Transporting goods by land, sea or air has always come with risks. Rigorous laws and safety measures have done a lot to make it better, but problems still occur. In 2002 the Hanjin Pennsylvania, a nearly new container ship was rocked by explosions. The cause? A mislabelled container of fireworks. Yes, the correct handling, packaging, labelling and management of goods that can be dangerous to transport is important for the safety of all involved. But what can you do to manage the risk?
To help mitigate the risk of transporting dangerous goods a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor needs to be consulted. Companies like AC Freight Global Ltd can make the process easy and safe, providing the expertise, contacts and essential knowledge to get your dangerous goods to its intended destination. Their in-house dangerous goods safety advisor can advise on the transport of dangerous goods by road, hazardous airfreight (IATA) and sea freight (IMDG) cargo.
If you want to transport anything that can be categorized as ‘dangerous’ you must think very carefully about how you go about it; safety is essential for your goods and for those that will handle it during its delivery. Remember: the consignor (the person shipping the goods) is responsible under law for classifying, packaging and marking dangerous goods, so it is important to make sure you use a company with an in house dangerous goods safety advisor (DGSA).
Working out if your cargo is dangerous is not as straight forward as it may seem. Transporting nitro-glycerine might be an obvious one, but even seemingly innocuous goods like paint, perfume or foodstuffs can become dangerous when stored or transported improperly. It is important to get the materials safety data sheet from the manufacturer, but even then it must be read carefully by an expert.
When transporting cargo that has the potential to be dangerous you should consider the following:
Packaging – is the packaging appropriate to the type of delivery? If the contents are sensitive to movement, temperature, humidity or moisture, it is essential to consider airtight packaging. A qualified dangerous goods safety advisor can advise what packaging is most appropriate.
The right Documentation - it is essential that any dangerous cargo be accompanied by the right documents. Depending on the nature of the cargo, you may need to notify the related authorities. Increasingly rigorous rules about safety mean that having an advisor is essential. A dangerous goods safety advisor will be able to advise on the most up to date requirements.
The right Labelling – It is really important that goods be labelled appropriately, and any labels on the packaging from a previous use be removed to avoid confusion. A qualified dangerous goods safety advisor can offer practical advice on the best way to protect your cargo and make sure it gets to the right place without holdup or danger.
Give yourself time – delivery is in important step in your good’s journey, it is not one that should be rushed. To plan it properly, make sure you start the conversation early with a qualified dangerous goods safety advisor to make sure everything is cared for legally and safely.