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Hazardous Perishable and Restricted Goods

Bocsit has developed the following policies to ensure overall program quality and a positive user experience for everyone. Any individual or business processing transactions with Bocsit for Business must adhere to these policies.

Bocsit reserves the right to expand or edit these policies at any time. Bocsit will also exercise its sole discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of these policies in conjunction with the program's Terms of Service. Products, Goods, Materials and other items not listed below may still be restricted.

Hazardous Materials

The regulations and procedures for shipping “hazardous” materials apply to all individuals involved with the transportation/shipping of hazardous materials. This includes all those individuals who arrange for transport and/or may engage in any of the following activities involving hazardous materials:

  • Filling packages
  • Marking and labeling packages
  • Preparing shipping papers, handling, loading, securing and segregating packages within a transport vehicle, freight container or cargo hold, and transporting.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) enacts and enforces all hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation laws in the United States. Compliance with DOT regulations is a requirement for any person who offers a hazardous material for transportation. Penalties for non - compliance: Penalties for non - compliance with the rules are significant and could result in the following fines: Up to $250,000 and up to a year jail sentence for individuals up to $500,000 per incident for organizations.

Shipping procedures must be adhered to if you determine the materials you are going to ship are hazardous materials as defined by the DOT. A hazardous material is defined as any substance or material could adversely affect the safety of the public, handlers or carriers during transportation. All DOT hazardous materials are listed in the DOT's Hazardous Material Table.

There are nine classes of hazardous materials:

  1. Explosives
    • 1.1 mass explosion hazard
    • 1.2 projectile hazard
    • 1.3 minor blast/projectile/fire
    • 1.4 minor blast
    • 1.5 insensitive explosives
    • 1.6 very insensitive explosives
  2. Compressed Gases
    • 2.1 flammable gases
    • 2.2 non flammable compressed
    • 2.3 poisonous
  3. Flammable Liquids Flammable (flash point below 141°) Combustible (flash point 141° - 200°
  4. Flammable Solids
    • 4.1 flammable solids
    • 4.2 spontaneously combustible
    • 4.3 dangerous when wet
  5. Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
    • 5.1 Oxidizer
    • Organic Peroxide
  6. Toxic Materials
    • 6.1 Material that is poisonous
    • 6.2 Infectious Agents
  7. Radioactive Material Radioactive I Radioactive II Radioactive III
  8. Corrosive Material Destruction of the human skin Corrode steel at a rate of 0.25 inches per year
  9. Miscellaneous

General Shipping Procedures:

Check if the chemicals you are shipping or offering for shipment are listed in the Hazmat Table 49 CFR Subpart B, 172.101. o Hazardous materials (49 CFR 171.8)"A substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103)"

Common Items that May Be Hazardous

Descriptions that Indicate Dangerous Goods

Watch for any of the following descriptions that could indicate Dangerous Goods or Hazardous Materials:

  • Acidic
  • Caustic
  • Combustible Communicable
  • Compressed Gas
  • Corrosive
  • Explosive
  • Flammable
  • Infectious
  • Inflammable
  • Poison
  • Radioactive
  • Refrigerated
  • Toxic
  • Volatile

      • Certain specific terms may also be clues that dangerous goods and/or hazardous materials may be present. The table below identifies such trigger terms and the potential hazards they may indicate.

