BIFA Good Practice Guides

A Guide to Handling
Dangerous Goods
Shipments

bifa.org
One area that the BIFA Secretariat receives regular questions about
relates to the handling of dangerous goods. From the questions
received, it is clear that there is a lack of understanding regarding
the regulations, staff training requirements and how to handle
Dangerous Goods shipments.

This brief overview seeks to clarify:

• What Members need to consider when handling Dangerous

Goods

• The main Regulations governing the transportation of

Dangerous Goods

Given changing technology, an Forwarders concerned by the

increasing number of everyday items are
hazardous e.g. items containing lithium
batteries. Dangerous Goods shipments
involve the application of additional
requirements exceeding those required
for non-hazardous goods.
Dangerous Goods are items that
may endanger the safety of people,
the conveyance, equipment and the
environment. Dangerous Goods are
also known as restricted articles,
hazardous materials and dangerous
cargo. Many Freight Forwarding and
Transport contracts specifically exclude
Dangerous Goods or place additional
requirements on the contracting parties.
additional costs and liabilities Many Members are
may seek to avoid the carriage of concerned that handling
Dangerous Goods. However, this Dangerous Goods is complex
can lead to problems because of the and involves unacceptable
risks relating to mis-declared and risk. However, by paying due
undeclared dangerous goods which regard to the Regulations
Members may inadvertently handle and applying the correct
if staff are not trained to identify processes these goods
such shipments. can be handled safely and
without undue complexity.
Also, the reader should remember
that the financial penalties and damage
to reputation can be significant for
breaching the Regulations. However, by
declining dangerous goods shipments
Members are reducing their business
opportunities.

Clause 15 of the BIFA STC states:
“Except pursuant to instructions
previously received in writing and
accepted in writing by the Company,
the Company will not accept or
deal with Goods of a dangerous or
damaging nature.”
Many Members are concerned that
handling Dangerous Goods is complex
and involves unacceptable risk.
However, by paying due regard to the
Regulations and applying the correct
processes these goods can be handled
safely and without undue complexity.

A Guide to Handling Dangerous Goods Shipments bifa.org Page 1 of 4

Regulatory Overview
The UN Modal Regulations put the
rules for the different transportation
methods into a classification system.
This system assigns each dangerous
substance or article a class that
defines the type of danger the
substance presents.
The packing group then further
classifies the level of danger and
together with the class dictates how
dangerous goods are packaged,
labelled and carried. This includes
specifying the inner and outer
packaging, the suitability of packaging
materials and the marks and labels
they must bear.
Separate legislation exists for the
different modes of transport although
there is a degree of compatibility
between the modes. Generally, the
preparation of Dangerous Goods for
Air or Sea movements will ensure
compliance with Road transport
regulations when being transported to/
from Airports or Sea Terminals.
The main regulations are: -
• ADR Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Road applies to all
road transport journeys
• RID Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Rail applies to all rail
transport journeys
• IMDG Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Sea includes domestic
and international journeys
• IATA Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Air applies to all
shipments by air, domestic and
international
• Tunnel Regulations: For Road
and Rail are now included in
ADR/RID
A Guide to Handling Dangerous Goods Shipments
It should be noted the Channel Tunnel Responsibilities
has its own specific Regulations,
If you trade in or move Dangerous
which are separate and should not be
Goods, the goods must be properly
confused with the Tunnel Regulations
packed, marked, labelled and
documented, as defined in the relevant
United Kingdom only Regulations. All parties must also
For the UK, the Carriage of Dangerous be aware of their wider obligations
Goods and Use of Transportable as defined, relative to areas such as
Pressure Equipment Regulations training, etc.
of 2009 and 2011 and the related
derogations, confirm the national The main parties in the supply chain are:
variations from the ADR regulations.
• Consignor
Enforcement of Dangerous
Goods regulations • Domestic haulier
Different authorities are responsible for
• Freight forwarder
enforcing the regulations for transport
by road, air, sea and rail: -
• International modal carrier,
including the international haulier
• Road - The Health & Safety
Executive (HSE), the Office for
Consideration should be given to
Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and
defining role specific responsibilities
the Department for Transport
within organisations, in particular
(DfT), in conjunction with the
focusing on the important role of
police and the Driver and Vehicle
Directors to ensure compliance with
Standards Agency (DVSA), are
the Regulations.
the enforcement authorities in
Great Britain. For International
road movements under the
ADR European Agreement,
each national authority en route
enforces its own requirements.
• Air - Nationally, the Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) is the agency
responsible for matters related to
compliance for goods offered to
airlines for carriage by air.
• Sea - The Maritime and
Coastguard Agency (MCA) is
responsible nationally for matters
related to compliance for goods
moving by sea.
• Rail - The HSE, Office of Rail
Regulation (ORR), ONR and
DfT are the enforcement
authorities covering rail
transport in Great Britain.
Generally, the preparation of Dangerous Goods for Air or Sea
movements will ensure compliance with Road transport regulations
when being transported to/from Airports or Sea Terminals.
bifa.org Page 2 of 4
The Main Classes of Dangerous Goods
If a substance is found to meet the classification criteria for any of the 9 classes of dangerous goods, the transport of the
goods must comply with the dangerous goods regulations for the mode(s) of transport used. Samples of the labels are
shown below and reference should be made to the relevant modal regulations to ensure accuracy.

