It’s amazing how quickly a simple compliance question can snowball. One moment, everything feels under control. The next, you’re knee-deep in regulations you didn’t even know applied to you.

Often, it starts with an innocent question from a customer or carrier:

“Is this a hazardous material?”

On the surface, it sounds straightforward. But the answer depends entirely on which regulations you’re using—and those definitions aren’t always the same.

The Danger of Pulling on the String

Regulations are like a big ball of string. You pull one thread to answer a question, and suddenly you’re tangled in a dozen more.

For example:

• What if your company has migrated legacy data multiple times, and the original classification reasoning is now unclear?
• What if your material is a complex blend of natural ingredients? (Remember: natural does not always mean non-hazardous.)

One Question Leads to Many

Hazardous materials are defined in multiple regulatory systems:

• DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) for ground transport
• IATA (International Air Transport Association) for air transport
• IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods) Code for sea transport
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) for workplace safety

While there’s significant overlap, slight differences in criteria can lead to different conclusions for the same substance.

A Practical Tip

When asked, “Is this a hazardous material?” respond with:

“By which regulation(s)?”

The classification might change depending on whether you’re looking at transport safety, workplace safety, or environmental protection.

Determining whether something is a hazardous material isn’t as simple as it sounds—it depends entirely on which regulation applies. By always asking “By which regulation(s)?”, you can avoid costly misclassifications and ensure compliance across transport, workplace, and environmental standards. If you need help sorting through DOT, OSHA, and international rules, expert guidance can keep you from getting tangled in regulatory knots.