THE COST OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION WILL BE REDUCED BY PREVENTING DAMAGE, LOSS, AND THEFT OF SHIPPED CARGO. ADEQUATE PACKAGING IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ANY LOSS PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE HAZARDS THAT A SHIPPED PRODUCT MAY BE EXPOSED TO AND TO THE VARIETY OF PACKAGING THAT MAY PROTECT AGAINST SUCH HAZARDS. A SHIPPER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE REGULATIONS ON PACKING AND HANDLING WHICH GOVERN THE OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS. THESE REGULATIONS LIMIT CARRIERS' LIABILITY AND MAY SPECIFY CONDITIONS FOR THE EXTERIOR OF THE SHIPPING CONTAINER. THE SHIPPER SHOULD REALIZE THAT INTERIOR PACKING, SUCH AS CUSHIONS, BRACES, AND BLOCKS, MUST BE USED ACCORDING TO THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE PRODUCT BEING SHIPPED. DETERMINATIONS SHOULD BE MADE OF THE EXTENT OF PROTECTION REQUIRED FOR FRAGILE PRODUCTS. THE WEIGHT OF AN ITEM IS IMPORTANT IN RELATION TO THE NECESSARY BLOCKING AND CUSHIONING THAT THE ITEM WILL REQUIRE. WEIGHT SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AWAY FROM THE CONTAINER FACES AND TOWARDS THE CORNERS OR EDGES BY THE USE OF BLOCKS. CONTAINER SELECTION SHOULD BE MADE AFTER CONSIDERING THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRODUCT, THE TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE COST OF PACKAGING IN RELATION TO THE COST OF THE PRODUCT. A PROPER PACKING CLOSURE SYSTEM, SUCH AS STRAPPING OR WIRE BINDING, IS ESSENTIAL TO CARGO SECURITY AND WILL AID THE CONTAINER'S RESISTANCE TO COMPRESSION, LOAD COLLAPSE, AND BULGING. ALTHOUGH BULK PRODUCTS ARE SHIPPED ECONOMICALLY IN CARTONS AND FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS, SUCH PACKAGING MATERIALS ARE SUBJECT TO DAMAGE. DRUMS AND METAL CONTAINERS ARE EXPENSIVE BUT PROVIDE CONSIDERABLE PROTECTION FROM PHYSICAL HAZARDS AND ARE A DETERRENT TO PILFERAGE. IDENTIFYING MARKS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL PACKAGES, BUT SUCH MARKS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE NECESSARY SHIPPERS' LABELS AND CAUTIONARY SIGNS. THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE SHOULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED, ESPECIALLY IF THE ITEMS ARE VALUABLE AND READILY PORTABLE. CONTAINERS WHICH LACK 'ADVERTISING' ARE SUBJECT LESS TO THEFT. SEALS SHOULD BE USED ON CONTAINERS WHENEVER PRACTICAL, SO AS TO REDUCE LOSS FROM THEFT AND ERROR. SEAL NUMBERS SHOULD BE RECORDED ON SHIPPING DOCUMENTS FOR VERIFICATION BY THE CARRIER AND THE RECIPIENT. THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF PACKAGING SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH REPUTABLE CONSULTANTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)