Dangerous Goods Integrated Learner Guide 2022 - Part 1[125881]

ADVANCED

__________________________________________________________________________________ 51

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 52

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

SO3 - VERIFY THE CLASSIFICATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS WHEN ACCEPTING AND PROCESSING
DANGEROUS GOODS FOR TRANSPORTATION BY AIR

AC 1 - The nine classes of Dangerous Goods are identified and divisions and compatibility groups
within the hazard classes are described according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation
regulations.
Dangerous goods are divided into nine classes depending on the type of hazard they pose, so that
the potential hazards in transport are identified.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 53

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

The three packing groups relate to the degree of hazard. Some classes are divided into divisions as
there may be several types of substances with the same type of hazard. Gases, for instance, can be
toxic, flammable, or non-toxic and non-flammable.

On the following pages are examples of the labels of the various dangerous goods classes. Pay
particular attention to the colours and design of each, and how the class number and sub-class are
displayed on the labels. Not all countries use precisely the same graphics (label, placard and/or
text information) in their national regulations. Some use graphic symbols, but without English
wording or with similar wording in their national language. Refer to the Dangerous Goods
Transportation Regulations of the individual country of interest, however, note that all countries
must meet the minimum international standards. The following are specifically in reference to air
freight and are from the IATA DGR.

THE 9 CLASSES and their DIVISIONS

Class 1 - Explosives

• Division 1.1—Articles and substances having a mass explosion hazard.

• Division 1.2—Articles and substances having a projection hazard but not a mass explosion
hazard.

• Division 1.3—Articles and substances having a fire hazard, a minor blast hazard and/or
a minor projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.

• Division 1.4—Articles and substances presenting no significant hazard.

• Division 1.5—Very insensitive substances having a mass explosion hazard.

• Division 1.6—Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Class 2 - Gases

• Division 2.1—Flammable gas.

• Division 2.2—Non-flammable, non-toxic gas.

• Division 2.3—Toxic gas.

Class 3 - Flammable liquids

Class 4 - Flammable solids

• Division 4.1—Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, polymerising substances, and

solid desensitised explosives.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 54

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

• Division 4.2—Substances liable to spontaneous combustion.
• Division 4.3—Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases.
Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
• Division 5.1—Oxidiser.
• Division 5.2—Organic peroxides.
Class 6 - Toxic and infectious substances
• Division 6.1—Toxic substances.
• Division 6.2—Infectious substances.
Class 7 - Radioactive material
These are slightly different to the other dangerous goods, and have their own section in the IATA
Dangerous goods regulations – Section 10.
Here there are categories and not divisions:
• Category I-White
• Category II-Yellow

• Category III-Yellow
Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
NB!! Once you are referring to a division, you no longer refer to the class. For example, when
discussing Flammable Gasses, we refer to Division 2.1. NOT class 2, Division 1.

The 9 CLASSES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE LABELS:
Class 1 - Explosives
Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 all use the following label and the details are inserted by the *.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 55

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Divisions 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 use the following labels respectively and the details are inserted by the *

RISK MA

Class 2 - Flammable Gas
Divisions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 use the following labels respectively

__________________________________________________________________________________ 56

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

Class 4 Flammable Solids RISK MA
Divisions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 use the following labels, respectively.

Class 5 - Oxidising substances
Divisions 5.1 and 5.2 use the following labels, respectively.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 57

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances
Divisions 6.1 and 6.2 use the following labels, respectively.

Class 7 - Radioactive Material

RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 58

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

RISK MA

Because Class 9 can be very broad and cover a wide
range or dangerous articles, there are additional labels
such as the following for Lithium Batteries. Then there
are additional Handline labels for Magnetised material.

Class 1: Explosives
Explosives are defined as:

__________________________________________________________________________________ 59

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Explosive substances except those whose predominant hazard should be in another class.
Explosive articles, except devices containing explosive substances in such a limited quantity or of
such a character that their inadvertent or accidental ignition or initiation, during transport, will not
cause any manifestation of projection, fire, heat, smoke, or loud noise external to the device.
Other articles or substances which are manufactured with a view to producing a practical
explosive
or pyrotechnic effect.
 Division 1.1 Explosives having a mass explosion hazard
 Division 1.2 Explosives having a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
 Division 1.3 Explosives having a fire hazard, a minor blast hazard and/or a minor projection

hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
 Division 1.4 Explosives presenting no significant hazard
 NOTE: Class 1.4S is the only explosive acceptable on passenger aircraft.
 Division 1.5 Very insensitive substances having a mass explosion hazard
 Division 1.6 Extremely insensitive substances that do not have a mass explosion hazard

Class 2: Gases
This class has compressed and liquefied gases, and refrigerated liquefied gases, as well as gases in
solution, mixtures of gases and mixtures of gases with vapours of other substances. Articles
charged with a gas and aerosols also belong here.
 Division 2.1 Flammable gas
 Division 2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic gas
 Division 2.3 Toxic gas

Class 3: Flammable liquids
This class has no divisions. It comprises liquids, mixtures of liquids and liquids containing solids in
solution or suspension, which give off a flammable vapour.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 60

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Class 4: Flammable solids
This class has no divisions. It comprises liquids, mixtures of liquids and liquids containing solids in
solution or suspension, which give off a flammable vapour.
 Division 4.1 Flammable solids
 Division 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
 Division 4.3 Substances that, in contact with water emit flammable gases

Class 5: Oxidisers
Oxidisers are substances which, though not necessarily combustible in themselves, may cause or

contribute to combustion in other materials. RISK MA

 Division 5.1 Oxidiser
 Division 5.2 Organic peroxides

Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
This class includes substances which are liable to cause death, injury or to harm human health if
they are swallowed or inhaled, or by skin contact.
 Division 6.1 Toxic substances
 Division 6.2 Infectious substances

Class 7: Radioactive material
This class has no divisions. For the purpose of regulations, a radioactive material is any substance
with a specific activity greater than 70 kBq/kg.

