This news article featured in issue no.16 in CHSP’s July – August 2022 newsletter
Dangerous Goods
In this article you will learn what Dangerous Goods are and how they are identifiable. Dangerous Goods are aka hazardous goods, hazardous freight, hazardous chemicals or haz chems. These are essentially ‘items’ (gas, liquid or solid) that can hurt you or damage equipment, property or the environment. This can happen by one or more of the following processes, corrosion, explosion, fire or toxicity.
Dangerous goods come in many sizes and forms, and size isn’t an indication of the level of danger/hazard/risk!
A tiny vial of a toxic substance can pose a much greater risk than a huge hydraulic pump for example!
Regulations
The regulations ADR, cover the transportation of dangerous goods. “ADR” is derived from the French name for the treaty: Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route. In English translating as “concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road”. IMDG is the equivalent for Dangerous Goods transported by Sea and RID is for Rail.
Items that come under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and Dangerous Substances and Dangerous Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) may come under ADR when moved.
Symbols
There are many symbols used for different substances and it is easy to get confused. In this paragraph we will clarify what these different symbols are.
Firstly, here are the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) labels advise that there is a fire risk. There are about 20 in the same format with a red border and a black symbol on a white background. They are often referred to as COSHH symbols. These are not regulated for transport by road.
Secondly, there is a Class 3 (Flammable Liquids) ADR diamond shaped label. The label will always have a Class number at the bottom (1 to 9).They have solid colours or stripes, but no red border. These come under the ADR Regulations.
Additionally, if it has a 4 digit UN number, it also comes under the regs – e.g. UN1263 PAINT or UN1950 Aerosols.
This is the label for Limited Quantities (LQ). It appears on many items packed for retail either on the box or on the shrink-wrap used in transit. Examples include Aerosols, Bleach or Drain Cleaner. These items are regulated, but only a small part applies. It’s easy to get the details wrong and consignments can get delayed, in the worst cases the HSE will get involved and prosecute.
If you are unsure if items come under the ADR regulations, get in touch with your local Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA)
Mark Spence,
Director
The Dangerous Goods Consultant Ltd
07886 136710
mark@thedangerousgoodsconsultant.com
An approved ADR training provider | The Dangerous Goods Consultant | Northampton
Please ensure you mention that you have seen this article on the CHSP website when contacting Mark, for tracking and monitoring purposes.