Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dangerous Goods

DG DANGEROUS GOODSEven the most compliant shippers can get tripped up by regulations that consistently change. Items once considered inconsequential can now be classified as Dangerous Goods without you ever knowing. And even though you’re held accountable for implementing these changes, it can be difficult to remain compliant. This e-book, Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dangerous Goods, can help you keep others safe and avoid excessive shipping fines and delays.

DG:

unusual suspects

CHARCOAL

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

DENTAL WHITENING STRIPS

may contain mercury

BAROMETERS/THERMOMETERS

AEROSOLS

AUTOMOBILE SHOCK ABSORBERS

AIRBAGS

BLEACHADHESIVES

may contain batteriesELECTRONICS

DRY ICE

BATTERIES

e.g., lead acid, lithium ion or lithium metal

regulated for air shipments

MAGNETS OR MAGNETIZED MATERIALS

CAMPING EQUIPMENT

The world is filled with items that may or may not fall into a Dangerous Goods category, depending on the quantity, packaging and mode of transportation. Here are a few examples of things people might not know can be classified as Dangerous Goods:

#1DG

MILLIONDG shipments per DAY

There are

94%OF WHICH are transported by highway.

U.S. Government Accountability Office. Defense Transportation: DOD Needs to Take Actions to Improve Transportation of Hazardous Material Shipments. May 2014.

#2DG

DG

DG

DG

DG

DG

1in5DG

DG

DG

Cox, Jerry. Transportation of Hazardous Materials in Plain English Packaging. 2013.

For every five tons of freight that goes on trucks, trains, planes, and ships, one ton is DG.

#3DG

of DG are moved by commercial

carriers in the U.S.each year.

3BILLIONTONS ...that’s the weight of ...that’s the weight of

500 HOOVERDAMS!


#4DG

OF ALL CIVIL PENALTIESIN DG SHIPPING 50%

are imposed because companies neglect to train or retrain their DG shipping personnel according to the required schedule (or at all).


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$4,188,797 in fines for improper DG shipments

In 2012, the FAA issued

Between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Defense (DOD), there are literally thousands of regulations governing the shipment of DG by road, rail, air, and water. And these agencies are serious about enforcement.


#6DG

Did you know lithium batteries are classified as

DANGEROUS GOODS when it comes

to shipping

?

“THERMAL RUNAWAY”

When damaged or short-circuited, lithium batteries can experience what’s called

which is a fancy way of saying they catch fire, explode, send out jets of flaming material, etc. This risk, especially on airplanes, has prompted increased regulation of lithium battery shipping.

#7DG

2000 2010 2020

4.5BILLION500

MILLION

8 BILLION

It is estimated that the production of lithium batteries will increase 1,600% between 2000 and 2020.


February 6, 2015: New regulations for

shipping lithium batteries are in effect.

#8DG

163,333 pages

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)First published in 1938, this massive compendium of rules is divided into 50 titles and covers an incredibly broad range of topics, from agriculture and banking to foreign relations and national defense.

in 226 individual volumes.U.S. Government Accountability Office. Defense Transportation: DOD Needs to Take Actions to Improve Transportation of Hazardous Material Shipments. May 2014.

of the CFR was the largest ever, containing

The Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) in Title 49 CFR 172.101 lists 3,600+ individual items considered to be Dangerous Goods.

THE 2009 EDITION

T I T L E 4 9TRANSPORTATION

#9DG

In the U.S., placards must be displayed on the front, back, and both sides of a vehicle, and the shipper is required to provide the appropriate placard for any Dangerous Goods offered for transportation. While it’s not uncommon for carriers to have the placards available, if you’re shipping Dangerous Goods, you need to know what’s required and ensure the right placards are available when they’re needed.

DISPLAYING PLACARDS

BACK FRONTSIDES

DANGEROUS

#10DG

labelmaster.com 800.621.5808 Copyright © 2015 Labelmaster.

Still wondering if your business is fully compliant? Shipping Dangerous Goods is a complicated process that encompasses thousands of rules and regulations. That’s why a business like yours needs help from the experts. Turn to Labelmaster.com for innovative solutions to your regulatory compliance needs. If you ship or handle Dangerous Goods, Labelmaster offers the most comprehensive selection of training, packaging, and transportation safety supplies.

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Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dangerous Goods