Class 8: Corrosives
This class has no divisions. It comprises substances that can cause severe damage by chemical
action when in contact with living tissue, other materials, or the aircraft.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 61

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous goods
This class covers all articles and substances that are not covered by other classes, and includes
magnetic material. Some examples are:

• Asbestos
• Carbon dioxide, solid (dry ice)
• Environmentally hazardous substances
• Life-saving appliances
• Internal combustion engines
• Polymeric beads
• Battery powered equipment or vehicles
• and many others

AC 2 - Articles and substances with multiple hazards are identified, listed, and explained according
to the International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations
Some of the Classes are sub-divided into Divisions, because of the wide scope of the Class. For
example, Class 2 has three Divisions:
 Division 2.1 Flammable gas
 Division 2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic gas Division 2.3 Toxic gas
There are many items of dangerous goods that have subsidiary risks – meaning that there is more
than one hazard associated with them. A primary class hazard is allocated with the significant
additional hazards identified as subsidiary risks. This is visible in the DGR under the identification
table:
For example:
Benzyl bromide (UN 1737) is both a toxic liquid and a corrosive (i.e. Division 6.1, with subsidiary
risk 8). Note that the subsidiary risk is in brackets.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 62

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Although dangerous goods with more than one hazard are allocated to a primary hazard with
subsidiary risks, it should not be assumed that if a package is damaged or leaking the subsidiary
risk is of less importance. All identified hazards should be regarded equally in such circumstances.
For instance, the corrosive subsidiary risk for Benzyl bromide (it is corrosive to skin) may be more
important to consider in the event of a leakage if handling or moving the package is necessary.

The primary hazard for methyl vinyl ketone (UN1251) is 6.1 (it is poisonous). However, it is also
flammable and corrosive. In cases like this, there are definite rules regarding how to label such a
shipment, but we do not go further into such detail here and it is sufficient that you simply are
aware of such possibilities.

The hazard presented by each class is identified by an internationally accepted hazard warning
label (diamond shape label). This appears on the outer packaging of the dangerous goods when
they are being transported as a warning to all those working within the transport chain or coming
into contact with them.

When faced with 2 hazards, there is a table from the IATA DGR that has been based on the Un
Precedence of Hazards Table. The columns and rows are used to identify which of the hazards will
be the primary and the secondary, and even if they are compatible at all.

The class at the intersection is the primary Hazard and the other will then be the secondary hazard.

The packing group is also provided.

Example: RISK MA

Based on the below table:

IF we take Class 3 (PG II) and Division 6.1 (PG III) the two intersect and show 3,II. This means that
the primary class is 3, the subsidiary risk will then be division 6.1 and the packing group will be II

__________________________________________________________________________________ 63

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

__________________________________________________________________________________ 64

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

AC 3 - UN or ID number is identified and cross-referenced to numerical cross-reference list of
dangerous goods according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations

Dangerous goods in air transport are identified both by a proper shipping name and a
corresponding UN or ID number.
The ICAO Technical Instructions (TI) and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations contain the same
list of dangerous goods; this shows all the proper shipping names with their UN/ID numbers,
primary class/division, subsidiary risks (when appropriate), labels to be used on the package,
packing group (when assigned), whether the item is permitted on passenger aircraft or is
restricted to cargo only aircraft or is forbidden for transport, and the methods of packing (Packing
Instructions) with quantity limitations for transport on passenger or cargo aircraft.

Definitions as per the IATA DGR:

UN Number: The four-digit number assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and the
Labelling of Chemicals to identify an article or substance or a particular group of articles or
substances. (The prefix “UN” must always be used in conjunction with these numbers).

ID Number: A temporary identification number (ID) in the 8000 series assigned to an article or
substance for which no UN number has been assigned. (The prefix “ID” must always be used in
conjunction with these numbers).

Materials (substances and articles) must be described to the carrier in very specific ways. In

addition to its appropriate classification, each regulated dangerous goods shipment has a single

correct description, known as the "proper shipping name."

__________________________________________________________________________________ 65

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Without determining the proper shipping name, a shipper cannot establish the net quantity
permitted in a packaging or the correct packaging to be used.
The complete list of proper shipping names appears in Table 4.2, the "List of Dangerous Goods"
in the IATA DGR. These are commonly known as the blue pages since in the hard copy version of
the regulations, these pages are actually blue in colour. Below is a photograph of the DGR and the
coloured pages are visible.

RISK MA

While many substances and articles are listed specifically by name in the regulations, there are
also generic proper shipping names, for mixtures or new compounds, which simply describe the
hazard posed by the material.

For example, "flammable liquid, n.o.s." is a common generic proper shipping name; the "n.o.s."
means "not otherwise specified." Many generic proper shipping names, denoted in ICAO and
IATA's commodity lists with asterisks, must be modified by adding technical names of hazardous
constituents in brackets after the shipping descriptions. These modifications must appear on
package markings and shipping papers.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 66

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

For most Proper Shipping Names, there are also four-digit identification numbers, usually
preceded by the letters "UN" (a few exceptions are those items which, under the IATA Dangerous
Goods Regulations, have been assigned airline-industry identifiers in the 8000 series, and are
preceded by the letters "ID").

