The term “Dangerous Goods” has the feel of an oxymoron like “Jumbo Shrimp”. What is good about something dangerous? Many things. The dangerous goods list includes cleaning solutions, medical supplies (especially medications), construction equipment and more. However, any of these items, when shipped, may require the shipper to understand the details that govern mailing such contents.

The person in charge of shipping quickly knows that understanding the rules surrounding dangerous goods are going to be tedious, especially when he or she sees a formula that is used to calculate how much of a dangerous good can be combined and shipped with a quantity of another. The policy governing these goods, of course, serves a great purpose, and it can be confusing to people packing their first carriers with protected material.

When preparing a shipment, the shipper should understand that the formulas used to calculate the quantity of a dangerous material that can be shipped are used to keep all parties safe. These details are most valuable when considering that a gaseous material shipped with a solid or liquid may not be safe. A solid may react when shipped with a gas and create an even more dangerous hazard. The tedious barriers of dangerous shipping measures ensure prevention of this outcome.

In some cases, materials are simply prevented from entering the shipping route. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and GMMOs (Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms) are both grounded in terms of shipment via UPS or FedEx for air travel, and this for the safety of every handling party. Still, in some cases, these types of contents must be moved from one location to another. When grounded goods have to be moved, a whole new set of rules might apply. As in the case of GMOs, ground transportation is not even regulated.

For the most dangerous hazards that must travel transcontinentally, sea shipment is the only option. Of course, the shipper must be prepared to pay the cost of hazard and all time agreements must be forfeited. To maintain an edge as a shipper, companies that use UPS and FedEx should be well acquainted with the dangerous goods list. Though in some cases the shipper might complain of a damaged package, with dangerous materials, damaged goods will never arrive, as shipping safe also requires proper containment.