Narrative:

On the above date, I was presented with an airbill reflecting a shipment of class 6.2 infectious human blood with a total volume of 60 ml. Data which I possess through the courtesy of the safety committee reflected a maximum allowable volume of 50 ml of this classification of hazmat and due to the agent's inability to prove to me that the shipment was safe and legal, I rejected it. Upon my return to jfk, I contacted mr X of our cargo division to confirm the 50 ml limitations and question how that shipment was placed on board my aircraft. He confirmed the 50 ml limit and promised to research the problem and contact me -- I am still waiting. Gentlemen, since my first of 25 generated on jul/xx/94 expressing my extreme disappointment for removing vital information from flight manual regarding hazmat carriage, I have rejected or questioned shipments on my aircraft due to illegal quantities, combinations, or improper forms. Approximately 2 yrs later, air carrier X lost a DC10 at newburgh, ny, due to a hazmat problem and air carrier Y lost a DC9 in the everglades due to a chain of custody problem ctring on hazmat. Please provide us with the tools we need to remain as the last link in the safety chain or prohibit any further carriage of these shipments. FARS do make us responsible for the safety of the crew, passenger, and cargo.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF AN A300 REFUSES AN ILLEGAL AMOUNT OF A SHIPMENT OF CONTAMINATED HUMAN BLOOD.

Narrative: ON THE ABOVE DATE, I WAS PRESENTED WITH AN AIRBILL REFLECTING A SHIPMENT OF CLASS 6.2 INFECTIOUS HUMAN BLOOD WITH A TOTAL VOLUME OF 60 ML. DATA WHICH I POSSESS THROUGH THE COURTESY OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE REFLECTED A MAX ALLOWABLE VOLUME OF 50 ML OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF HAZMAT AND DUE TO THE AGENT'S INABILITY TO PROVE TO ME THAT THE SHIPMENT WAS SAFE AND LEGAL, I REJECTED IT. UPON MY RETURN TO JFK, I CONTACTED MR X OF OUR CARGO DIVISION TO CONFIRM THE 50 ML LIMITATIONS AND QUESTION HOW THAT SHIPMENT WAS PLACED ON BOARD MY ACFT. HE CONFIRMED THE 50 ML LIMIT AND PROMISED TO RESEARCH THE PROB AND CONTACT ME -- I AM STILL WAITING. GENTLEMEN, SINCE MY FIRST OF 25 GENERATED ON JUL/XX/94 EXPRESSING MY EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT FOR REMOVING VITAL INFO FROM FLT MANUAL REGARDING HAZMAT CARRIAGE, I HAVE REJECTED OR QUESTIONED SHIPMENTS ON MY ACFT DUE TO ILLEGAL QUANTITIES, COMBINATIONS, OR IMPROPER FORMS. APPROX 2 YRS LATER, ACR X LOST A DC10 AT NEWBURGH, NY, DUE TO A HAZMAT PROB AND ACR Y LOST A DC9 IN THE EVERGLADES DUE TO A CHAIN OF CUSTODY PROB CTRING ON HAZMAT. PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH THE TOOLS WE NEED TO REMAIN AS THE LAST LINK IN THE SAFETY CHAIN OR PROHIBIT ANY FURTHER CARRIAGE OF THESE SHIPMENTS. FARS DO MAKE US RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CREW, PAX, AND CARGO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.