These UN and ID numbers are used to reduce confusion that could arise as a result of
misunderstood or mispronounced proper shipping names and to assist in locating emergency
response guidance, in the event that there is an incident involving the material. They provided a
common nomenclature for easy reference.

The IATA DGR blue pages are in alphabetical order according to the proper shipping name. This
can prove challenging if only the UN number is known and only the hard copy version of the
regulations is available.

For this reason, there is a tool after the blue pages which is a list of all the UN numbers in
numerical order, with their corresponding PSN and the page number where this UN number can
be found in the blue pages.

When working with the e-book publication this is not needed as there is a search function to
enable swift location of the necessary information.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 67

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

AC 4 - Proper shipping name, class, division, and sub-risks is identified and listed according to the
International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations.
The Proper Shipping Name is that name which appears in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
(DGR) in bold text; any other text is only descriptive and is not part of the PSN. Trade names are
not acceptable.
The consignor (shipper) who offers dangerous goods for transport shall describe the dangerous
goods on a transport document (i.e. air waybill) and provide additional information and
documentation as specified in the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The proper shipping name
in the dangerous goods description shall be supplemented with their technical names for "n.o.s."
and other generic descriptions.
Below is an example from the blue pages with the relevant descriptions for each field.

RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 68

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Definition as per the IATA DGR:

Proper Shipping Name: The name to be used to describe a particular article or substance in all
shipping documents and notifications and where appropriate, on packaging. Note: These names
are indicated in bold face characters in the List of Dangerous Goods.

There are 9 hazardous classes, some of the classes are further subdivided into hazardous divisions.
There may be more than one risk, and when that is the case there will be a primary risk with one
or more sub-risks, as discussed earlier in the learner guide.

We have already covered classes divisions and sub-risks so let us now concentrate on one very
important class - radioactive material - and examine this class in more detail.

Radioactive packages can be very dangerous to handle. Radiation cannot be detected by any
human senses, only by measuring equipment. Nevertheless, it can be very harmful to living tissue
and organs. The smallest, noticeable, symptoms of radiation contamination are nausea and
vomiting, and a generally unpleasant feeling. These symptoms disappear within a couple of days.
The worst symptoms are much more gruesome. The radiation can destroy the central nervous
system and most of the internal organs leading to death within two to three days.

Radioactive materials are articles or substances that spontaneously and continuously emit ionising
radiation. These substances are composed of one or more of the chemical elements and each is
distinguished by its own unique atomic number.

The following symbol is the Trefoil symbol and it is synonymous with Radioactive materials. This
three-bladed symbol is internationally recognised to indicate the presence of radioactive material.

The atoms of each chemical element can exist in a number of slightly
different variations without altering the chemical characteristics or
the physical form of the element. Some of these variations occur
naturally and some are artificially produced and are termed isotopes
or nuclides. Each of these is denoted by its own atomic mass number,
not to be confused with atomic number.

For instance, Chlorine has the atomic number 17 and as isotopes may be called Chlorine-35 or
Chlorine-37 which are non-radioactive or, Chlorine-36 or Chlorine-38 which are radioactive and
so termed radioisotopes.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 69

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Radioactive substances consist of material in which at any particular time some of the atoms are
radioactive. Each of these radioactive atoms, randomly and spontaneously, undergoes a process of
disintegration. In this process, the atoms emit their characteristic form of radiation and
decompose into another configuration.
This radiation consists of one or more of the various forms of radiation, alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray,
or neutron.
For measuring the activity of the radiation, the old unit of measuring activity was the Curie (Ci) but
the new unit is the Becquerel (Bq) which is defined as one atomic transformation per second.
Since the Becquerel is such an extremely small unit, it is common to use the multiples
kilobecquerel (kBq) or megabecquerel (MBq). For the purpose of Dangerous Goods Regulations, a
substance must have an activity greater than 70 Becquerel per gram (70 Bq/g) or 70
kilobecquerels per kilogram (70 kBq/kg) to be regarded as radioactive material.
Here is the key from the IATA DGR for the easy conversion of units: From Appendix B.2.2.3

RISK MA

The activity of a radioactive material is, essentially, a measurement of its quantity. As each
radioactive atom decays the remaining activity declines. The time it takes for a radioisotope to
lose half its activity is known as its half-life. In successive half-life periods, a radioisotope is
reduced by decay to half, then quarter, etc. of its initial value. It is therefore possible to predict the
remaining activity at any given time. The half-life time may be significant when transporting

__________________________________________________________________________________ 70

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

radioisotopes with extremely short half-lives. The half-life period may vary from billionths of a
second to billions of years.

The different forms of radiation, mentioned earlier, have varying characteristics. Alpha radiation
has a range of a few centimetres, in air, and beta radiation has a range of a few metres. These can
generally be absorbed by paper or wood, or conventional packing materials.

Gamma and X-ray radiation, on the other hand, have theoretically infinite ranges and are only
absorbed by high-density materials such as lead. They do, however, disperse rapidly with distance.
For our safety, we are interested in measuring radiation exposure and radiation dose equivalent.

The old units of measurement were roentgen (R) and rem, respectively. The new unit of radiation
exposure is Coulomb per kilogram (C/kg) and for dose-equivalent it is Sievert (Sv).

Neutron radiation is a special case. It is assessed, primarily, by the number of neutrons passing
through unit cross-sectional area in unit time. This can be converted to dose equivalent by a fairly
simple method.

There are international agreements on acceptable levels of radiation in a working environment.
These are usually established in terms of cumulative doses on a yearly basis and applied as limiting
dose-equivalent rates. This means that an environment where a person is constantly exposed to
radiation will be limited to a lower dose-equivalent rate than an environment where radiation is
more sporadic.

