You wouldn’t probably consider products like nail polish or perfume ‘dangerous’ – after all, they are part of your daily life. However, these goods can cause significant harm to the environment and people during transportation.
Dangerous goods are subject to chemical regulations, meaning those transporting them should be trained on handling high-risk materials (more precisely, the ones that are corrosive, toxic, flammable, and radioactive). Not taking safety precautions can lead to incidents, and in that situation, you could face a penalty or a fine, depending on how severe the violation is. Suppose the violation of Hazmat rules leads to serious illness and injury or death; the civil penalty is $182,877. It is crucial to take hazmat shipping seriously and understand the regulations, so you can implement the best practices and avoid such severe consequences.
What are the different types of hazardous materials?
- Explosives. When listing the most hazardous materials, explosives come first, as they can explode if handled incorrectly. They include fireworks, dynamite, detonators, water emulsion blasting agents, and ammunition.
- Flammable solids, such as sodium batteries, Sulphur, matches, and magnesium, can combust when they come into contact with a flame.
- Oxidizers. They are chemicals that cause combustion under certain conditions. Products that belong to this category include chlorine, ammonia, and bleach.
- Toxic materials. They pose risks to living organisms and humans, including medical waste, pesticides, and lead.
- Corrosives. These substances are harmful to property, material, and living organisms. Some examples include battery acid, drain cleaner, and bleach.
- Radioactive materials. They emit radiation higher than 0.002 microcuries/gram, such as X-ray machines and uranium.
- Miscellaneous hazardous materials include substances that affect the environment, such as hazardous wastes, elevated-temperature materials, and marine pollutants.
- Flammable and combustible liquids. They are liquids that can cause a fire if exposed to certain conditions, such as nail polish, gasoline, and paint thinners.
- Gasses, such as propane, aerosols, or fire extinguishers (found in households), can be harmful when exposed to living organisms, humans, and particular environments.
How can you ship hazardous materials safely?
Shipping hazardous materials can be risky, so shippers must take responsibility and ensure everything is packed and transported based on regulations. This will help prevent potential accidents and protect people and the planet.
Here are the best practices to consider in this regard:
Understand regulations
The most important step when shipping hazardous materials is checking the regulations for your goods and the mode of transportation used. Different rules depending on the quantity, nature, and type of the hazmat and the destination. These can include:
- Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations;
- ICAO’s Dangerous Goods Regulations;
- The IMDG Code.
When it comes to chemicals transport, workers should also know about the regulations in place. So, providing Hazmat training to them is essential, raising general awareness. Besides this, function-specific training and safety training are also required when educating workers on the carriage of dangerous goods. It is also a good idea to appoint a safety advisor who can provide valuable insights into the legal, environmental, and safety aspects of transporting hazardous goods.
Classify hazardous materials
Before shipping hazardous materials, you want to classify them correctly. This is crucial so that the operator can understand the details of the material and take the necessary precautions to ensure safety during transportation. You must identify the following:
- Proper shipping name;
- Hazard class;
- UN identification number;
- Packing group for all the materials.
Consider packing guidelines
Another essential aspect when shipping hazardous materials is following adequate packing guidelines. This isn’t important only because the law requires it, but it is also a crucial step to ensure everyone involved in the shipping process is safe. Avoid mistakes like overloading packages or utilizing inadequate materials, as these can damage your goods.
Label packages properly
Labeling hazardous materials is crucial to ensure they are safe during transportation. To this end, you want to identify each package’s content and its possible hazards. You should take the time to do this properly – otherwise, parcel carriers may not agree to ship your package.
Hire a qualified carrier.
Perhaps one of the most fundamental parts of the shipping process is hiring a qualified carrier with the appropriate certifications and training on the regulations and laws regarding the transportation of hazardous materials. For instance, De Rijke offers many logistics solutions to address different business needs and ensure a smooth transportation process. Hazmat shipping is complex, so it only makes sense to let professionals handle your hazardous goods.
Don’t forget about shipping documentation.
Preparing shipping documentation is just as essential as labeling your packages. Before releasing containers for shipment, you want to ensure they are marked with the correct information. The documents include a packing list, a bill of lading, and a declaration form for the dangerous goods. Consider making copies of them and keeping them for future reference.
Final thoughts
Hazmat transportation is indeed a complex task, as there are many regulations in place that you must follow to provide maximum security. You must begin by determining whether a specific product is a hazardous good; if it is, figuring out which category it belongs to is essential. This is important to determine what procedures to use during different stages, from packaging to shipping. Labeling and documentation are other things you must pay attention to. Sounds complicated, right? Fortunately, you don’t have to handle the process on your own. With a logistics service, transporting dangerous goods will be successful, and you won’t have to worry about harsh penalties.
Although it requires some effort, ensuring an effective Hazmat shipping process pays. There is no room for mistakes in hazmat shipping due to the significant risks involved. However, if you take things step by step and consider the tips we discussed in this blog, your shipping will be error-free, and you can focus on further growing your business.