      Specific Term Potential Hazard
      Air Bags May contain Air Bag Inflators , or Air Bag Modules or Seat­Belt Pretensioner
      Air Conditioning Equipment May contain gases under pressure.
      Aircraft Parts May contain such items as fuel control devices which cannot be fully purged of fuel and must be shipped regulated.
      Auto Parts May include carburetors, gas lines, or gas tanks which may contain gasoline.
      Barometers May indicate the presence of mercury.
      Batteries Come in a variety of sizes and types. Several types of batteries are regulated as hazardous materials, including spillable lead­acid batteries, many lithium batteries, etc. Positive protection against short circuits is essential, even for batteries that are not subject to applicable Hazardous Materials Regulations. (See Additional Battery Guidance below)
      Breathing Apparatus May mean oxygen cylinders under pressure.
      Bull Semen May signal the presence of dry ice or liquefied gas.
      Camping Gear/Equipment May include many different dangerous items such as: ammunition, batteries, cooking stoves, flammable gas, fire starting pastes, flammable liquids, heat producing packets, lighters, matches (both strike anywhere and safety type), signal flares, STERNO cooking/heating fuel (the structural tubing on certain types of back packs contains liquid fuels).
      Chain Saws and other powered tools Will most likely contain a residue of fuel.
      Chemical Oxygen May indicate the presence of an oxygen generator.
      Cigarette Lighters Including Lighters or Lighter Refills or Torches may contain flammable gas or flammable liquid.
      Computer Equipment May contain uninterruptible power supplies with electrical storage batteries, magnets in speakers and printing ink.
      Construction Equipment May indicate the presence of batteries, CO 2 cartridges, and other power devices, gasoline powered saws or generators and space heaters all possibly containing fuel, Liquified Petroleum gas torches, paints, drying agents and thinners.
      Cosmetics May contain flammable liquids.
      Cryogenic (liquid) Means a liquefied gas of very low temperature, which must be shipped as a regulated item.
      Cylinder/Container/ Tank May contain flammable or non­flammable compressed gases.
      Dental Apparatus/Equipment May contain hazardous chemicals such as resins, solvents, or gases.
      Drilling and Mining Equipment May contain explosives, acids, lubricants, mercury or other dangerous goods.
      Electrical/Electronic Equipment May contain powerful magnets, mercury in switches, any one of a variety of batteries and uninterruptible power supplies containing electrical storage batteries. (See Additional Battery Guidance below)
      Electrically Powered Apparatus May contain wet electric storage batteries, or lithium batteries. Even if batteries are excepted from regulations, they must be positively protected against short circuits.
      Engine Parts May include carburetors, gas lines, or gas tanks which may contain fuel or fuel residue.
      Fertilizer Ammonium nitrate, may be an oxidizer.
      Fire Extinguishers or Fire Fighting Equipment May contain gases under pressure or gasoline engine powered equipment.
      Frozen Food May contain dry ice
      Gas May indicate the presence of a flammable liquid, such as gasoline, a flammable gas or nonflammable gas.
      Household Goods May include paints, bleaches, spray cans under pressure, and numerous other dangerous items.
      Hunting Supplies May contain small arms ammunition or other camping related items.
      Ice Maker May contain gases under pressure.
      Laboratory or Testing Equipment May contain assorted dangerous materials.
      Laundry Supplies May mean strong bleaches or oxidizing fabric treatments.
      Lawn Equipment Such as, but not limited to, lawn mowers and weed trimmers may contain hazardous materials in the form of fuels and/or batteries.
      Lighters Including Cigarette Lighters or Lighter Refills or Torches may contain flammable gas or flammable liquid
      Medical Supplies May contain flammable or corrosive chemicals, infectious substances or radioactive materials.
      Mercury Or the term " mercurial " may indicate a shipment that is regulated.
      Motorized Equipment Which may contain gasoline or electric batteries.
      MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheet May indicate a product is hazardous. Ensure that the shipment receives expert analysis before being advanced.
      Office Supplies May contain aerosols, both flammable and non­flammable printing ink, uninterruptible power supplies containing electrical storage batteries.
      Oxygen Generator Means a prohibited chemical device that generates oxygen and a large amount of heat.
      Passenger Service Unit (PSU) May indicate the presence of an oxygen generator as utilized in an aircraft.
      Perfume May contain flammable liquids.
      Pharmaceuticals May include flammable liquids, radioactive medicines, or other hazardous chemicals.
      Photographic Supplies Could contain acids, corrosive materials, bleaches, or poisonous materials.
      Rechargeable Drills, Screwdrivers and other hand tools other hand tools May contain lithium batteries. (See Batteries for additional information)
      Refrigeration Equipment May contain gases under pressure.
      Repair Kits May contain adhesives, paints, solvents, flammable gases, or other dangerous goods.
      Samples for Testing May contain any number of dangerous goods.
      Survey Equipment May indicate the presence of electrical equipment, batteries, power cartridges, and other regulated materials.
      Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi Chemicals or Parts May contain oxidizers or other dangerous goods.
      Thermometers May indicate the presence of mercury.
      Tool Boxes May contain explosives (power rivets), compressed gases (spray cans), flammable adhesives or paints, corrosive liquids, etc.
      Vaccines May be packed in dry ice.
      Venom (liquid, powder or otherwise) may be poisonous.
      Weather Equipment May indicate the presence of devices containing mercury.
      Additional Battery Guidance  
      Types of Batteries There are many kinds of batteries available today and several are regulated as hazardous materials in transportation that may only be shipped by contract hazmat shippers.
      Lead­acid batteries Common in cars, electric wheelchairs, some continuous computer power sources, and other applications. These batteries contain highly corrosive acid and can cause fires from short circuits.
      Non­spillable batteries Tested, proven non­spillable batteries are allowed to be shipped as non­hazardous within the U.S. Batteries and packaging must be marked "NONSPILLABLE" or "NONSPILLABLE BATTERY".
      Lithium and lithium ion batteries Both rechargeable and non­rechargeable power sources, common in computers, cell phones, cameras and other small electronic devices. If dropped, crushed or short­circuited, these batteries can release dangerous amounts of heat and may ignite, and are dangerous in fires. Special regulations apply to shipping these batteries. Shipments requiring hazardous materials shipping papers are accepted from contract hazmat shippers only, and certain lithium batteries may not qualify for UPS service
      Other Batteries Although common dry cell (e.g. AA, C, D batteries) may not be regulated as hazardous materials, all batteries can cause fires from short circuits if batteries and terminals are not protected.
      Protect Batteries and Terminals When shipping batteries, you must protect all terminals against short circuits by completely covering the terminals with an insulating material (e.g., by using electrical tape or enclosing each battery separately in a plastic bag).
       