Another safety consideration, in a working environment, is the form of the radioactive substance.

A radioactive gas or liquid may find its way into the body where it will stay for varying lengths of
time.

How long will vary depending on the form and characteristics of the substance. Some substances
will be rejected by the body immediately while some are retained indefinitely. In the latter case,
the dose-equivalent rate may be low but since the exposure time is likely to be for life the
accumulated exposure will be severe if the substance has a long half-life period.

Fissile materials are radioactive materials in which the atoms can be split by neutron radiation
which will cause them to release energy in the form of heat, gamma radiation and more neutron
radiation.

If a sufficient quantity of fissile material is assembled in one place under certain conditions the

added neutron radiation can cause a nuclear chain reaction. This kind of reaction is known as

critical and may produce intense heat and high radiation. This is more or less what happens in an

atomic bomb.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 71

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

For the purpose of dangerous goods regulations only the following radioisotopes, or mixtures
containing them, are considered fissile:

 Uranium-233
 Uranium-235
 Plutonium-239
 Plutonium-241

The IATA DGR go into further detail regarding the transport of fissile materials.

Some other terms used in the transport of radioactive material are “Special form”, “Surface
Contaminated Objects” (SCO) and “Low Specific Activity” (LSA).

Special Form: is used to describe radioactive material which is in a sealed integral form and so
cannot, for all practical purposes, produce radioactive contamination. Therefore either an
indispersible solid radioactive material or a sealed capsule containing radioactive material that
must be so manufactured that it can be opened only by destroying the capsule.

Surface Contaminated Objects (SCO): is fairly self-descriptive. This is an object which is not
radioactive in itself, however, has radioactive material on its surface.

Low Specific Activity (LSA): is material that, by nature, has limited activity or for which limits of
estimated average activity apply.

When transporting radioactive materials, it is impractical to go into the details of the various forms
of substances and their different forms of radiation. The packages, or overpacks, are assigned to
one of three categories known as:

 Category I-white or RRW

 Category II-yellow or RRY II

 Category III-yellow or RRY III

Which category a package should be assigned to is determined, primarily, by measuring its surface
radiation. “Category I-white” is limited to 5 μSv/h, “category II-yellow” allows up to 0.5 mSv/h and
more than that but less than 2 mSv/h is assigned to “category III-yellow”.

The below table is from the IATA DGR, and is a summary of the above.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 72

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Depending on the size of the package and the radiation it emits, a transport index (TI) is
determined. The purpose of this is to enable us to handle it correctly without having a deep
knowledge of nuclear physics.

Using the table below we can fairly easily determine where, in an aircraft, we can load the package
and to what extent we need to ensure it is separated from other cargo. If, for instance, we receive
three packages with TI of 2, 3 and 3.5 respectively we can see that they must be separated from
live animals, cabin floor (or walls) and some other forms of cargo.

The first two packages must have a minimum separation of 70cm and the third 85cm. If, however,
we load all three packages in the same place we get an accumulated TI of 8.5 which requires a
separation of 155cm.

When receiving an aircraft carrying radioactive materials one always approaches the hold while
measuring the radiation levels. As long as the instrument one is using shows no significant
radiation, it is safe to proceed up to the cargo hatch.

After that, open the hold and measure inside the hold. If the package appears undamaged,
measure the surface of the package and if there is still no more radiation than expected, it is safe
to unload the package.

The instrument to measure radiation is known as a Geiger-Mueller counter, commonly referred to
as a Geiger counter:

__________________________________________________________________________________ 73

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

RISK MA

Image from: https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/radiation-detection/gaseous-ionization-
detector/geiger-counterhttps://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/radiation-detection/gaseous-
ionization-detector/geiger-counter-geiger-mueller-detector/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geiger-mueller-
counters/geiger-mueller-detector/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geiger-mueller-counters/

If, at some point in the procedure, the radiation levels increase significantly it is imperative to stop
and back away. Get qualified assistance and let them handle the situation.
Separation distances for radioactive substances.
Minimum distances between the surface of a package, overpack or container, and the floor of the
cabin or flight deck, or live animals.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 74

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

AC 5 - Packing group and limitations on passenger and cargo aircraft are identified and explained
and include limited quantities according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations
Firstly, let us distinguish between passenger and cargo aircraft.
Passenger aircraft are the scheduled commercial flights using airplanes that have the capacity to
carry people, luggage, and cargo. The cargo hold is designed to carry the passenger luggage and
includes a limited cargo capacity.
Cargo aircraft have a different design in that they are not for passengers, rather for cargo only. For
this reason there are certain dangerous goods that can only be transported on cargo aircraft, also
known as freighters, in order to limit the risk from these hazards.
Below is a cross section of each type of aircraft, clearly showing the difference in cargo capacity.

With few exceptions, dangerous goods must be packed for transport, according to a specific
packing Instruction. Packaging must:

• be of good quality
• be compatible with their contents
• be able to withstand the normal conditions of air transport

__________________________________________________________________________________ 75

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

They must meet general packing requirements and, in addition, most of them are required to
meet prescribed specifications and performance tests for the design type of the packaging. The
packaging bears a packaging specification marking.
Packaging groups differ depending on the degree of danger and this will effect the Packing
Instruction.
Below is an extract from the IATA DGR with notations for the different types of packaging

restrictions according to the type of packaging and the type of aircraft permitted. RISK MA

Packaging may be combination packaging (e.g., a ‘bottle in a box’) or single packaging (e.g., a
drum). Generally, on passenger aircraft only combination packaging is permitted but sometimes
single packaging is also allowed for certain low hazard (i.e., Packing Group III) dangerous goods.

