handling-codes

What are dangerous goods?

What are dangerous goods?

What are dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods (also known as hazardous materials) are substances or items with properties that can potentially pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. These can include chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, and more.

Dangerous goods (also known as hazardous materials) are substances or items with properties that can potentially pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. These can include chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, and more.

Dangerous goods (also known as hazardous materials) are substances or items with properties that can potentially pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. These can include chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, and more.

The transportation of dangerous goods is strictly regulated to ensure safety. Volume or quantity limitations are used to simplify the shipping process where possible. Here is an explanation of the logic behind the distinctions between "fully regulated dangerous goods," "dangerous goods in limited quantities," and "dangerous goods in excepted quantities":

The different types of dangerous goods

There are a number of different types of dangerous goods, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with these before sending your shipment. The transportation of dangerous goods is strictly regulated for safety, with volume or quantity limits used to simplify shipping.

Fully regulated

These goods are subject to comprehensive regulations covering their classification, packaging, labelling, handling, and transport. The rules are designed to prevent accidents during transportation and to ensure the safety of workers, the public, and the environment.

These substances require special packaging as outlined in the regulations (IATA/ADR/IMDG) to ensure safety during transport.

Dangerous goods must be accompanied by appropriate documentation, hazard labels, and placards indicating the specific nature of the hazards.

Limited quantities

Dangerous goods in limited quantities are smaller amounts of hazardous materials that are allowed to be transported with reduced regulatory requirements due to the lower risk they present.

There are specific quantity thresholds for each type of dangerous good. These limits are detailed in transportation regulations (IATA/ADR/IMDG) and are typically lower than those for fully regulated dangerous goods.

While still subject to regulations, the requirements for packaging and labelling are less stringent. For example, standard packaging must be used, but it may not need to be as robust as that required for larger shipments. Markings indicating ‘Limited Quantities’ (white diamond shape with black top and bottom) must be present on the packaging.

Excepted quantities

Dangerous goods in excepted quantities are very small quantities of hazardous materials that pose minimal risk during transport. These quantities are so small that they qualify for significant regulatory exemptions.

The quantity limits for excepted quantities are even smaller than those for limited quantities. These limits are defined by regulations (IATA/ADR/IMDG) and vary depending on the type of hazardous material.

Packaging requirements are fairly relaxed. However, shipments still need to be secure and appropriately marked with the ‘Excepted Quantities’ label.