DOT and NRC Requirements for Shipping Radioactive Empty Packages

The “Empty” category may be used for a packaging which previously contained Class 7 (radioactive) material and has been emptied of its contents as far as practical. However, internal radioactive contamination remains, possibly due to leakage of radioactive material from the inner container. It is not uncommon that suppliers of radioactive materials wish to receive the package back, so that it may be reused. These are some important questions that must be answered before returning packages that were used to ship radioactive material: • How much internal contamination is allowed? • Do I need to include a shipping paper? • How do I label and mark my package? • What are the allowable radiation levels on the outside of the package? • Do I need special training in order to ship “Empty” packages? This course is intended for workers who require initial training on the shipment of “Empty” packages containing radioactive contamination and have completed training on fundamentals of radiation and