Many dangerous goods in small quantities can be contained safely in good quality combination
packaging which meets construction requirements and can withstand drop and stacking tests but
are not subject to a full testing regime. Such dangerous goods are
said to be in limited quantities.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 76

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Limited quantities will always be indicated by the appropriate label.

Limitations on dangerous goods acceptable for air transport are to
be found in the lists based on the recommendations
of the Committee of Experts in IATA DGR or ICAO TI.
The regulations also allow for “Dangerous Goods in
Limited quantities”. All this means is that some
forms of dangerous goods may be packed in simpler,
though good quality, packages if the quantity is less
than a given amount.
The list of substances allowed in limited quantities is
not long, but it is extensive, and you need to refer to
the ICAO TI or the IATA DGR to view it. Limited
quantity goods still need to be marked, labelled, and
documented as dangerous goods.
The net amount allowed as limited quantities is specified in the List of Dangerous Goods along
with packing requirements. The gross weight of a limited quantity package must, however, not
exceed 30kg. Here is an example using the blue pages of table 4.2, also known as the blue pages.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 77

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

We have seen that the aspects to consider in handling dangerous goods are, mainly, the type and
degree of hazard. We also must consider the properties of the substance or article we are shipping.
Flammables, for instance, have different flash points, toxins are harmful in different ways (inhaling,
skin contact etc.) and explosives can be ignited in different ways.

All these aspects are important to consider when selecting a suitable package, but they are not
quite enough.

The conditions under which the package is going to be handled are also a factor. These factors can
be storage requirements, in transit movements and conditions at the destination. Some countries
and airlines also deviate from the standard regulations in their requirements; however these are
all specified in the Operator and State Variations discussed previously.

Dangerous goods must always be transported in approved packages unless they are acceptable in
“Excepted quantities” or “Limited quantities”, or if they are not restricted. Approved packages are
recognised by the

UN mark RISK MA

This mark is always followed by a number of codes signifying type,
packing group, limitations, year of manufacture etc. The mark
implies that the construction of the package corresponds to a
design type that has been tested according to specifications set
down in the regulations. The tests are definitely not kind to the
packages. They are required to survive drops, heating, drowning,
punctures, and many other forms of excessive strain. This will be
discussed in detail in a later US.

Most substances have been assigned a packing group based on technical criteria while some have
been assigned a group based on experience. It is the Shipper’s responsibility to ensure that an
article or substance is identified and classified correctly and that it is packed in compliance with
the relevant regulations.

The operator must comply with the requirements for acceptance, storage, loading, inspection,
provision of information, emergency response, retention of records and
training.

• Packing group I – High danger.

• Packing group II – Medium danger

__________________________________________________________________________________ 78

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

• Packing group III – Low danger

If the dangerous substance or article is not alone in the package, we have what is known as an
outer package. The package may be grouped together with other packages in an overpack, or it
may be loaded together with other cargo in a container or ULD (Unit Load Device). All these
different ways of packing imply different conditions that need to be addressed in marking,
separation, and loading. This will be covered in more detail later in the learner guide.
A primary concern is to ensure that different forms of dangerous goods are kept apart if they do
not agree with one another. Some forms of explosives, for instance, should not be loaded or
packed together. The segregation chart is used to determine which dangerous goods are
compatible or not.
The Dangerous Goods List provides references to packing instructions. These are comprehensive
instructions on how the substance or article must be packed, including the materials to be used in
the package and provisions for ventilation, shock absorption etc. These instructions are found in
what is commonly known as the “yellow pages” because of the actual colour in the IATA DGR.

A bottle of whiskey, shipped as “Limited quantities”, refers to packing instruction Y3 RISK MA

44.This instruction tells us that if the liquid is in a bottle made of glass then we are only allowed to
have 2.5L in each package.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 79

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Plastic and metal receptacles may contain 5L. Furthermore, it must also be packed in a sturdy
outer package with sufficient cushioning and absorbent material to prevent movement and
leakage. The table below is a partial extract from packing instruction Y344.

The IATA Dangerous Goods regulations will guide the packer on the regulations to which they
must adhere. The airline will also carefully check the cargo and documents with a formal DG
Checklist. This will ensure that all requirements are met 100%. Examples of this check list will be
provided.

AC 6 - Special provisions and emergency response codes are explained according to the
International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations

In order to protect anyone who may have to deal with an aircraft on the ground in an emergency it
is essential that, whenever possible, information about what is on board is made available to
others. To this end, if an in-flight emergency occurs and the situation permits, the commander
must inform the appropriate air traffic services unit of the dangerous goods on board the aircraft.
This information should include: the proper shipping name, class and subsidiary risks, quantity,
and location on board.

The information can be provided by the ICAO document: Emergency Response Guidance for
Aircraft Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods; or a similar document. In addition, there must be
company procedures for dealing with incidents, including instructions on actions to be taken in
emergencies.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 80

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

If a package of dangerous goods has been damaged to the extent that it spills its contents, the
situation must be handled promptly and correctly. Regardless of the nature of hazard everyone
not immediately required in the vicinity must be kept well away.

