What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are physical goods that require specialist precautions for their shipment due to the hazards associated with their physical and chemical properties.
Dangerous goods classes
There are nine classes of dangerous goods:
|
Class |
Type of material |
|
1 |
Explosive substances and articles |
|
2 |
Gases |
|
3 |
Flammables Liquids |
|
4 |
Flammable Solids |
|
5 |
Oxidising substances and Organic peroxides |
|
6 |
Toxic and infectious substances |
|
7 |
Radioactive material |
|
8 |
Corrosive substances |
|
9 |
Miscellaneous substances and articles |
These classes are further sub-categorised as follows:
|
Class |
Type of material |
|
1.1 |
Explosives - Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard |
|
1.2 |
Explosives - Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard |
|
1.3 |
Explosives-Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, |
|
1.4 |
Explosives - Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport with any effects largely confined to the package
|
|
2.1 |
Flammable gases
|
|
2.2 |
Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
|
|
2.3 |
Toxic gases
|
|
3 |
Flammable liquids |
|
4.1 |
Flammable solids self-reactive substances, polymerizing substances and solid desensitized explosives |
|
4.2 |
Substances liable to spontaneous combustion |
|
4.3 |
Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases |
|
5.1 |
Oxidising substances |
|
5.2 |
Organic peroxides |
|
6.1 |
Toxic substances |
|
6.2 |
Infectious substances |
|
7 |
Radioactive material |
|
8 |
Corrosive substances |
|
9 |
Miscellaneous substances and articles |
Class 7
Radioactive materials are classified as Class 7 Dangerous Goods. General guidance on Class 7 dangerous goods can be found on the Radiation Safety Unit’s website.
For guidance on how to prepare these items for shipment contact the Radiation Safety Unit.
Issued: 01 November 2023; Reviewed 01 November 2023; Next Review: November 2024