Chemical and Environmental Safety

Environment, Health and Safety Department, 30 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53715-1227
Phone 265-5000

Help for Shipping Papers and Documentation

For individual shipments, the Environment, Health & Safety Department can help you prepare a shipping paper. Shipping papers must accurately describe the hazardous material, its hazard class, and include other legally required notations.

Emergency Phone Number required on shipping paper

Shipping papers must contain a 24-hour emergency number. To satisfy this requirement, the University has a contract with Chem-Tel, a service that will advise responders in case of an emergency involving your shipment. To use this service:

1. Check to see if the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for your material is registered under the University of Wisconsin with Chem-Tel, (SEE LIST). If your MSDS is registered with Chem-Tel, skip to Step 4, below.If your MSDS is not registered and it is a week or more before your shipment, mail the MSDS to Chem-Tel at:

CHEM-TEL1305 N. Florida Ave.Tampa, FL 33602Because mailed copies are more clear than faxes, Chem-Tel prefers mailed MSDSs. Please try to plan ahead and mail MSDSs for materials you plan to ship.

2. If you do not have time to mail your MSDS, fax your MSDS and appropriate HazMat shipping papers to Chem-Tel:

Use only white 8½ x 11" paper. (Chem-Tel needs clear faxes for their database of scanned MSDSs.)On your fax cover page, ask Chem-Tel to register your MSDS under the University of Wisconsin.Print "University of Wisconsin" on the first page of each MSDS.Fax these documents to Chem-Tel at 1-813-248-0582.

3. Note Chem-Tel’s emergency number on all your shipping papers as:

"FOR 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SPILL ASSISTANCE, CONTACT CHEM-TEL AT 1-800-255-3924."