      • Short circuits can cause fires
      • Package the batteries to keep them from being crushed or damaged, and to keep them from shifting during handling.
      • Always keep metal objects or other materials that can short circuit battery terminals securely away from the batteries ­ e.g., by using separate inner box for the batteries.
      Prevent Fires Any device with installed batteries must not turn on while in transport. Protect switches that can be accidentally activated, or remove the batteries and protect the terminals.
      ­ Even very simple devices like flashlights or rechargeable drills can generate a dangerous quantity of heat if accidentally activated.
      Recalled or Recycled Batteries Never ship recalled or recycled batteries by air.
      No recycled or recalled batteries are allowed to be shipped between the continental U.S. and Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, where aircraft always must be used.
      Electronic Items for Repair Repair items, such as computers and cell phones, should be sent without batteries.

      This is only a sampling of trigger terms which should prompt further questions about a shipment. There are many more, and it is hoped that seeing these will lead you to think about other general terms that may warrant further investigation. If you have any questions regarding your shipment please Call us at 617­807­0411 to verify the eligibility of your items for shipping.

      Perishable Materials/Goods

      Perishable items can be sent by Bocsit as long as special precautions are taken when packing the shipment.

      Perishable items call for particular caution and care. After all, anything that has the ability to deteriorate can’t be thrown in any old box with the hopes of a safe delivery. Whether it’s grandma’s famous double­fudge cookies or a dozen chickens, (yes, you can send chickens in the mail) you’ll need to stick to specific guidelines to get them there in the best condition.

      Keep in mind, Bocsit defines perishable mail as being sent at your own risk. No matter where your item falls under the ‘perishable’ category, its packaging must meet the outlined requirements. The most common perishable items include food, flowers, plants and live animals.