Anyone who may have been affected (harmed or contaminated) must RISK MA be given

immediate medical attention and their names and addresses noted for further follow up if needed.
As discussed previously there are State and Operator Variations. These are different to the IATA
Regulations and are therefore detailed in the regulations.
There is a summary available in the IATA DGR and part of this summary is a list of all States that
have variations regarding the Accident and incident reporting requirements, and where a
Shipper’s Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) must have a 24 hour emergency telephone number.
Among the key US variations are the emergency response communication standards in USG-12
(US-12 in ICAO).
Below is an extract from the IATA DGR for USG-12 which details the US requirements regarding
emergency response details.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 81

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

As with all US variations, these requirements apply to all shipments transported to, from, or within
the US that are conducted under the international standards. These variations also apply to
dangerous goods being carried on an American registered aircraft, regardless of where it is

travelling. RISK MA

Shippers must ensure that they supply a valid 24-hour
emergency response telephone number which may be
used in emergencies to contact personnel with details
about handling an emergency involving the material
being transported.

The State and/or Operator must be familiar with and

have access to the latest ICAO manual: Emergency

Response Guidance for Aircraft Incidents involving

__________________________________________________________________________________ 82

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Dangerous Goods.

The person supervising the situation must consult a suitable “Dangerous Goods Emergency Chart”
to see what immediate remedial action may be required. The wrong action may make the
situation worse. As soon as possible expert help must be acquired. There are seldom any
established official channels for this and the local telephone directory is usually the best way of
getting expert help. In the case of leaking toxins, for instance, one could simply call the nearest
hospital and get help from their toxicologists.
All handling agents should have an emergency chart, similar to the one below, readily available,
together with types of procedures and kits to handle these types of emergencies.
Please refer to table 4.1 on the LMS for Aircraft Emergency Response Drills.

RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 83

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Special Provisions are special conditions that exist for some of the dangerous goods listed in the
blue pages. These are mentioned under column M and refer to section 4.4.
There are 807 special provisions, some are no longer in use.

An example of the special provisions is as follows:

AC 7 - Items that are not listed by name are classified according to the International Civil Aviation

Organisation regulations

The PSN or Proper Shipping Name has already been discussed. However, there are instances
where there is an addition to the PSN as per the example below:

__________________________________________________________________________________ 84

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

The ★ symbol indicates that the technical name or chemical group name(s) need to be shown
after the PSN in parentheses. The symbol itself is not part of the name.

The class and packing groups will be used to determine the appropriate PSN with the relevant
notation making up the full name.

For example, "flammable liquid, n.o.s." is a common generic proper shipping name; the "n.o.s."
means "not otherwise specified." Many generic proper shipping names, denoted in ICAO and
IATA's commodity lists with asterisks, must be modified by adding technical names of the
hazardous constituents in brackets after the shipping descriptions. These modifications must
appear on package markings and shipping papers.

Packages are marked to provide information about the contents of the package, the nature of the
hazard, and the packaging standards applied. All markings on packages or overpacks shall be
placed in such a way that they are clearly visible and not covered by any other label or marking.

Each package shall display the following information on the outer packaging or the overpack.

• the shipper’s (sender’s, consignor’s) name and address

• the telephone number of a responsible person, knowledgeable about the shipment

• the receiver’s (consignee’s) name and address

__________________________________________________________________________________ 85

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

• the United Nations (UN) ID number followed by the proper shipping name (UN 2814
“INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES AFFECTING HUMANS” or UN 2900 “INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
AFFECTING ANIMALS”, as appropriate). Technical names need not be shown on the package
unless this this part of the PSN as indicated by the ★ symbol.

• temperature storage requirements (optional)
• when dry ice or liquid nitrogen is used: the technical name of the refrigerant, the

appropriate United Nations number, and the net quantity

Other markings that may be found in specialised circumstances include:
• the net quantity and gross mass of the package for explosives
• the type of package and identification mark and trefoil symbol (when required) for

radioactive materials
• the net mass for dry ice

Packages are labelled to indicate the hazards and the contents present in transport. In addition,
other labels may specify handling conditions.
Hazard labels convey information by colour and symbol; they are diamond shaped, with minimum
dimensions of 100 mm x 100 mm.
Packages may have more than one hazard label when:
• there are different dangerous goods of different primary hazards in one package; or
• the one item of dangerous goods has a primary hazard and one or more subsidiary risks.
The primary hazard is identified by the label bearing the class or division number in the bottom
corner. Subsidiary risk labels do not show any class or division number.
There are two types of labels:
(a) hazard labels in the form of a square set at an angle of 45° (diamond shaped) are required

for most dangerous goods in all classes.
(b) handling labels in various shapes are required, either alone or in addition to hazard labels,

for some dangerous goods.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 86

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Specific hazard label(s) shall be affixed to the outside of each package for all dangerous goods to
be shipped (unless specifically exempted).

Some examples of when handling labels are affixed to a package are:

• it contains a liquid and must be kept upright (orientation label)

• it is for transport only on a cargo aircraft (cargo aircraft only label)

• it is magnetised material (magnetised material label)

Handling labels vary in colour, symbol, and size as per the examples already provided when we
discussed the 9 Classes and their respective Divisions.

SO4 - COMPILE AND VERIFY DOCUMENTATION

AC 1 - The Airway Bill is described and endorsed according to international codes and regulations

Each shipment prepared for transport has an accompanying set of documents. The following are
the main documents that one can expect for each shipment:

• Transport document / Contract for Carriage: For airfreight this is an AWB (Air waybill), for sea
freight this is a BOL (Bill of Lading)

• Commercial invoice: This shows the price paid or payable for the goods. This document should
have as much detail as possible about the transaction, such as indicating the applicable Incoterms®
rule.

• Packing list: This document will specify how the goods have been packed, showing the
number of pieces, weight, and dimensions.

• Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD): This is only for shipments containing dangerous goods
(other than Excepted Quantity shipments, where a DGR is not required)

• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): This document notes all the product safety information
on the potential hazards and how to work safely with the product or article. This may be
requested by the airline, and will certainly be needed by the DG packing company.

