Transporting Dangerous Goods
Transporting Dangerous Goods
At this very moment, there could be extremely dangerous materials or goods flying right above your head. This is especially true if you live in a coastal area with a lot of air traffic. Lucky for you, the employees who handle the carriage of dangerous goods receive plenty of training in their field.
Transporting dangerous goods training is crucial whether you work at a warehouse or drive a big rig truck. There are specific regulations employees must follow if they want to keep themselves and the product safe.
Here are some best practices when transporting things like transportable pressure equipment.
Dangerous Goods Classifications
First, it’s important to know the different classes of dangerous goods you may have to handle. Each has its own set of certifications you’ll need to acquire and regulations to follow.
The first few classes include explosives, gases, and flammable liquids. On the other end, you have items like radioactive material, corrosives, and environmentally hazardous substances.
The good news is that certain items like radioactive materials are usually handled by HAZMAT units with special training in their transportation. It’s more likely that you’ll need to move potentially explosive items and flammable liquids.
Some of the most common dangerous goods transported each year are flammable liquids, dry ice, and lithium batteries.
Infectious Substances
There are two types of categories when it comes to infectious substances. Category A includes anything that can cause permanent disability or life-threatening diseases upon exposure.
Category B is anything that doesn’t fall into that category. This includes samples of organic materials such as blood or tissue collected from humans or animals.
In most cases, category B samples are safe to send out in the post. The packaging does need to comply with ICAO standards if it travels by air at any point.
Radioactive Materials
The transport of radioactive materials is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Most of these shipments travel by road, but they may also be transported by rail and inland waterways.
Packaging will depend on the nature of the radioactive substance. It will also need the appropriate labelling so all parties can know how to handle it.
Some training material covers the transportation of radioactive materials from offshore locations, as laid out by the IMDG code.
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
Any goods transported via air must abide by the IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The IATA has a strict regulatory process to ensure that transport by air is always safe and secure.
Their regulations apply in two different areas: passenger travel and product transportation.
Dangerous goods passengers may bring on board include anything from lithium batteries to dry ice. Passengers and crew must not carry them unless they meet the specific requirements for transport.
For example, spare batteries are not allowed in checked baggage but are fine in a carry-on bag. Meanwhile, camping stoves and fuel containers must be in your checked baggage and require the approval of the plane operator.
HAZMAT items have specific procedures before they can be shipped. The shipper must declare the shipment as dangerous goods and prepare it for transport. They’ll go over the Dangerous Goods Checklist to ensure all regulations are met.
Certain dangerous goods must not be stored next to each other, and all packaging must be secured.
Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive
Transporting dangerous goods safely on the road is regulated by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). This agreement covers aspects of shipping such as classification, packaging, labelling, and required certifications.
This directive governs the assessment of transportable cylinders, tubes, and tanks for transporting gases. It defines the pressure equipment into three categories based on pressure volume.
You can visit the Health and Safety Executive Website to read more technical instructions regarding these standards.
Due to the various factors controlling the carriage of dangerous goods, your best course of action will be to utilise third-party logistics solutions. They can provide the expertise and network you need to handle transporting these goods.
Transport by Sea
When you transport dangerous goods via the sea, you have to follow the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code. The seven parts of it include:
- General Provisions
- Classification
- Dangerous goods list
- Packing and tank provisions
- Consignment procedures
- Construction and testing of packages
- Provision concerning transport operations
In the UK, you also have the Merchant Shipping Regulations 1997 and the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987.
As with the other forms of travel, make sure that your dangerous goods are marked and labelled appropriately. These markings help ensure that they’re handled appropriately and with the right amount of care.
All container deliveries with dangerous goods must be declared under the UN code they have under the IMDG code. Their flashpoint also needs to be stated precisely.
Who Needs Dangerous Goods Training?
By law, any person who handles the carriage of Dangerous Goods must have trained in the various requirements regarding their transportation. That means someone delivering something as simple as propane tanks will need Dangerous Goods training.
Anyone involved in the transportation of more deadly substances and materials will need more substantial training and certification.
Even warehouse workers will need training if they’re expected to handle these materials. It not only leads to improved health and safety in the workplace but helps the business avoid noncompliance with UK law.
This includes pick and pack services, which focus on packing warehouse products that go straight to the customer. Rather than Dangerous Goods training, they will need some other Health and Safety Executive (HSE) level certifications.
The Dangerous Goods Office is one option for aviation training and consultancy regarding transporting dangerous goods by air.
Get Help With Dangerous Goods Packaging and Storage
It can be difficult for businesses to navigate the different regulations, such as the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive or the DGR. However, these are all necessary guidelines to increase the health and safety of your employees when transporting dangerous goods.
Instead of stressing about the small stuff, call AP+ Storage and Fulfilment for help. We specialise in providing end-to-end third-party logistics, storage, and fulfilment solutions for companies big and small. Contact us to learn more about our services and set up your free, no-obligation consultation.