Hazardous material comes in all shapes and styles, including properly declared, non-declared and things like ORM-D/consumer Commodity (which is a declaration found in the USA for ground transportation only for specific commercialised products under specific conditions). ORM-D (Other Regulated Material type D) can contain hazardous material in smaller quantities such as AVON beauty products, which would be normally classified as e.g. flammable products (perfumes).
Hazardous material does not always have an odour or emits fumes. Classification must be done by the shipper based on a MSDS. In many instances, shippers simply do not classify properly or "forget" to do it properly, because then this shipper must be certified by UPS as a HazMat shipper.
The trained response "do not touch, secure area, notify designated responder" is the simplest and easiest way to properly address this problem. If not done properly, damage to property and health can follow, which would would make it far more expensive than to simply "disregard".
A hazmat leaker (leaking from a properly declared hazmat package) can only be further shipped in a hazmat salvage package. what sense does it make to ship it further when all the hazmat has already leaked out? Pray tell. In my opinion, this leaking package should be processed internally by the competent persons in that facility with costs charged to the shipper in case non-compliance was determined.
A hazmat leaker should result in an inquiry about the circumstances of why the leak happened at all (proper packaging, absorbent, training, the entire range of questions, and results are sometimes more than shocking.
The last more than expensive case was a $65 mio case in China where a highly corrosive product caused the complete write-off of an airbus A330 due to spillage in the cargo section of a passenger-carrying airplane. What about the Dc-8 fire in PHL where the NTSB could not determine a specific reason but centered its investigation on Lithium-ion batteries, resulting later in new regulations for this kind of product.
I firmly believe that the fines and penalties as described in 49 CFR 107 Appendix A to Subpart D are not always known. It should be an eye opener for those who disregard these legal requirements.
Further, DOT and FAA do not take lightly non-compliance, and prosecute especially if there is bodily damage or injury.
Just FYI, a "rain-soaked" fibreboard box containing properly declared hazardous material does not meet the specific packaging performance criteria, and is therefore not in compliance with 49 CFR. You want more info, pm me.
I have done HazMat work since before the year 2000, was checked out by FAA and US Customs/now CBP and they never had a reason to complain.