Third Decade hopped on the Orange Line this afternoon and took a seat across from a guy transporting six boxes stamped with BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE CATEGORY B stamped on them - five of them in a large, and open, plastic bag stamped with a large BIOHAZARD logo.
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Did he say something?
By SwirlyGrrl
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 7:56pm
Even if it was from the state lab, I don't think that DOT would be amused ...
A few years back, Needless Markup (or equivalent) in NYC was selling festive red garbage bags to help with your upscale holiday party needs. People who bought and used them soon found out that the trash haulers would not take them!
Red bag waste means biohazard!
Probably blood or urine
By NotWhitey
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 8:15pm
Probably blood or urine samples to be tested. Maybe tissue to be checked for cancerous cells. Regulations intended to increase safety just scare people.
Call the police
By operator
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 9:28am
You should have called the Transit Police. For all you know this was some terrorist exposing people (you included) to some sort of biohazard. Or, at least, some idiot accidentally doing the same thing.
Or, don't call the police
By anon
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 9:44am
Or you could try talking to the guy instead of running for help and making others deal with your concerns?
Is growing up and opening your mouth too much to ask?
"Let the cops deal with it" is an attitude of irresponsibility.
Not such a good idea
By operator
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 3:13pm
Yeah the chance of it being a real threat is low but why take the chance? If you talk to him and he truly is a terrorist then what have you accomplished? Nothing, no, worse than nothing. He lies to you and gets away and is able to do it again. But if the cops show up (the ones who get paid to deal with these things) they may have a chance to stop it there.
Category B
By stephencaldwell
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:04pm
Isn't *that* dangerous. You'd probably have a better chance of getting something from that guy whose armpit you were standing in this morning than the contents of those containers.
One Question
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:09pm
If only because I'm too lazy to look it up ...
Is this category of waste permitted to be transported on public transit?
I would think that DOT regs would rule that out, and that it would have to be on a properly marked truck with a properly licensed driver.
Wuz gonna
By Gareth
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:22pm
See, he wuz gonna just stick it in the back of the Phoenix box at Forest Hills like he usually does.
My aunt, a nurse, used to
By Sprout
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 9:12pm
My aunt, a nurse, used to have a Playmate cooler outfitted with biohazard labels to bring to Tanglewood. She didn't want anyone messing with her picnic - ha!