Dangerous goods transport

What are the key regulations and requirements for the safe transport of hazardous materials?

Whether it's flammable liquids, corrosive chemicals, or seemingly harmless everyday products like detergents or cosmetics, the transportation of hazardous materials is subject to strict regulations and clearly defined responsibilities. Even small mistakes in declaration, packaging, or labeling can have serious consequences. On this page, we take a closer look at the most important aspects of transporting dangerous goods.

Hazmat transport: Wares with dangerous goods warning sticker

What are dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods or hazardous materials (hazmat) refers to any substance or object that may pose a risk to people or the environment during transportation. This includes not only obviously dangerous goods, but also items that you might not immediately associate with dangerous goods, such as:

  • Detergents
  • Various cosmetics
  • Air bags
  • Promotional items such as gas lighters or matches
  • Battery operated devices
  • Gas cartridges

Who is Liable for Damages and Accidents in Hazardous Materials Transport?

Hazardous materials must be properly declared, properly labeled, and properly packaged by the shipper. Failure to comply with hazardous materials regulations can result in significant fines for all parties involved if discovered during an inspection. In such cases, fines are typically levied against the shipper, the customer, the driver, and the carrier.

This means that all parties must take full responsibility and be thoroughly informed about the handling of hazardous materials. Liability cannot simply be shifted from the customer to the carrier or vice versa.

How does a hazardous material declaration work?

The information required for proper declaration can be found in Section 14 of the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The manufacturer of the goods is responsible for keeping the MSDS up to date and must make it available on request.

Transportation documents, including the appropriate Dangerous Goods Declaration, must be given to the driver before the trip begins.

Wichtige Begriffe

ADR
ADR is short for "Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route" (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road). It is an international agreement that regulates the transportation of dangerous goods by road. ADR covers packaging, labeling, vehicle equipment and training requirements and serves as the core regulatory framework for the road transportation of dangerous goods.

UN-Nummer
A four-digit number assigned by the United Nations to uniquely identify hazardous materials. The UN number is used worldwide and must appear on packaging, shipping documents, and transport vehicles.

Hazard Labels
Pictograms affixed to packaging and vehicles to visually indicate the type and class of hazardous material (e.g., a flame symbol for flammable substances). These labels are crucial for quick identification in emergency situations.