All You Must Know About IATA And Dangerous Goods

Shipping of dangerous or hazardous goods is an intimidating task. Moreover, it is also a highly regulated practice that might turn out difficult for various reasons. It can be complicated to obtain compliance buy-in from every member in the company engaged in the shipping process. However, as discovered by many companies out there, non-compliance with IATA (International Air Transport Association) along with DOT regulations, might turn out to be expensive.

How can you protect your employees as well as business from the expensive violations of hazmat regulations?

Definition of Dangerous Goods

As per IATA, DGs or Dangerous Goods tend to be substances or articles that are capable of posing potential risk to the overall safety, property, health, or the environment. Moreover, these articles are shown in the dangerous goods’ list in the given regulations.

The FAQ page of IATA explains in detail about the dangerous goods and that they might endanger the overall safety of the vehicle or passengers. The dangerous goods are also known to go by the names like dangerous cargo, hazardous materials, and restricted articles. Most of the common items that are found in the household could be regarded as dangerous goods for air transportation.

Classification of Dangerous Goods

Both the IATA and DOT (Department of Transportation) recognize major classes of hazardous or dangerous goods. Here are some:

• Class one –explosives including fireworks, ammunition, airbag inflators, and so more
• Class two –gases including fire extinguishers, aerosols, propane cylinders, and so more
• Class three –flammable liquids including alcohols, lacquers, paints, and others
• Class four –flammable solids, “dangerous when wet” materials, and spontaneously combustible including sodium batteries, carbon, matches, and others
• Class five –oxidizers including ammonium nitrate fertilizers, hydrogen peroxide, pool chlorine, and others
• Class six –infectious or toxic substances including pesticides, dyes, medical waste, and so more
• Class seven –radioactive materials including uranium, medical treatment products, density gauges, and others
• Class eight –corrosives including iodine, batteries, acid solutions, and others
• Class nine –miscellaneous including first aid kits, dry ice, internal combustion engines, and others

Most of the given classes are further divided into sub-classes as per varying properties including flammability, toxicity, temperature sensitivity, and others.

Dangerous Goods – Packaging & Labeling

Every class of dangerous materials or goods tends to have national as well as international packaging or marking specifications. As per the CRF49, it is required that every employee that is involved in the packaging and labeling of dangerous goods should receive proper hazmat training in advance with respect to documenting, handling, and labeling hazardous items for transportation. Failure of training the employees is regarded as the violation of the given regulations.

The packing groups are divided into three categories with respect to the level of danger involved. Here are some:

1. Packing Group I –Indicated by the letter X and implies materials of Great Danger
2. Packing Group II –indicated by the letter Y and implies items of Medium Danger
3. Packing Group III –indicated by the letter Z and implies items of Minor Danger

Each of the packaging group is known to provide specification for quantitative limits, unit size, acceptable packaging materials, instructions related to packaging closure, limitations regarding single or combination packaging, and so more.

Once proper packaging of the dangerous goods is complete, the package is required to be packaged properly. Every class of dangerous goods has designated proper signage that includes directional indicators, warning placards, and color coding.

Documentation Guidance of Dangerous Goods

Once the packaging and labeling requirements of dangerous goods have been met, the right documentation forms that are needed for the respective transportation modes (sea, air, or ground) should be completed. The given final step is quite essential for verifying the quantitative as well as qualitative details of the shipment while declaring the shipment remains compliant with both national as well as international requirements.

The specificity and complexity of the shipping process along with the utilization of necessary forms might appear intimidating. However, with the presence of ample dangerous goods packing instructions all around, you can be assured of the overall ease of ensuring the desired results.

Following the IATA DGR

If you are transporting dangerous goods, your company should follow the IATA DGR all the time. DGR stands for Dangerous Goods Regulations and is designed for keeping everyone in the contract safe with respect to the handling of dangerous goods. While the overall safety might not be your biggest concern, you are still required to understand the importance of hazmat transportation regulations. You would not want to jeopardize your company name just because you have not fully understood the laws with respect to the dangerous goods & its transportation.

There are several specialized training programs as well as accredited schools that can help you in gaining a better understanding of the respective IATA regulations while following them at the same time.