Is this considered a Hazardous Shipment?

Hazardous shipment is shipment with goods of sensitive handling nature. They are usually materials or items with hazardous or dangerous properties. These shipments may present a potential hazard to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their means of transport be it by air, sea, rail or land transport if not properly handled or controlled.

THE 9 CLASSES OF DANGEROUS GOODS

The transportation of dangerous goods is controlled and governed by a variety of different regulatory regimes, operating at both the national and international levels. Prominent regulatory frameworks for the transportation of dangerous goods include the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, ICAO’s Technical Instructions, IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations and the IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. Collectively, these regulatory regimes mandate the means by which dangerous goods are to be handled, packaged, labelled and transported. These regimes also act as a common understanding ground for various parties to handle hazardous shipment. It helps to avoid any unnecessary delays, misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Regulatory frameworks incorporate comprehensive classification systems of hazards to provide a taxonomy of dangerous goods. Classification of dangerous goods is broken down into nine classes according to the type of danger materials or items present:

1. Explosives
2. Gases
3. Flammable Liquids
4. Flammable Solids
5. Oxidizing Substances
6. Toxic & Infectious Substances
7. Radioactive Material
8. Corrosives
9. Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

The multitude of dangerous goods regimes across the world and the complexity of dangerous goods classifications and regulations render compliance a particularly difficult task.

CLASS 1 – EXPLOSIVES

Explosives are materials or items which have the ability to rapidly conflagrate or detonate as a consequence of chemical reaction.

Sub-Divisions

Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both

Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package

Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Reason for Regulation

Explosives are capable by chemical reaction of producing gases at temperatures, pressures and speeds as to cause catastrophic damage through force and/or of producing otherwise hazardous amounts of heat, light, sound, gas or smoke.

Commonly Transported Explosives

1. Ammunition/cartridges
2. Fireworks/pyrotechnics
3. Flares
4. Blasting caps / detonators
5. Fuse
6. Primers
7. Explosive charges (blasting, demolition etc)
8. Detonating cord
9. Air bag inflators
10. Igniters
11. Rockets
12. TNT / TNT compositions
13. RDX / RDX compositions
14. PETN / PETN compositions

CLASS 2 – GASES

Gases are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which have a vapour pressure of 300 kPa or greater at 50°c or which are completely gaseous at 20°c at standard atmospheric pressure, and items containing these substances. The class encompasses compressed gases, liquefied gases, dissolved gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, mixtures of one or more gases with one or more vapours of substances of other classes, articles charged with a gas and aerosols.

Sub-Divisions

Division 2.1: Flammable gases

Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

Reason for Regulation

Gases are capable of posing serious hazards due to their flammability, potential as asphyxiants, ability to oxidize and/or their toxicity or corrosiveness to humans.

Commonly Transported Gases

1. Aerosols
2. Compressed air
3. Hydrocarbon gas-powered devices
4. Fire extinguishers
5. Gas cartridges
6. Fertilizer ammoniating solution
7. Insecticide gases
8. Refrigerant gases
9. Lighters
10. Acetylene / Oxyacetylene
11. Carbon dioxide
12. Helium / helium compounds
13. Hydrogen / hydrogen compounds
14. Oxygen / oxygen compounds
15. Nitrogen / nitrogen compounds
16. Natural gas
17. Oil gas
18. Petroleum gases
19. Butane
20. Propane
21. Ethane
22. Methane
23. Dimethyl ether
24. Propene / propylene
25. Ethylene

CLASS 3 – FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Flammable liquids are defined by dangerous goods regulations as liquids, mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour (have a flash point) at temperatures of not more than 60-65°C, liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their flash point or substances transported at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a flammable vapour at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 3, Flammable Liquids.

Reason for Regulation

Flammable liquids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.

