What is the meaning of Dangerous Goods?

Dangerous goods (also called hazardous materials) are items classified as hazardous because they can harm health, safety or the environment during transport, handling or storage. They can be solids, liquids or gases.

The nine classes of dangerous goods

Under the UN system used by ADR, dangerous goods fall into nine classes:

1. Explosives
2. Gases
3. Flammable liquids
4. Flammable solids
5. Oxidising substances and organic peroxides
6. Toxic and infectious substances
7. Radioactive material
8. Corrosives
9. Miscellaneous dangerous goods (for example lithium batteries or magnetised material)

Each item is given a UN number and a proper shipping name based on its classification, along with specific labelling and packaging.

How dangerous goods are regulated

Transport is governed by international agreements based on the UN Model Regulations: ADR (road), RID (rail) and ADN (inland waterways). The EU also regulates the use of hazardous substances through the REACH regulation and the RoHS directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances). European law distinguishes dangerous-goods law (their movement and temporary storage) from hazardous-materials law (their use and warehousing).

For a carrier, moving hazmat means correct classification and documents, an ADR-trained driver, and routing around tunnel and road restrictions.