Dangerous Stuff - Hazardous Substances

Most of the information in this section has been taken from "The International Freight Guide" with the kind permission of the British International Freight Association.

Responsibility
The Regulations
1. Classification: the Substance
2. Packing
3. Marks and Labelling
4. Documentation
Conclusion

Conclusion

It is essential, therefore, that consignors assess the forwarders and carriers they use to ensure they are aware of the modal regulations and have the degree of competence and training to undertake the transport arrangements or carriage. It could be argued that a shipper / consignor / exporter who, aware of the dangers of the products, fails to exercise reasonable commercial integrity in the selection of a forwarder or carrier who does not understand the Regulations is negligent and therefore may be held responsible if things go wrong, especially if price rather than competence were the criteria.

All parties involved in the transportation process should be adequately trained, and remain conscious of the reliance and trust that transport operators place in them to accurately comply with Regulations, to ensure safe hazardous substances transportation.

In a recent survey 78 per cent of documents accompanying hazardous substances were incorrectly completed.

In a recent check of a delivery of over 100 packages of assorted chemicals and classes, from a self-stated international market leader, all packages were rejected due to incorrect labelling, marking, packing and inconsistent documentation. The shipper and forwarder involved complained that no other operator checked the substances on presentation for carriage. They now use a different carrier!

It is probably these and similar reasons that prompted the EC Directives which set out to require companies who transport dangerous substances, load or unload dangerous substances as defined in the ADR framework, to appoint a "Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor".

RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994-96

Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail Regulations 1994

Road Traffic (Training of Drivers of Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods) Regulations

United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods ("Orange Book")

Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives by Road) Regulations 1989

Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987

Packaging of Explosives for Carriage Regulations

Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages) Regulations 1992

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods By Air & Supplement 1995-96

International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO)

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG)

Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road

Accord European relatif au Transport International des Mechandises (ADR)

International regulations concerning the International Carriage of goods by Rail (RID)

Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Classification Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1996 (CDG)

European Union Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

UK Health and Safety legislation

European Union EU ADR Framework Directive 1994

Universal Postal Convention

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