There are other documents such as Certificates of Origin (CoO) and other permits required for
Statutory Obligations, however, these will not be covered at this time.

In transportation, the presence of dangerous goods must be communicated not only through the

marks and labels on the package, but also through these shipping documents accompanying the

__________________________________________________________________________________ 87

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

materials. The air waybill (AWB), the airline contract for carriage, is used to transmit the required
dangerous goods information, especially when dry ice is used to refrigerate non-hazardous
materials, or when the shipment is in excepted quantities.

For airfreight, the documents which must accompany the dangerous goods shipment are the air
waybill and the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods. A material data safety sheet (MSDS)
may also accompany the shipment.

The original and the duplicate of the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be attached
to the air waybill (stapled to the back of the air waybill).

The AIR WAYBILL NUMBER must be filled in on the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods (top
right corner of the declaration). The Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be
completed in accordance with the latest IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

The Proper Shipping Name (PSN) must be used for transport purposes on the documentation and
the labelling. The Proper Shipping Name is that name which appears in the IATA Dangerous Goods
Regulations (DGR) in bolt text only; any text in lower case is only descriptive and is not part of the
PSN. Trade names are not acceptable.

The consignor (shipper) who offers dangerous goods for transport shall describe the dangerous
goods on a transport document (i.e. air waybill) and provide additional information and
documentation as specified in the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

The requirements of a transport document (AWB) for dangerous goods are as follows:

• A dangerous goods transport document may be in any form, provided it contains all of the
information required by the DGR.

• If both dangerous and non-dangerous goods are listed in one document, the dangerous
goods shall be listed first, or otherwise be emphasised.

• A dangerous goods transport document may consist of more than one page, provided pages
are consecutively numbered.

• The information on a dangerous goods transport document shall be easy to identify, legible
and durable.

• The name and address of the consignor and the consignee of the dangerous goods shall be
included on the dangerous goods transport document.

• The date the dangerous goods transport document or an electronic copy of it was prepared
or given to the initial carrier shall be included.

• The transport document for a shipment containing dangerous goods shall refer to the DGD
as per the IATA Regulations

__________________________________________________________________________________ 88

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

• In addition to the dangerous goods description the following information shall be included
after the dangerous goods description on the dangerous goods transport document.

o The transport document shall include a statement regarding actions, if any, that are
required to be taken by the carrier, such as emergency arrangements appropriate to

the consignment. RISK A

o The dangerous goods transport document shall include a certification or declaration
that the consignment is acceptable for transport and that the goods are properly
packaged, marked, and labelled, and in proper condition for transport in accordance
with the applicable regulations.

A neutral air waybill is a standard air waybill without identification of an issuing carrier. Many
airlines of their agents print their own air waybills electronically. They are allotted a set of AWB
numbers and print the serial numbers and identification number on the forms themselves. These
unmarked air waybills are called neutral air waybills. The use of electronic neutral air waybills
allows airfreight forwarders to reduce the stock of specific airline waybills they must hold.

A Blank AWB has been after the example extracts below for your reference.

The IATA conditions state that the air waybill must be filled in by the shipper, or in his name. The
air waybill may be filled out by the airline, or by an IATA agent, but in the name of the shipper. The
shipper is responsible for the fact that the information given on the air waybill is correct and
complete: this means they are responsible for any damage to property or injury to persons which
may be the result of giving false information.

When shipping dangerous goods by air freight the fields which must be completed on the air
waybill are:

• handling information
• nature and quantity of goods

NB!! In the ‘handling information’ box the following must be inserted:

• “Dangerous goods as per associated Shipper’s declaration”, OR “Dangerous goods as per
associated DGD”, and where applicable:

• “Cargo Aircraft Only” or “CAO”

__________________________________________________________________________________ 89

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

RISK MA

In the ‘nature and quantity of goods’ box the information as per instructions published in the
latest IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) must be inserted. In addition to the ‘Nature and
Quantity of Goods’ box, the AWB must be completed in accordance with Section 8.2 of the IATA
DGR.
For dangerous goods NOT requiring the Shipper’s Declaration, a full description of goods in
'Nature and Quantity of Goods' box of the AWB, which must show in sequence, the proper
shipping name, class, or division number, packing group, number of packages, net quantity per
package, packing instruction.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 90

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

On the following page is an example of a neutral air waybill.

The “HANDLING INFORMATION” Box in the example below reads:

When dangerous goods are contained in a consignment with non-dangerous goods, the number of
pieces of dangerous goods must be indicated either before or after the statement “Dangerous
Goods as per associated Shipper’s Declaration” or “Dangerous Goods as per associated DGD”.

Example of a Blank AWB – Student reference.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 91

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 92

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

AC 2 - The Shipper’s Declaration is described and completed according to international codes and
regulations

The ICAO requires use of a Dangerous Goods Transport Document. As indicated in the IATA
Dangerous Goods Regulations, this is separate from the air waybill, and takes the form of a red-
bordered airline industry document called the Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods or DGD.
It gives full details of the shipment, including:

• Name/Address of shipper and consignee
• Aircraft type and limitations (Cargo aircraft only must also be noted on the air waybill when

indicated)
• Airports of origin and destination
• Shipment type (i.e., radioactive, or non-radioactive)
• Proper shipping name (and technical name, if appropriate)
• Hazard Class or Division
• UN/ID number
• Subsidiary risk (if any)
• Nature, Quantity, and type of packaging
• Packing Instruction
• Any special authorisations
• Additional handling information (special requirements)
• Shipper's certification
• How many pages in declaration (e.g. 4 of 4, 2 of 2, or 1 only)
• Place and date
• Name and title of signatory
• Signature
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations contains examples of completed Shipper’s Declarations,
along with guidance on preparing the accompanying air waybill. An example of a completed
Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods is given on the next page.

