Re: Transportation event in DC (and what is a Type A package)

[John Jacobus <crispy_bird@yahoo.com>]

I contacted a friend who works for the DOT Special

Programs Office about this incident and what

requirements are there for Type A packages.

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Ferate, Fred [mailto:Fred.Ferate@rspa.dot.gov]

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 5:17 PM

To: Jacobus, John (NIH/OD/ORS)

Subject: RE: transportation event in DC





Hi John



A Type A package is expected to withstand "normal

conditions of transport,"including a 4 foot drop;

e.g., out of the back of a car.  It is not required

nor expected to withstand being driven over by a

multi-ton vehicle.



If only the syringe was run over, then it may be that

the ammo boxed was not properly closed, or perhaps

that the drop testing performed as part of the

original Type A testing was not done by dropping the

package in its most vulnerable orientation.  Or it may

be that the interior foam which ordinarily holds the

lead pigs snugly was worn from use, or some of it was

missing, so that the movement of the pig(s), which

wouldn't have been a problem in the original testing,

caused the box to pop open.



To answer your question, an ammo box is a Type A

package only if it has been shown to be so for a

specific content.  Presumably a lot of companies have

shown that it satisfies the performance requirements

of 49 CFR 173.465 for their contents.  However, 49 CFR

173.415(a) requires that the shipper have on hand

documentation showing that it satisfies the

performance

requirements.  If the shipper doesn't have this

documentation, he or she may not assume that an ammo

box meets the requirements of a Type A package for

the contents intended to be shipped.



Come back to me if you would like to discuss this some

more.



Best Regards,



Fred





-----Original Message-----

From: Jacobus, John (NIH/OD/ORS)

[mailto:jacobusj@ors.od.nih.gov] 

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 4:48 PM

To: Ferate, Fred

Subject: FW: transportation event in DC



Fred,

This incident has been circulating around a mail list

I belong to.  The

question came up as to why the package failed.  I am

assuming that the

package was a typical ammo box, which are listed as a

Type A package.  Is it

posted anywhere that certifies that an ammo box meets

the requirements of a

Type A package?



Thanks.



-- John

John P. Jacobus, MS, CHP

Health Physicist



Visit our new Web site at

http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/rsb/index.html





-----Original Message-----

From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM]

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 9:24 AM

To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: transportation event





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=====

+++++++++++++++++++

"Eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty and . . . you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing."

Andrew Jackson



-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



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