Class Class Class

1 2 3
1 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 3

Explosives Gases Flammable liquids

1 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 3

Class Class Class

4 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 6
4 1 1 5 2 1 2 3 2 6 3 3

4 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 6
RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE
CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY

7 Other
Flammable Solids, 7 8
Oxidizing 8
7Substances 9
and 8 9 and Infectious
Toxic 9
Flammable Substances Organic Peroxides Substances
4 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 6
RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE
CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY

Class Class Class

7 7 8 7 8 8
7 8 9
9 9 9

RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE RADIOACTIVE

CONTENTS CONTENTS
CONTENTS
ACTIVITY ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY

7 7 8 7 8 9 8 9 9

Radioactive Material Corrosive Substances Miscellaneous Dangerous

Substances

Marking and labelling Documentation Goods Description

As well as modal requirements specific
to their transportation, suppliers of
dangerous goods are required by
law to label their hazardous products
and packaged chemicals with hazard
symbols, warnings and safety advice
for the final user. These Safety
labelling requirements may vary
between countries.
When dangerous goods are Whichever mode is used, all dangerous
transported, the consignment goods must be described on the
must be accompanied by a required documentation in the same
Transport Document declaring order, which is:
the description and nature of the
goods. Documentation must be in • The United Nations [UN] Number
accordance with the specifications set
by the dangerous goods regulations • The Proper Shipping Name
applicable to the chosen mode of
transport. The transport document • The Class
must be completed by the consignor
(the person or organisation from whom • The Packing Group [if assigned]
the goods have been received for
transport).

A Guide to Handling Dangerous Goods Shipments bifa.org Page 3 of 4

Role of the DGSA It is strongly recommended that training Insurance
should provide guidance on which
In order to comply with the ADR It is important to advise your Insurers
questions to ask as part of the initial
Regulations, businesses that handle, that you are handling Dangerous
booking process both to meet the
process or transport dangerous goods Goods to ensure that you have
requirements of the applicable modal
on a regular basis must appoint a adequate cover.
regulations and to identify mis-declared
Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor
or undeclared dangerous goods.
(DGSA). In the UK the enforcement of Conclusion
this requirement is achieved via the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Operational procedures This guidance highlights the main
points to consider when handling DG
There are some exemptions which are Companies handling or arranging the
shipments and hopefully indicates
defined in the legislation. shipment of Dangerous Goods should
our initial premise that handling
be aware of their wider responsibilities.
such consignments, whilst imposing
The role of the DGSA includes Consideration should be given, but not
additional requirements to handling
advising the business on the transport limited, to the following areas:
general cargo, is not unduly onerous.
of dangerous goods, monitoring
compliance, procedures & safety • Contractual process for
measures and where appropriate accepting such consignments
investigating and compiling reports on
accidents or emergencies involving • Internal communication
Dangerous Goods. The key points that we would
• Training requirements like to emphasise are the
Training importance of understanding
On a wider note current Health and • Physical layout of the facility and complying with the
Safety legislation requires that staff including signage, provision of a appropriate Regulations and
are properly trained for their roles in bund etc the importance of Training.
any business - Dangerous Goods
Regulations require that staff involved • Receipt, handling and storage
shall have been trained for that procedure N.B. all images of labels are for
specific activity. indicative purposes only and reference
• Documentary processing should be made to the relevant current
The Regulations require that all staff requirements DG Manuals and Regulations.
involved in the preparation or handling
of dangerous goods, receive as a • Levels of responsibility
minimum an ‘Awareness’ training.
This will assist in identifying the • Risk assessments
training necessary to undertake a
specific activity. Training courses are • Provision of Personal Protective
run by independent providers and Equipment
trade associations for each mode of
transport. • Specialised handling equipment

Levels of Training • Additional safety related

In general terms, the following may equipment
be considered appropriate training
categories: • Emergency Procedures

• Awareness

• Technical for each transport mode

• DGSA qualification

This Guide has been produced to provide general industry guidance to Members. However, it is not legal advice nor is it a substitute for legal advice. The Association is only in a position to provide general
non-legal guidance as each Member’s situation may be different and this may affect particular legal advice that may be given by suitably qualified lawyers to each Member. The Association is not able to
provide legal advice and if you wish to ensure that any specific action you intend to take while relying on this general guide is legally appropriate you are advised to consult a qualified lawyer experienced in
the relevant legal field which may include forwarding, transport, logistics, international trade and commerce in advance of taking such action.
BIFA would like to thank Mr R.E Cross, Chair of BIFA’s Dangerous Goods Advisory Group for his assistance in preparing this guidance.

Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 7EP T: +44 (0)20 8844 2266 E: bifa@bifa.org W: www.bifa.org
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November 2018