Inspection Procedures for HAZMAT Prior to Military Airlift System

Attachment 28 describes inspection procedures for hazardous materials before they enter the military airlift system. Inspections will ensure that hazardous materials are properly prepared and documented.

The inspection guidelines outlined in A28.1 discuss inspecting hazardous materials, including opening an external container to inspect internal packagings.

A28.1.1 covers originating shipping activities, and how they must prevent improper shipments from being entered into the transportation system. A quality control program should be established to make sure that packing, marking, labeling, and certifying of hazardous materials comply with this manual, and airlift safety criteria are met.

Each package must be inspected to make sure that packaging is correct and in good condition.

If there is physical evidence that indicates suspected damage of the inner receptacles, or if external markings do not correspond to the type of container, then the exterior containers can be opened.

Opened containers must be resealed according to the applicable test report or Special Packaging Instruction (SPI).

The Shipper's Declaration For Dangerous Goods certification must be checked for overall accuracy, including the packaging paragraph's correctness.

Damaged or improperly prepared packages must be immediately removed from the transportation system.

Refer to A28.1.1 for more information on vehicles and wheel engine powered support equipment and inspection of cylinders and spheres.

An inspection program must be established at each Aerial Port of Embarkation, to prevent improperly prepared hazardous materials from entering the transportation system. A28.1.2 provides information for inspectors, who are not part of the originating shipping activity staff, on inspection requirements.

These inspectors must, as a minimum, visually inspect all exterior containers and equipment for damage or leakage. Any packages showing evidence of leakage (moisture or staining), or other visible damage, must be rejected until corrective action is taken to make sure the item is safe for air shipment (1.7).

Improperly prepared or damaged containers must be removed from the transportation system, and the shipper must be advised to immediately coordinate any corrective actions.

All Shipper's Declaration For Dangerous Goods forms must be reviewed for accuracy.

The Inspector must enter "Inspected by" followed by his or her name, location and date in Key (field) 6 of the Shipper's Declaration form.

Issues or deficiencies with shipments are reported using SF 364 Supply Discrepancy Report, or similar reporting means as designated by the appropriate Service Focal Point.

A28.2 outlines inspection packaging procedures to validate the safety of shipments. Any inspection should not physically damage the package or perform any function that adversely affects the packaging integrity or original performance capability.

In A28.2.1, it states that as a minimum inspection will address certain areas. Refer to the following for more details:

• single packaging A28.2.1.1
• combination A28.2.1.2
• vehicles and equipment A28.2.1.3

Packaging opening and closing instructions are described in A28.2.2, while inner packaging inspection is covered in A28.2.3.

A28.2.4 lists exceptions to inspection, since some item packaging requires specialized training to open:

• Radioactive material
• Class 1 ammunition and explosives
• Etiological agents or infectious substances
• Pressurized metal shipping containers and drums
• Material identified as "inhalation hazard".

A28.3 provides a suggested checklist for inspections, in Figure A28.1

To learn more about Shipping HAZMAT visit our Shipping HAZMAT By Military Aircraft Online Training web page.