The data from the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be copied to another
document known as the NOTOC (Notification to Captain). The NOTOC is sometimes also referred
to as NOTAC - Notification to Aircraft Commander.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 93

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Example DGD – Student reference

RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 94

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

AC 3 - The Acceptance Checklist is described and completed according to international codes and
regulations

RISK MA

Dangerous goods for air transport must be subjected to an inspection on acceptance DGR check
list designed to check, as far as possible, that the packages and documents meet all applicable
requirements. An acceptance check list must be used and record the findings of the inspection.
If the shipper has not satisfactorily complied with all the requirements, the package cannot legally
be transported and should be refused until the carrier is satisfied that all details are in order. It is
common practice for ground handler to charge the agent for a dangerous goods shipment that is
found to be unacceptable for transport. The due diligence needed to complete the checklist is
time consuming and the airlines encourage the goods to be accurately prepared before being
handed in.

Example from WFS 2022 charges.

The operator/carrier/airline must comply with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation
Organisation’s Technical Instructions (ICAO-TI) when accepting dangerous goods for transport, in
storing intermediate and loading of dangerous goods, in checking the condition of packages and
unit load devices containing dangerous goods as well as in informing and instructing the staff in its
service and other persons. The operations manual of the operator/carrier/airline must contain
sufficient instructions with which its staff will be able to attend to their duties relating to the
transport of dangerous goods.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 95

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

There is a chapter of the ICAO Technical Instructions that deals with Operator Responsibility, and
this covers acceptance for transport, as detailed below.

Acceptance for transport. An operator shall not accept dangerous goods for transport by air:

a) unless the dangerous goods are accompanied by a completed dangerous goods transport
document, except where the Technical Instructions indicate that such a document is not
required; and

b) until the package, overpack or freight container containing the dangerous goods has been
inspected in accordance with the acceptance procedures contained in the Technical
Instructions.

Acceptance checklist.

An operator shall develop and use an acceptance checklist as an aid to compliance with the
provisions under ‘acceptance for transport.’

Loading and stowage

Packages and overpacks containing dangerous goods and freight containers containing radioactive
materials shall be loaded and stowed on an aircraft in accordance with the provisions of the
Technical Instructions.

Inspection for damage or leakage

Packages and overpacks containing dangerous goods and freight containers containing radioactive
materials shall be inspected for evidence of leakage or damage before loading on an aircraft or
into a unit load device. Leaking or damaged packages, overpacks or freight containers shall not be
loaded on an aircraft.

A unit load device shall not be loaded aboard an aircraft unless the device has been inspected and
found free from any evidence of leakage from, or damage to, any dangerous goods contained
therein.

Where any package of dangerous goods loaded on an aircraft appears to be damaged or leaking,
the operator shall remove such package from the aircraft, or arrange for its removal by an
appropriate authority or organisation, and thereafter shall ensure that the remainder of the
consignment is in a proper condition for transport by air and that no other package has been
contaminated.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 96

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED

Packages or overpacks containing dangerous goods and freight containers containing radioactive
materials shall be inspected for signs of damage or leakage upon unloading from the aircraft or
unit load device. If evidence of damage or leakage is found, the area where the dangerous goods
or unit load device were stowed on the aircraft shall be inspected for damage or contamination.

Loading restrictions in passenger cabin or on flight deck - dangerous goods shall not be carried in
an aircraft cabin occupied by passengers or on the flight deck of an aircraft, except in
circumstances permitted by the provisions of the Technical Instructions.

Removal of contamination

Any hazardous contamination found on an aircraft as a result of leakage or damage to dangerous

goods shall be removed without delay. RISK MA

An aircraft which has been contaminated by radioactive materials shall immediately be taken out
of service and not returned to service until the radiation level at any accessible surface and the
nonfixed contamination are not more than the values specified in the Technical Instructions.

Separation and segregation

Packages containing dangerous goods which might react dangerously one with another shall not
be stowed on an aircraft next to each other or in a position that would allow interaction between
them in the event of leakage. Packages of toxic and infectious substances shall be stowed on an
aircraft in accordance with the provisions of the Technical Instructions.

Packages of radioactive materials shall be stowed on an aircraft so that they are separated from
persons, live animals, and undeveloped film, in accordance with the provisions in the Technical
Instructions.

When dangerous goods are loaded in an aircraft, the operator shall protect the dangerous goods
from being damaged and shall secure such goods in the aircraft in such a manner that will prevent
any movement in flight which would change the orientation of the packages. For packages
containing radioactive materials, the securing shall be adequate to ensure that the separation
requirements of 8.7.3 are met at all times.

Except as otherwise provided in the Technical Instructions, packages of dangerous goods bearing
the “Cargo aircraft only” label shall be loaded in such a manner that a crew member or other
authorised person can see, handle and, where size and weight permit, separate such packages
from other cargo in flight.

On the following five pages are examples of IATA acceptance checklists for non-radioactive

shipments, radioactive shipments, and dry ice (carbon dioxide, solid).

__________________________________________________________________________________ 97

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 98

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 99

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED
RISK MA

__________________________________________________________________________________ 100

©Global Maritime Legal Solutions (GMLS) Version 2 2022

THIS IS ACCREDITED MATERIAL THAT IS COPYRIGHTED TO GMLS AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM GMLS MANAGEMENT