Commonly Transported Flammable Liquids

1. Acetone / acetone oils
2. Adhesives
3. Paints / lacquers / varnishes
4. Alcohols
5. Perfumery products
6. Gasoline / Petrol
7. Diesel fuel
8. Aviation fuel
9. Liquid bio-fuels
10. Coal tar / coal tar distillates
11. Petroleum crude oil
12. Petroleum distillates
13. Gas oil
14. Shale oil
15. Heating oil
16. Kerosene
17. Resins
18. Tars
19. Turpentine
20. Carbamate insecticides
21. Organochlorine pesticides
22. Organophosphorus pesticides
23. Copper based pesticides
24. Esters
25. Ethers
26. Ethanol
27. Benzene
28. Butanols
29. Dichloropropenes
30. Diethyl ether
31. Isobutanols
32. Isopropyls
33. Methanol
34. Octanes

CLASS 4 – FLAMMABLE SOLIDS; SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION; SUBSTANCES WHICH EMIT FLAMMABLE GASES WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER

Flammable solids are materials which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction, self-reactive substances which are liable to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction or solid desensitized explosives. Also included are substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal transport conditions, or to heating up in contact with air, and are consequently liable to catch fire and substances which emit flammable gases or become spontaneously flammable when in contact with water.

Sub-Divisions

Division 4.1: Flammable solids

Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion

Division 4.3: Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

Reason for Regulation

Flammable solids are capable of posing serious hazards due to their volatility, combustibility and potential in causing or propagating severe conflagrations.

Commonly Transported Flammable Solids; Spontaneous Combustibles; ‘Dangerous When Wet’ Materials

1. Alkali metals
2. Metal powders
3. Aluminium phosphide
4. Sodium batteries
5. Sodium cells
6. Firelighters
7. Matches
8. Calcium carbide
9. Camphor
10. Carbon
11. Activated carbon
12. Celluloid
13. Cerium
14. Copra
15. Seed cake
16. Oily cotton waste
17. Desensitized explosives
18. Oily fabrics
19. Oily fibres
20. Ferrocerium
21. Iron oxide (spent
22. Iron sponge/direct-reduced iron (spent)
23. Metaldehyde
24. Naphthalene
25. Nitrocellulose
26. Phosphorus
27. Sulphur

CLASS 5 – OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES; ORGANIC PEROXIDES

Oxidizers are defined by dangerous goods regulations as substances which may cause or contribute to combustion, generally by yielding oxygen as a result of a redox chemical reaction. Organic peroxides are substances which may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide where one or both hydrogen atoms of the chemical structure have been replaced by organic radicals.

Sub-Divisions

Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances

Division 5.1: Organic peroxides

Reason for Regulation

Oxidizers, although not necessarily combustible in themselves, can yield oxygen and in so doing cause or contribute to the combustion of other materials. Organic peroxides are thermally unstable and may exude heat whilst undergoing exothermic autocatalytic decomposition. Additionally, organic peroxides may be liable to explosive decomposition, burn rapidly, be sensitive to impact or friction, react dangerously with other substances or cause damage to eyes.

Commonly Transported Oxidizers; Organic Peroxides

1. Chemical oxygen generators
2. Ammonium nitrate fertilizers
3. Chlorates
4. Nitrates
5. Nitrites
6. Perchlorates
7. Permanganates
8. Persulphates
9. Aluminium nitrate
10. Ammonium dichromate
11. Ammonium nitrate
12. Ammonium persulphate
13. Calcium hypochlorite
14. Calcium nitrate
15. Calcium peroxide
16. Hydrogen peroxide
17. Magnesium peroxide
18. Lead nitrate
19. Lithium hypochlorite
20. Potassium chlorate
21. Potassium nitrate
22. Potassium chlorate
23. Potassium perchlorate
24. Potassium permanganate
25. Sodium nitrate
26. Sodium persulphate

CLASS 6 – TOXIC SUBSTANCES; INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

Toxic substances are those which are liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm human health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact. Infectious substances are those which are known or can be reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Dangerous goods regulations define pathogens as microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites and fungi, or other agents which can cause disease in humans or animals.

Sub-Divisions

Division 6.1: Toxic substances

Division 6.2: Infectious substances

Reason for Regulation

Toxic and infectious substances can pose significant risks to human and animal health upon contact.

Commonly Transported Toxic Substances; Infectious Substances

1. Medical/Biomedical waste
2. Clinical waste
3. Biological cultures / samples / specimens
4. Medical cultures / samples / specimens
5. Tear gas substances
6. Motor fuel anti-knock mixture
7. Dyes
8. Carbamate pesticides
9. Alkaloids
10. Allyls
11. Acids
12. Arsenates
13. Arsenites
14. Cyanides
15. Thiols/mercaptans
16. Cresols
17. Barium compounds
18. Arsenics / arsenic compounds
19. Beryllium/ beryllium compounds
20. Lead compounds
21. Mercury compounds
22. Nicotine / nicotine compounds
23. Selenium compounds
24. Antimony
25. Ammonium metavanadate
26. Adiponitrile
27. Chloroform
28. Dichloromethane
29. Hexachlorophene
30. Phenol
31. Resorcinol

CLASS 7 – RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Dangerous goods regulations define radioactive material as any material containing radionuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity exceeds certain pre-defined values. A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus and which consequently is subject to radioactive decay.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 7, Radioactive Material.

