Dangerous goods are a special type of shipment due to the level of danger during their transport. Transport companies offering services in the field of transporting such cargo must meet and comply with a number of specific requirements resulting from legal regulations.
What does the abbreviation ADR stand for?
ADR is an acronym for the French "L' Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route", which can be translated as the European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. This convention was signed in Geneva in 1957. At present, this agreement applies to 50 countries. The agreement contains provisions regulating a wide range of conditions for the carriage of individual hazardous materials in international road transport.
What is the transport of dangerous goods?
The carriage of dangerous goods by road is defined as any road transport activity performed by a vehicle wholly or in part on public roads, including the operation of loading and unloading, packing and filling, falling within the scope of ADR. The contract on the transport of dangerous goods does not cover transport carried out entirely in a fenced area, inaccessible to third parties.
What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are materials that pose a risk to health, safety, property or the environment during transport. According to the understanding of the ADR convention, there are 13 classes of dangerous goods, determined according to the dominant risk they pose:
CLASS 1 | explosives and articles (hazard divisions 1.1, 1.5, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.4)
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CLASS 2 | gas |
CLASS 3 | flammable liquids |
CLASS 4.1 | flammable solids, self-reactive materials, polymerizing materials and solid-desensitized explosives |
CLASS 4.2 | pyrophoric materials |
CLASS 4.3 | materials which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases |
CLASS 5.1 | oxidizing materials |
CLASS 5.2 | organic peroxides |
CLASS 6.1 | poisonous materials |
CLASS 6.2 | infectious materials |
CLASS 7 | radioactive materials |
CLASS 8 | corrosive materials |
CLASS 9 | various materials and dangerous items |
Vehicles and packaging used to transport hazardous substances
Let's start with the fact that the obligation to choose the method of transporting dangerous cargo rests with the sender. The task of the carrier is only to make sure that this choice is correct and to prepare the means of transport and packaging appropriate for the given class of goods.
Hazardous materials can be transported in both closed and open vehicles as long as the safety instructions are followed. The load must be secured so that it does not move during transport - for this purpose, you can use transport straps, anti-slip materials, partitions, adjustable supports, etc. Dangerous goods can be transported in basically three ways:
transport of parcels in pieces (transport of parcels in packages, each piece of goods must be individually marked);
bulk transport (transport of unpackaged materials, placed in boxes, containers, characterized by a low degree of risk);
transport in tankers.
Dangerous cargo marking
ADR tables
All vehicles intended for the transport of hazardous substances should be marked with standardized ADR plates:
The ADR plate (orange information plate placed on vehicles carrying dangerous goods) should contain two identification numbers of the transported substance. 1) Danger number - two or three digits in the numerator, 2) Material identification number - four digits in the denominator. Plates with identification numbers should be used for the carriage of dangerous goods in tanks or in bulk. In the case of the transport of dangerous goods in the so-called packages, smooth ADR plates (without identification numbers) should be used.
ADR warning labels and stickers
The ADR Convention stipulates that all vehicles, containers, tankers or trailers containing hazardous materials should be equipped with appropriate diamond-shaped ADR warning labels with a minimum size of 10 x 10 cm. Markings must correspond to the patterns and comply with the requirements contained in the annexes to the ADR agreement. Stickers should be glued to the substrate in a contrasting color or surrounded by a dotted or continuous line.
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What requirements should the carrier meet?
One of the requirements set out in the ADR Convention is the need to appoint an ADR adviser. Its role is to support the planning and implementation of safe transport of dangerous goods, control of the necessary safety requirements, training of employees who will participate in the transport of dangerous goods, as well as annual reports on the implementation of procedures and safety instructions in the transport of dangerous goods. As mentioned earlier, each driver or other employee involved in the transport of hazardous materials should be trained in ADR procedures. Such a person should receive written instructions from the principal on the proper transport of a given material and strictly comply with them. The employee should also have fire extinguishing equipment for flammable materials and protective clothing. Responsibility for the safety of the transported cargo falls on the carrier, while the labeling of the cargo on the principal. However, it should be remembered that the purpose of the transport of hazardous materials is, above all, trouble-free and safe delivery of the transported substances to the destination. Consequences of wrong or dangerous transport can be life-threatening or even life-threatening. Therefore, both parties should make sure that everything is in order. To ensure that ADR transport runs smoothly, you should also consider the transport route. Hazardous materials should be transported on roads with the best possible surface to minimize the risk of damage to the vehicle or shifting of the load.
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