Upon preparing goods for transport, it's crucial for the shipper to determine if they pose any dangers like flammability, toxicity, or corrosiveness. Typically, manufacturers conduct tests to classify products into the nine dangerous goods classes. Shippers can obtain this information by:
- Referencing the list of dangerous goods
- Reviewing previous shipping documents
- Consulting the safety data sheet (SDS)
- Reaching out to the manufacturer
Most SDSs are accessible through the manufacturer's website or by searching online. However, it's vital to search for the exact product to ensure accuracy.
A substance or item is deemed dangerous when:
- It's explicitly listed in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations
- It meets the criteria for at least one of the nine dangerous goods classes
Every dangerous good is assigned a primary class, indicating its primary hazard. Some classes have subdivisions denoted by a decimal and a number. For instance:
- Oxidizers belong to Division 1 of Class 5, more commonly referred to as Class 5.1
- Organic Peroxides belong to Division 2 of Class 5, usually referred to as Class 5.2,
Certain products may pose multiple hazards, known as subsidiary risks, which are indicated in parentheses after the primary class. For example, Methanol is both a flammable liquid and a poison:
- Class 3, (6.1)
Packing Groups signify the level of hazard:
- Packing Group I (PG I) indicates a high level of danger
- Packing Group II (PG II) suggests a medium level of danger
- Packing Group III (PG III) indicates a low level of danger
Each class of dangerous goods is represented by a hazard label, which:
- Must always be displayed in a diamond shape
- Features a thin line around the inside edge
- Displays the class number at the bottom
- Must be displayed in the exact color as required in the TDGR
While there are nine classes of dangerous goods, the class numbers don't determine the degree of danger. Labels use various symbols, patterns, and colors to differentiate between classes and divisions.