Shipments & HAZMAT Handling
Ordered goods are generally dispatched within 2 days after their delivery from our suppliers by air, sea or road transport as agrreed with the customer. Export Customs clearance (if required) as well as air, sea or road cargo freight, postal and courier services are offered as part of our offered services. Customs & shipping fees are computed and agreed before order placement and are included as separate entries in our invoices.
Shipping fees include packing costs. Packages are dispatched at customer risk, but special care is taken to protect fragile objects. Boxes or other packaging options used are amply sized and ordered items are well-protected.
Hazardous materials (or otherwise dangerous goods) are abbreviated as HAZMAT or DG require special handling. They include solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, properties, or the environment if improperly shipped, stored, or handled. Respective information is incuded in their respective product/material Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS).
In accordance with the UN classification system dangerous goods are assigned to different classes depending on their predominant hazard.
UN system currently includes 9 hazard classes mentioned below with some classes further structured in divisions:
Class 1 Explosives, Class 2 Gases, Class 3 Flammable liquids, Class 4 Flammable solids, Class 5 Oxidizers and organic peroxides, Class 6 Toxic and infectious substances, Class 7 Radioactive materials, Class 8 Corrosive substances, & Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances.
Different International regulations and guidelines govern the carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air. These include:
European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
ADR sets out the requirements for the classification, packaging, labelling and certification of dangerous goods. It also includes specific vehicle and tank requirements and other operational requirements.
Appendix C of the Convention Covering International Carriage by Rail - International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail
International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Navigation (ADN) in the European Union
International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
The IMDG code provides guidance on transporting dangerous goods by sea. Used by operators transporting dangerous goods on journeys involving a sea crossing including ferry services.
ICAO Technical Instructions / IATA DGR for dangerous goods shipments by air
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Technical Instructions are an internationally agreed set of provisions governing the requirements for transporting dangerous goods by air. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes the Dangerous Goods Regulations in accordance with the ICAO technical instructions.
Other national regulations for preparing, shipping, and handling dangerous goods also apply such as Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations issued by the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security.
In general the following key steps are followed in shipping of hazardous materials
Material Cassification
The product safety data sheet (SDS) required by law provides guidance to whoever is handling the dangerous materials.
Packaging
Depending on the type of product, there are specific laws for how HAZMAT products are packaged. Packaging (other than for limited and excepted quantities) has to be designed and constructed to UN specification standards and must pass practical transport related tests such as being dropped, held in a stack and subjected to pressure demands. It must also meet the needs of the substance it is to contain. Packagings must be certified by a national competent authority.UN approved packaging is marked with the prefix ‘UN’ and followed by codes that are listed in the relevant regulations relating to the national and international carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail, air and sea.
Package Markings and Labelling
As well as the 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. There are specific ways to mark hazardous materials depending on their class, ID number, weight, and more. A range of internationally recognised symbols has been developed so that people handling the goods know the nature of the hazard they present. These are included in regulations such as the European Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation) which need to be observed.
Shipping Documentation
When dangerous goods are transported, the consignment must be accompanied by a transport document declaring the description and nature of the goods. Documentation must be in accordance with the specifications set by the dangerous goods regulations applicable to the chosen mode of transport.
Some carriers require additional paperwork in order to ship HAZMAT items depending on the material to be transported (e.g., the UN identification number, proper shipping name, hazard class, and packing group, as well as the quantity, number, and type of packages, emergency contact information, and shipper’s certification). These documents are prepared and provided to the carrier to ensure your shipment goes out and is not delayed or held up.
For additional information on HAZMAT shipments please contact us.