To determine if a shipment contains hazardous materials, what action should you take?

To determine if a shipment contains hazardous materials, reviewing the shipping papers is the most effective action to take. The shipping papers, such as the bill of lading or hazardous materials manifest, contain critical information about the contents of the shipment, including whether any hazardous materials are being transported. These documents not only provide the names and quantities of any hazardous materials but also the UN numbers, which are essential for identifying specific substances.

Inspecting individual packages or containers may not be practical, especially for large shipments, and could lead to safety risks. While checking for a fence around the loading dock and asking the driver may provide some context about security or operational procedures, these actions do not directly ascertain the hazardous nature of the materials in transit. Therefore, consulting the shipping papers is the most reliable and standard procedure in hazardous materials transportation to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.