on their websites and other relevant information through their transport coordinators and dangerous goods safety advisers. The carrier will explain their packaging requirements and will supply the relevant transport documentation for completion and the necessary instructions for the relevant transport routes. They may ask for additional documentation to meet their own internal safety requirements. You need to ensure that you comply with the correct classification, packaging, labelling and documentation which are required by the relevant regulations for your biological hazards and other hazards as well as by the carrier. You must ensure you have completed any relevant import or export documentation and obtain any relevant licences that may be required. Please note that the university has approved dangerous goods carriers which provide a service to transport dangerous goods.
Import and Export of Biological Hazards
The import and export of certain biological hazards and materials into and out of the UK requires a licence and permission from various regulators and government departments. In addition the possession or use of certain biological hazards may require a licence and permission to be obtained before they are brought into the university. Please note that it is not possible to state here all the relevant materials which may require a licence since there are complex regulations and many different types of licences. If you are planning to import or export any biological materials then you will need to check the relevant regulations and guidance and take advice from the regulator and your safety coordinator to see if a licence and permission or any kind of notification is required.
There are many biological materials which may require general licences or special licences to import, export or use them including various human, animal, plant or environmental samples and materials, human pathogens, specified animal pathogens, specified plant pathogens and pests, certain hazardous genetically modified organisms, human tissues or materials, animal tissues or materials, plant tissues or materials, food products and agricultural products. General licences allow you to obtain and use certain materials subject to obtaining and complying with the requirements and conditions set out in the published licence and do not usually require you to apply to the regulator for a specific licence. Hazardous materials will usually require you to apply for and obtain a specific licence for your materials and work.
The HSE must be informed as part of the notification process for certain COSHH and GMOCU notifiable activities with biological agents or genetically modified organisms if they are likely to be subject to any movement entering or leaving the UK or European Union (EU). There is no general requirement under health and safety law to obtain a licence to import biological agents into the UK other than the requirement to notify HSE of the movement of hazard group 4 biological agents. There may be requirements to obtain a licence to export biological agents if the pathogen is listed in UK or EU strategic export control lists and the pathogen is being exported to any destination outside of the EU. There are also stringent controls on the import or export of any pathogens or toxins which are subject to the terrorism laws and the Home Office must be notified in advance. There is a requirement under animal health and plant health laws to obtain a licence to import or export any serious animal pathogens or plant pathogens and pests or related materials. For example, if importing a specified animal pathogen into the UK then a licence is required under the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order (IAPO) and if planning to obtain or transfer in the UK a specified animal pathogen then a specified animal pathogen licence will be needed under Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) before premises can possess or use the specified pathogens, their carriers or any related infectious materials. Similar regulatory controls and licence requirements are in place for the importation or movement of plant pathogens and pests. There is detailed guidance on the regulations and requirements for import, export, general and specific licences which can be obtained from the UK Government, Department for Transport, Scottish Government Animal Health and Plant Health and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Check their websites for the detailed guidance and contact details if you need specialist advice. You should always contact the regulators if you uncertain about the need for any kind of license. Please apply for specific licenses well in advance of shipment as they take time to process and to ensure that all the relevant internal controls are in place.