Reason for Regulation

Whilst undergoing radioactive decay radionuclides emit ionizing radiation, which presents potentially severe risks to human health.

Commonly Transported Radioactive Material

1. Radioactive ores
2. Medical isotopes
3. Yellowcake
4. Density gauges
5. Mixed fission products
6. Surface contaminated objects
7. Caesium radionuclides / isotopes
8. Iridium radionuclides / isotopes
9. Americium radionuclides / isotopes
10. Plutonium radionuclides / isotopes
11. Radium radionuclides / isotopes
12. Thorium radionuclides / isotopes
13. Uranium radionuclides / isotopes
14. Depleted uranium / depleted uranium products
15. Uranium hexafluoride
16. Enriched Uranium

CLASS 8 – CORROSIVES

Corrosives are substances which by chemical action degrade or disintegrate other materials upon contact.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 8, Corrosives.

Reason for Regulation

Corrosives cause severe damage when in contact with living tissue or, in the case of leakage, damage or destroy surrounding materials.

Commonly Transported Corrosives

1. Acids/acid solutions
2. Batteries
3. Battery fluid
4. Fuel cell cartridges
5. Dyes
6. Fire extinguisher charges
7. Formaldehyde
8. Flux
9. Paints
10. Alkylphenols
11. Amines
12. Polyamines
13. Sulphides
14. Polysulphides
15. Chlorides
16. Chlorosilanes
17. Bromine
18. Cyclohexylamine
19. Phenol / carbolic acid
20. Hydrofluoric acid
21. Hydrochloric acid
22. Sulfuric acid
23. Nitric acid
24. Sludge acid
25. Hydrogen fluoride
26. Iodine
27. Morpholine

CLASS 9 – MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS GOODS

Miscellaneous dangerous goods are substances and articles which during transport present a danger or hazard not covered by other classes. This class encompasses, but is not limited to, environmentally hazardous substances, substances that are transported at elevated temperatures, miscellaneous articles and substances, genetically modified organisms and micro-organisms and (depending on the method of transport) magnetized materials and aviation regulated substances.

Sub-Divisions

There are no subdivisions within Class 9, Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods.

Reason for Regulation

Miscellaneous dangerous goods present a wide array of potential hazards to human health and safety, infrastructure and/ or their means of transport. These goods might be added for regulation due to a sudden influx of accidents relating to the product.

Commonly Transported Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

1. Dry ice / cardice / solid carbon dioxide
2. Expandable polymeric beads / polystyrene beads
3. Ammonium nitrate fertilizers
4. Blue asbestos / crocidolite
5. Lithium ion batteries
6. Lithium metal batteries
7. Battery powered equipment
8. Battery powered vehicles
9. Fuel cell engines
10. Internal combustion engines
11. Vehicles
12. Magnetized material
13. Dangerous goods in apparatus
14. Dangerous goods in machinery
15. Genetically modified organisms
16. Genetically modified micro-organisms
17. Chemical kits
18. First aid kits
19. Life saving appliances
20. Air bag modules
21. Seatbelt pretensioners
22. Plastics moulding compound
23. Castor bean plant products
24. Polychlorinated biphenyls
25. Polychlorinated terphenyls
26. Dibromodifluoromethane
27. Benzaldehyde

How can one determine if the said product is considered dangerous or hazardous?

With the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of the said product, under section 14 (Transport Information) you can find all the information for transport. Usually there will be 4 sub-sections here, ie one for each type of transport method (land, sea, air and bulk transport).

In Singapore, with the UN number you can check for the class status using the website below from the Port of Authority Singapore for sea shipments. The Dangerous Goods database only serves as a guide.

PSA Portnet web for DG Class Confirmation

For any shipment classified under Dangerous Goods, acceptance depends on the carriers be it land, sea, air or rail. Time is required for all relevant documents to be submitted, vetted, accepted and approved. Do note that different carriers have different requirements in the documents to be submitted. For more detailed information and assistance, do feel free to contact us.