      General Definitions

      Perishable matter is anything that can deteriorate in the mail and thereby lose value, create a health hazard, or cause an obnoxious odor, nuisance, or disturbance, under ordinary mailing conditions. Mailable perishable matter may be sent at the mailer’s own risk when it is packaged as required and when it can be delivered within appropriate and reasonable time limits to prevent deterioration.

      Examples of perishable matter include mailable types of live animals, food items, and plants.

      STANDARD PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ITEMS

      The following items are not acceptable for carriage. (Additional restrictions may apply depending on destination. Various regulatory clearances in addition to Customs clearance may be required for certain commodities, thereby extending the transit time.)

      1. Alcoholic beverages (e.g., beer, wine, spirits).
      2. APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
      3. Collectible and/or irreplaceable items (any item worth more than its original purchase price or that is not commonly available), including but not limited to antiques, fine art, or collectible coins and stamps.
      4. Bullion.
      5. Collect On Delivery (C.O.D.) shipments.
      6. Human corpses, human organs or body parts, human and animal embryos, or cremated or disinterred human remains.
      7. Explosives and incendiary devices.
      8. Firearms, ammunition, and other items including but not limited to firearms, disguised, undetectable or switchblade knives, martial arts weapons, silencers, ammunition, ammunition magazines, BB guns, and tear gas .
      9. Perishable foodstuffs and foods/beverages requiring refrigeration or other environmental control.
      10. Live animals, eggs, larva, live insects, live spiders.
      11. Ivory and endangered animals.
      12. Plants and plant material, including cut flowers.
      13. Cigarettes (including roll­your­own tobacco) and smokeless tobacco products, as defined by applicable Postal Service regulations for domesti or international mail.
      14. Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by local, state, provincial, or national law.
      15. Money (coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable instruments equivalent to cash such as endorsed stocks, bonds and cash letters).
      16. Pornographic and/or obscene material.
      17. Shipments being processed under:
      18. a. Duty drawback claims.
      19. b. Temporary Import Bonds.
      20. c. U.S. State Department licenses.
      21. d. Carnets.
      22. e. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration export permit.
      23. f. Shipments destined to or being withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone.
      24. g. Letters of Credit.
      25. h. Certificate of Registration shipments (CF4455).
      26. i. Shipments moving into or out of Foreign Trade Zones or bonded warehouses.
      27. Shipments requiring filing of Electronic Export Information, or EEI (formerly known as Shipper’s Export Declaration, or SED), or any such filing of export data.
      28. Hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles or syringes or other medical waste.
      29. Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel, or other shipments.
      30. Shipments that require us to obtain any special license or permit for transportation, importation or exportation.
      31. Shipments or commodities whose carriage, importation or exportation is prohibited by any law, statute or regulation.
      32. Shipments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for a specific destination.
      33. Dangerous goods, hazardous goods or combustible materials as defined by International Air Transport Association, by applicable sea or road transport regulation, or by applicable Postal Service regulations for domestic or international mail, including but not limited to:
      34. a. Asbestos.
      35. b. Category A infectious substances.
      36. c. Compressed gases, including those that are flammable or those that are nonflammable with an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70º F or 104 psi at 130º F.
      37. d. Corrosives (liquid or solid).
      38. e. Dry ice (carbon dioxide solid).
      39. f. Flammable materials, including pyrophoric, flammable, or combustible liquids with a closed cup flash point below 200º F or flammable solids, including matches.
      40. g. Magnetized material with a magnetic field strength of .002 gauss or more at a distance of 7 feet.
      41. h. Poisons, irritants, or controlled substances.
      42. i. Oxidizers.
      43. j. Lithium Batteries
      44. Processed or unprocessed dead animals, including insects and pets.
      45. Drugs/narcotics (illegal) or drug paraphernalia.
      46. Packages that are wet, leaking, or emit an odor of any kind.
      47. Wildlife products that require U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export clearance prior to exportation from the U.S.
      48. Offers for plagiarism paper­writing or test­taking services
      49. Pornography and other sexually suggestive materials (including literature, imagery and other media) escort or prostitution services
      50. Email lists, software, or other products enabling unsolicited email messages (spam)
      51. Animal parts, blood, or fluids noxious weeds prohibited seeds plants or other organisms (including product derivatives) in danger of extinction or whose trade is otherwise regulated by law
