Understanding Care and Handling: Legal Insights and Responsibilities
Definition & Meaning
The term "care and handling" refers to a set of practices involved in managing excess and surplus property. This includes activities such as completing, repairing, converting, rehabilitating, operating, preserving, protecting, insuring, packing, storing, handling, conserving, and transporting such property. Additionally, it encompasses the safe disposal of property that poses a risk to public health or safety.
Legal Use & context
Care and handling is commonly used in administrative law, particularly in contexts involving federal property management. It applies to various legal practices, including property law and environmental law. Users may encounter forms related to the care and handling of excess property, which can often be managed through legal templates provided by services like US Legal Forms.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A federal agency is tasked with disposing of outdated equipment. They must ensure the equipment is either refurbished for reuse or safely destroyed if it poses health risks (hypothetical example).
Example 2: A state government manages a warehouse of surplus furniture, which they must pack and store appropriately until it can be redistributed to schools and nonprofits.
Relevant laws & statutes
According to 40 USCS § 102, care and handling practices are defined within the context of federal property management. This statute outlines the responsibilities of federal agencies in managing surplus property.