CLink offers a wide variety of services to clients from around the globe. Transporting dangerous goods is a complex procedure and requires detailed understanding and knowledge of the relevant regulations. The emphasis of the company is to provide complete dangerous goods logistics service to the customer.
Dependent on your volumes being consigned, dangerous goods may be transported in sea vessels, tanks, cylinders, or packages, so when transporting dangerous goods, you must know the correct classification of your goods and what quantity limits may apply. This will help you determine the correct packaging, labelling and documentation that is required for the different modes of transport.
What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are substances and articles that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment, and are prohibited for international transportation unless certain conditions are met.
Types of Dangerous Goods
- Explosives
- Oxidising substances
- Radioactive materials
- Flammable Liquids
- Flammable gases
- Corrosive materials
- Flammable Solids
- Toxic & Infectious
- Cryogenic Liiquds
Packaging and labelling
Compliant, placarding, marking and labelling helps ensure that dangerous goods are handled appropriately, and dangerous goods segregation rules are complied with. If your dangerous goods are being transported in packages, then in most instances, they must be packed in UN Approved packaging and marked and labelled in compliance of the modes of transport being used. The regulations require that packaging must meet or exceed minimum standards of performance before it can be authorised for the dangerous goods transport.
Regulations for the transport of dangerous goods
There are a myriad of National and International regulations governing the handling of dangerous goods, but they all originate from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations which facilitate compatibility between modal requirements so that a consignment may be transported by more than one mode without intermediate reclassification, marking, labelling, or repackaging.
Quantity limits
Many everyday consumers goods, for example cosmetics (perfume), detergents, dyes and paints may be classified as “dangerous” or “hazardous” and when transported, specific packaging must be used, and maximum net volumes must not be exceeded. It is however permissible to transport dangerous goods that are packed in small packages without the full scope of the dangerous goods regulations being applicable. Within each of the dangerous goods model regulations, maximum limited and excepted quantity thresholds are identified and unless these volumes are exceeded, the limited and excepted quantity rules may be applied. The maximum limited and excepted quantity thresholds are shown within the model regulation dangerous goods lists. Where 0 and E0 is shown in the limited quantity and the excepted quantity columns, it is not permissible to apply the limited and excepted quantity rules, and the full dangerous goods model regulations must be applied.
Dangerous goods packed as limited and excepted quantities must always be packed and transported in combination packages (shrink wrapped or stretch wrapped trays are permissible only for dangerous goods packed as limited quantities).
Documentation and paperwork
Having the correctly completed documentation is vitally important when transporting dangerous goods. Missing documents or non-compliantly completed documentation can cause transport delays, and in some instances, a serious safety incident. Unless otherwise specified, when transporting dangerous goods by all modes of transport, it is a legal requirement that a Dangerous Goods Note / Declaration (DGN / DGD) accompanies the shipment of dangerous goods. The person responsible for completing and signing the DGN / DGD must have completed the appropriate training.