      52. Pornographic materials involving minors, or content that can be perceived as pedophilia erotica
      53. Unauthorized copies of books, music, movies, and other licensed or protected materials including copies without proper attribution and unauthorized copies of software, video games and other licensed or protected materials, including OEM or bundled software
      54. Replicas or imitations of designer or other goods items without a celebrity endorsement that would normally require such an association fake autographs currency stamps tickets other potentially unauthorized goods
      55. Mod chips or other devices for circumventing technical protection measures on digital devices, including for unlocking Phones
      56. Controlled substances, narcotics, illegal drugs, and drug accessories, including psychoactive and herbal drugs such as salvia and magic mushrooms and materials promoting their use or legal substances, such as plants or herbs, in a manner that suggests ingesting, inhaling, extracting or otherwise using any substance or compound from the legal substance will provide the same effect as an illegal drug, compound or substance or that will provide unsubstantiated health benefits
      57. Manuals, how­to guides, information, or equipment that violate the law by damaging or enabling unlawful access to software, servers, websites, or other protected property
      58. Materials, products, or information promoting illegal goods or enabling illegal acts goods you do not own or have the right to sell goods produced in violation of a third party's rights smuggled goods and goods in violation of export, import or labeling restrictions motor vehicles subject to transfer restriction goods recorded on public registers (such as real estate) and whose transfer requires formalities that cannot be legally completed online. Note: You are solely and completely responsible for verifying that all items you sell are authentic and legal.
      59. Devices intended to obtain cable and satellite signals for free, cable descramblers and black boxes, access cards, access card programmers and unloopers, unlawful tools or products to modify cellular telephones, and other equipment deemed unlawful by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other competent regulatory body in the country in which the goods are offered for sale
      60. Multi­level marketing programs (including online payment randomizers), matrix, pyramid, Ponzi schemes, wealth creation programs, paid to click schemes, and all similar programs Goods, literature, products, or other materials that:
        • Defame or slander any person or groups of people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, or other factors
        • Defame or slander any person or groups of people protected from defamation or slander by applicable law (such as the protection afforded to the royal family in some jurisdictions)
        • Encourage or incite violent acts
        • Promote intolerance or hatred
        • Promote or support membership in terrorist groups or other organizations prohibited by law
        • Promote revisionist theories proscribed by applicable law
        • Contravene public morality
      61. Crime scene photos or items, such as personal belongings, associated with criminals or a criminal act
      62. Drugs or other products requiring a prescription by a licensed medical practitioner, veterinarian or any online pharmacies or whose distribution is otherwise regulated medical devices that require government authorization for distribution and drug test circumvention aids. Health related product promotion is permitted, subject to certain conditions and restrictions, to enable a user to save show and scan objects
      63. Material covered by the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property or otherwise restricted by law from sale, export or transfer Artifacts, cave formations (speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites) and grave­related items that are protected under federal laws, such as The Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988, and the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act
      64. Fireworks and related goods toxic, flammable, and radioactive materials and substances gunpowder explosives
      65. Air bags batteries containing mercury Freon or similar substances/refrigerants chemical/industrial solvents medical procedures car number plates police badges and law enforcement equipment lock­picking devices medical devices pesticides and insecticides postage meters passive fitness equipment and electrostimulators recalled items slot machines surveillance equipment that is primarily used to obtain unlawful interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications and/or to facilitate the unlawful view or recording of individuals goods regulated by government or other agency specifications.
      66. Radar jammers, license plate covers, traffic signal changers, and related products

      Notwithstanding any other provision of the Bocsit terms and conditions, we are not liable for delay of, loss of, or damage to a shipment of any prohibited item. The shipper agrees to indemnify Bocsit for any and all costs, fees and expenses Bocsit incurs as a result of the shipper's violation of any local, state or federal laws or regulations or from tendering any prohibited item for shipment.

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