Posted on : By : eduwhere Posted in : Insight|Online Course|Regulatory

Shipping Coronavirus

Coronavirus, also known by its virus name SARS-CoV-2 and its disease name COVID-19, is appearing more and more in our news and becoming a wider spread concern, creating questions about safety protocols when transporting specimens. Samples of blood or tissue may need to be shipped for diagnostic purposes, or to a lab studying the virus to better understand its characteristics. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently provided interim guidelines for laboratory biosafety handling and processing of specimens associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019, stating that specimens from suspected or potential patient cases of COVID-19 should be shipped under regulations for UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B.

UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B

UN3373 Package Mark

COVID-19 isn’t the first infectious substance that clinical facilities have shipped using the UN 3373 Biological Substance, Category B designation. The US Department of Transportation have well established procedures in place to classify, describe, label, mark, and package patient specimens for proper and safe shipping. These regulations include requirements for triple packaging as well as adequate absorbent and cushioning materials to prevent breakage and leaking. There are also specific labeling and marking requirements for the outside of the package, including the UN3373 mark, the words “Biological Substance, Category B”, and the name and phone number of a responsible person who can answer questions in case of emergency. Additional steps are required if dry ice is used.

Triple Packaging Requirements for UN3373

If you need more information on shipping biological substances and infectious substances, Eduwhere provides two courses covering the proper shipping of Infectious Substances:

For more information on coronavirus safety, see the CDC webpage on COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines.html

Posted on : By : eduwhere Posted in : Online Course

RCRA Hazardous Waste Management for Generators

Proper management and disposal of hazardous wastes is essential for safety for workers, the public, and the environment. Eduwhere is pleased to offer a training course in the proper handling of hazardous wastes, with a specific focus on the federal regulations as they relate to businesses and generators of hazardous waste. Our RCRA Hazardous Waste Management for Generators course our most comprehensive course on hazardous waste management, covering topics including identifying hazardous wastes, determining a facility’s generator status, maintaining appropriate records, managing used oil, universal wastes, and disposal methods and limitations. 

RCRA Annual & “thoroughly familiar” Training Requirements

40 CFR 262.16 (b)(9)(iii)
40 CFR 262.17(a)(7)

RCRA Regulatory Citations

This training course is designed to help businesses and facilities meet both the annual or “thoroughly familiar” training requirements, depending on generator size, set out in 40 CFR 262.16 (b)(9)(iii) and 40 CFR 262.17(a)(7) for generators of hazardous waste. Personnel who will generate, handle, store, treat or dispose of hazardous waste may be required to complete a RCRA training course annually.

Of interest to our clients who fall under RCRA training requirements, a new rule has come into effect this year designating aerosol cans as a universal waste. The EPA hopes that this new designation for aerosol cans will promote the collection and recycling of the cans and reduce the number being sent to landfill.  

RCRA Hazardous Waste Management for Generators