☣️ DOT Hazmat Classification
Radioactive Materials
Control time, distance, and shielding—limit exposure and follow specialized procedures.
☢️
DOT CLASS 7
Advertisement
Common Hazards — Class 7
- Radiation exposure risk
- Contamination potential (if breached)
- Public concern and complex coordination
How to Recognize Class 7
- Radiation trefoil labels/placards
- Transport containers with specialized markings
- Radiation monitoring alarms (if present)
First Actions Before Hazmat Team Arrives
Initial priorities for DOT Hazmat Class 7 (Radioactive Materials) incidents. These are general guidelines — always verify with shipping papers, consult the current ERG, and follow your SOP/SOG.
- Increase distance and limit time near source
- Isolate area and control access
- Request Hazmat + specialized agencies per SOP
- Do not handle packages unless directed
- Use monitoring and shielding principles
What NOT To Do — Class 7
- Do not open containers or disturb shielding
- Do not transport suspected sources casually
- Do not allow unnecessary convergence
Common Examples — Class 7 Radioactive Materials
Medical isotopes (transport)Industrial sourcesRadiography equipment
These are representative examples only. Product-specific hazards vary — always confirm via shipping papers and current ERG.
Common UN Numbers in Class 7 (Radioactive Materials)
UN 2908Radioactive material, excepted package, empty packagingUN 2909Radioactive material, excepted package, articles manufactured from depleted uraniumUN 2910Radioactive material, excepted package, limited quantity of materialUN 2911Radioactive material, excepted package, instrumentsUN 2912Radioactive material, low specific activity (LSA-I), non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2913Radioactive material, surface contaminated objects (SCO-I, SCO-II or SCO-III), non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2915Radioactive material, Type A package, non-special form, non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2916Radioactive material, Type B(U) package, non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2917Radioactive material, Type B(M) package, non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2919Radioactive material, transported under special arrangement, non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 2977Radioactive material, uranium hexafluoride, fissileUN 2978Uranium hexafluoride, radioactive material, non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 3321Radioactive material, low specific activity (LSA-II), non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 3322Radioactive material, low specific activity (LSA-III), non fissile or fissile-exceptedUN 3323Radioactive material, Type C package, non fissile or fissile excepted
More UN numbers discoverable via the Hazmat Hub. Always consult current ERG + SOP/SOG for operations.
Advertisement
FAQ — DOT Hazmat Class 7 (Radioactive Materials)
Time, distance, and shielding—minimize time, maximize distance, and use shielding when directed.
Not always—sealed sources may not contaminate unless damaged; treat as unknown until confirmed.
Isolate, control access, and request appropriate resources; then follow SOP/SOG.
Sources: DOT/PHMSA hazard class concepts, NFPA 704 overview, and ERG usage principles. This guide does not reproduce ERG guide text — always consult the current ERG for incident-specific protective actions.