Dangerous Goods Shipping: Everything You Need to Know About Hazmat Shipping and Packaging
A lot goes into shipping a cargo and the difficulty level further escalates if it is about shipping dangerous goods. Shipping of dangerous goods is not just complex but also a highly regulated process so much so that non-compliance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations can end up with hefty charges. To help you understand about dangerous goods (DGs) and what to keep in mind for packing these, we have written the below blog:
What are dangerous goods?
As explained by IATA on its FAQ page, “dangerous goods are items that may endanger the safety of an aircraft or persons on board the aircraft. Dangerous Goods are also known as restricted articles, hazardous materials and dangerous cargo. Many common items found in your household can be considered dangerous goods for the purpose of air transport.”
There are nine classes of dangerous goods as per DOT and international regulatory agencies, which are as follows:
Class 1: Explosives like fireworks, ammunition, etc.
Class 2: Gases which are further categorized under flammable, non-flammable non-toxic and toxic and include items like disposable cigarette lighters, compressed air, fly sprays etc.
Class3. Flammable liquids like petrol, some dry cleaning fluids, kerosene, etc.
Class 4. Flammable solids, spontaneous combustibles, and “dangerous when wet” materials like synthetic camphor, copra and calcium carbide.
Class 5. Oxidizers which are further categorized into organic peroxide and include items like pool chlorine, some fertilizers like ammonium nitrate.
Class 6. Toxic or infectious substances like some pesticides or blood samples from people with infection.
Class 7. Radioactive materials like medical treatment products, uranium, etc.
Class 8. Corrosives like car and truck batteries, sanitizers and industrial cleaners.
Class 9. Miscellaneous dangerous goods like lithium ion batteries, dry ice, combustion engines, etc.
There are nine classes of dangerous goods as per DOT and international regulatory agencies, which are as follows:
Class 1: Explosives like fireworks, ammunition, etc.
Class 2: Gases which are further categorized under flammable, non-flammable non-toxic and toxic and include items like disposable cigarette lighters, compressed air, fly sprays etc.
Class3. Flammable liquids like petrol, some dry cleaning fluids, kerosene, etc.
Class 4. Flammable solids, spontaneous combustibles, and “dangerous when wet” materials like synthetic camphor, copra and calcium carbide.
Class 5. Oxidizers which are further categorized into organic peroxide and include items like pool chlorine, some fertilizers like ammonium nitrate.
Class 6. Toxic or infectious substances like some pesticides or blood samples from people with infection.
Class 7. Radioactive materials like medical treatment products, uranium, etc.
Class 8. Corrosives like car and truck batteries, sanitizers and industrial cleaners.
Class 9. Miscellaneous dangerous goods like lithium ion batteries, dry ice, combustion engines, etc.
Packing of dangerous goods
As per CFR49, employees engaged in packing and shipping of DGs must be trained for hazmat (an abbreviation for “hazardous materials). While below we have written in brief about how to pack DGs, this training is essential for employees as they will learn everything from handling, packing, labeling to documenting dangerous goods for transport. A DG certified and trained packer must package the goods.
To know how to pack DGs, let’s take the example of bleach and follow the steps involved:
Use the right packaging box
The packaging boxes that come for DGs need to have specification markings to show that the product is tested and can be used to transport specific dangerous good; there are different marking for each category of DGs.
Pack the bleach securely
For the packaging of DGs like bleach, you need to place the plastic bag in the box and fill the empty space with materials like vermiculite and then close the bag tightly.
Use the labels as per the category of the DG
Different DGs require different labels. Since here we are talking about bleach and it is a corrosive substance, stick the label of corrosive material on the box.
Be sure about the documentation
After the bleach is packed, labeled and sealed, documentation forms as per the given modes of transportation (air, land and sea) are required to be filled. The document should declare that the cargo is in compliance with both international and national requirements.
So this was all about shipping dangerous goods. For detail information, you can always enquire more about it from your freight forwarder who can guide you better about it.
To know how to pack DGs, let’s take the example of bleach and follow the steps involved:
Use the right packaging box
The packaging boxes that come for DGs need to have specification markings to show that the product is tested and can be used to transport specific dangerous good; there are different marking for each category of DGs.
Pack the bleach securely
For the packaging of DGs like bleach, you need to place the plastic bag in the box and fill the empty space with materials like vermiculite and then close the bag tightly.
Use the labels as per the category of the DG
Different DGs require different labels. Since here we are talking about bleach and it is a corrosive substance, stick the label of corrosive material on the box.
Be sure about the documentation
After the bleach is packed, labeled and sealed, documentation forms as per the given modes of transportation (air, land and sea) are required to be filled. The document should declare that the cargo is in compliance with both international and national requirements.
So this was all about shipping dangerous goods. For detail information, you can always enquire more about it from your freight forwarder who can guide you better about it.
