Transporting Dangerous Goods
We are fully trained and certificated to IATA standards (recent test results averaged 99% pass mark) and can therefore offer comprehensive advice and services for all your hazardous consignments be they by air, road or sea.
It is worth bearing in mind that it is ultimately the shippers responsibility to ensure that all dangerous goods are declared and also that the goods are correctly packed, labelled and documented in accordance with IATA regulations. The penalty for not declaring any dangerous goods can be anything from a fine to ultimately a prison sentence. It is therefore vital that you choose your hazard packer and/or freight forwarders sensibly and carefully and this is where Spicer International come in.
In an attempt to introduce and perhaps remind you what is potentially classified as hazardous we have compiled the following information. Please note that this is just an introduction, specifically of sending hazardous consignments by airfreight - please contact our office should you require a more in depth classification and/or advice or quote on your hazardous consignments.
The definition of "Dangerous Goods"
Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment.
Some dangerous goods are too dangerous to be carried by aircraft, others may be carried on cargo aircraft only and some are acceptable on both cargo and passenger aircraft. A number of limitations are placed on dangerous goods which are permitted to be transported by air. These limitations are established by IATA (The International Air Transport Association) in consultation with ICAO (The International Civil Aviation Organization). Both state (countries) and operators (airlines) may impose further restrictions called variations.
Classification
Dangerous goods are defined as those goods which meet the criteria of one or more of nine UN hazard classes and, where applicable, to one of three UN packing groups. The nine classes relate to the type of hazard whereas the packing group relate to the applicable degree of danger within the class.
The Nine UN Hazard Classes
Class 1 - Explosives
- Division 1.1: Articles and substances having a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.2: Articles and substances having a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.3: Articles and substances having a fire hazard, a minor blast hazard and/or a minor projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.4: Articles and substances presenting no significant hazard
- Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances having a mass explosion hazard
- Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard
Class 2 - Gases
- Division 2.1: Flammable gas
- Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gas
- Division 2.3: Toxic gas
Class 3 - Flammable liquids
Class 4 - Flammable solids
- Division 4.1: Flammable solid
- Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
- Division 4.3: Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Class 5 - Organic substances and organic peroxides
- Division 5.1: Oxidizer
- Division 5.2: Organic peroxides
Class 6 - Toxic and infectious substances
- Division 6.1: Toxic substances
- Division 6.2: Infectious substances
Class 7 - Radioactive material
Class 8 - Corrosives
Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous goods
The Three UN Packing Groups
Packing group I: High danger
Packing group II: Medium danger
Packing group III: Low danger
Hidden dangerous goods
Cargo declared under a general description may contain hazardous articles that are not apparent. Experience has shown that when shippers offer packages containing the following commodities they will inevitably contain one or more restricted article. Typical examples can be found here.