Dangerous goods
In logistics practice, there is a division of goods by their types. The most general classification can be called the division into general, oversized, thermal and dangerous cargo. This article will deal with the last type of cargo – dangerous goods.
What is dangerous cargo?
Dangerous cargo is a cargo that is potentially dangerous for the environment and people who are near it. History has known cases when a “dangerous substance” that was transported improperly rendered a vehicle or a transportation unit (container) unusable, thereby harming the environment.
Such cargo requires strict adherence to standards during the organization and implementation of transportation. Otherwise, there is an increased risk that the cargo will become unusable, as well as cause irreparable damage to the environment and people who serve its transportation.
To date, specialists have defined a list of all dangerous goods, which includes more than 3,000 items.
For the convenience of classification according to the level of danger, cargoes are divided into classes.
Class 1 – explosive materials.
Class 2 – Compressed gases.
Class 3 – flammable liquids.
Class 4 – flammable substances and materials.
Class 5 – oxidizing substances.
Class 6 – poisonous and infectious substances.
Class 7 – radioactive substances.
Class 8 – caustic and corrosive substances.
Class 9 — substances that have a lower degree of danger and are not assigned to the previous groups.
In addition to belonging to a class, a dangerous cargo is indicated by a unique four-digit code (the code of the United Nations Organization – UN), and may also have a subclass.
For example, monomethylaniline: Class 6, subclass 6.1, UN code 2294
Another example is mercury, class 8, UN code 2809.
All stages of the logistics chain for working with such cargo, starting with the request for calculation, require the mandatory presence of the hazard class and the UN code in the description of the request.
The most difficult cargoes to transport
Based on the practice of cargo transportation, cargoes of the 1st (explosive substances) and 7th classes (radioactive substances) are among the most problematic.
Shipping document
This includes the dangerous goods declaration (Dangerous goods declaration, or DGD for short). This document contains a description of the cargo, its physical characteristics, hazard class, UN code and other information. In sea transport, taking into account the DGD, the initial coordination of cargo transportation is made.
In addition, the waybills also have markings that the cargo is dangerous.
Who transports dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are transported by a carrier company that has the appropriate permit to work with such goods. In the case of road transport, the permit must be obtained by the company and the driver who will transport the cargo.
In addition, the driver must be provided with documentation that orders actions in case of emergency situations.
In the case of other modes of transport, permission must be obtained from the relevant carrier.
The specifics of the transportation of dangerous goods
. The specifics of the transportation of dangerous goods boil down to the need to agree on the possibility of such transportation with all carriers and owners of the infrastructure where the cargo will be transshipped.
At the same time, such situations are often possible when the carrier will be able to accept the cargo for transportation, and the consolidation warehouse does not have a permit to store dangerous goods. The same can apply to sea transportation (the carrier accepts the cargo for transportation, but the transit port cannot accept it).
During air transportation, the cargo may not be accepted due to the on-board devices of the aircraft.
Work with dangerous cargo
Based on the above, work with dangerous cargo should begin with a certain temporary reserve. Much more than for the transportation of ordinary general cargo. This time will be needed to coordinate with all (!) participants in the transportation chain.
Chain participants mean each carrier, transshipment point (airport, seaport or railway station).
In my practice, I try to learn as much information as possible, so I do not hesitate to ask a lot of questions to the representative of the carrier.
Of course, such transportation should be entrusted to certified professionals. This will provide a guarantee of adequate work, as well as avoid legislative embarrassments. In addition to international standards, there is a regional legal framework that should be known to local specialists.