The shipping of radioactive materials in a metal drum is Type ____ packaging.

• A. A
• B. B
• C. C
• D. D

Answer: (A)

Metal drum shipments of radioactive material use Type A packaging. This category covers containers designed to safely contain materials with low to moderate activity under normal transport conditions and minor incident scenarios. A metal drum is a common form of Type A container because it provides a sturdy, leak-tight enclosure that’s suitable for routine handling and transport.

If the material were more hazardous or required stricter containment, Type B packaging would be needed, since it’s built to withstand more severe accidents. Type C packaging is intended for specific air-transport applications with its own set of rules, which isn’t the typical use for a simple metal drum. So, a metal drum aligns with Type A packaging.