Different types of cargoes have different transportation requirements. If you’re shipping goods such as toys, beauty products, or household products, you can ship them via air or sea. But it doesn’t work like that for every good. Some products don’t require as much care as others do. But when it comes to dangerous goods, you need to be extra careful.
Every logistics company has their own policies and measures for transporting dangerous goods. But there are a few things that should still be kept in mind. Use these tips to make transportation of harmful goods hassle-free:
Know Your Dangerous Goods
Hazardous goods come in solids, liquids, and even gas. You need to acquaint yourself with what you’re transporting. Some of the goods that are classified as ‘hazardous’ include:
1. Perfumes: highly flammable. Perfumes contain alcohol and therefore, considered ‘hazardous’ because of their flammability.
2. Alcohol: As mentioned above, alcohol is highly flammable and therefore, counts as hazardous. Anything that has alcohol is considered a dangerous good.
3. Aerosols: air fresheners, insect repellents, or spray paints are all considered dangerous. This is because aerosols contain compressed gas. Products with compressed gas also have specific shipping requirements because they cannot be shipped with chemicals.
other harmful goods are batteries. Knowing which products are considered dangerous is the best way to devise a good transportation policy. Products that do not look or seem harmful can also be considered dangerous. For example, paint and tennis balls. You can check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) which goods are considered ‘hazardous’ and which ones are safe for shipment.
Always Follow the Regulations
Remember that transporting highly dangerous goods will not be a walk in the park. This is exactly why there are specific requirements, policies, and regulations that need to be followed. Local shipments might be different from international shipments so make sure you keep yourself updated. Regulations are different for different cargoes. For example, The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code only applies to the safe transportation of goods by sea. These regulations cannot be applied to shipments via air or land.
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code helps protect the ship’s crew, ensure shipments are made safely and prevents the destruction of marine life. Currently, it uses Amendment 39–18 or 2020 Edition; implementing Amendment 40–20.
For air transportation, we have International Dangerous Goods Regulations by the Air Transport Association (IATA.)
Always have Your Documentations
You need to keep shipping details with you at all times so that in case a problem occurs, you can quickly address it without any problems. If you’re looking for a highly-qualified logistics company in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.
We are an SME based in Heathrow and are pharmaceutical specialists providing dedicated logistical solutions across Europe. Get in touch with us to learn more.