Safe transport of dangerous goods

Dangerous goods are substances and articles that may cause damage to life, health, property or the environment if not handled correctly during transport. To be classified as dangerous goods, the product must have certain properties; For example, that it is flammable, corrosive, toxic or explosive. 

Dangerous goods are divided into the following classes (based on its hazardous properties): 

• Class 1 Explosive substances and articles (e.g. fireworks, explosives, ammunition) 
• Class 2 Gases (e.g. spray cans/aerosols, pressurized gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, acetylene) 
• Class 3 Flammable liquids (e.g. washer fluid, solvent-based paint, petrol, diesel) 
• Class 4.1 Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, polymerizing substances and solid desensitized explosives (e.g. matches, sulphur) 
• Class 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion (e.g. phosphorus, fishmeal) 
• Class 4.3 Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (e.g. sodium, potassium)
• Class 5.1 Oxidizing substances (e.g. certain ammonium nitrate-based)   
• Class 5.2 Organic peroxides (e.g. hardeners of certain adhesives, organic peroxides)
• Class 6.1 Toxic substances (e.g. acrylamide, phenol)
• Class 6.2 Infectious substances (e.g. live viruses/bacteria, waste from hospitals)
• Class 7 Radioactive material (e.g. smoke alarms, certain radioactive samples or equipment)
• Class 8 Corrosive substances (e.g. battery acid, potassium hydroxide solution, harsh detergents, wet car batteries filled with acid)
• Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles (e.g. environmentally hazardous liquids, lithium batteries, mobile phones)

Keep in mind! It is not only pure chemical products, such as spray cans or solvent-based paints, that are classified as dangerous goods. But also other product groups, such as small and large lithium batteries, a mobile phone with the battery inserted, wet batteries filled with acid, fuel pumps, a computer with an extra battery next to it, fireworks, airbags and seat-belt pretensioners.

Under section 14 of the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS), it is stated whether the product is classified as dangerous goods or not. Check if the product has a so-called UN number, a four-digit number preceded by the letters UN. Based on the UN number, you will find how you can transport your dangerous goods in the respective regulations (ADR for road transport, RID for rail transport, IMDG code for maritime transport and IATA-DGR for air transport).

Keep in mind! Only chemical products have requirements for safety data sheets (SDS). For other products, such as engines, fuel pumps and batteries, the information must be ensured by other means, for example by: 

• Check if the product is marked with any dangerous goods information 
• Contact your supplier or manufacturer of the goods.
• Contact your safety advisor for transport of dangerous goods

Limited Quantity (LQ) is an exception concerning packing that can be used to ship dangerous goods packaged in small quantities. The requirements for limited quantity can be found in Chapter 3.4 of the ADR (the regulatory framework for road transport) and in the IMDG Code (the regulatory framework for sea transport). In short, limited quantities are packed in combination packagings containing small inner packaging, which in turn is packed in an outer packaging. The permissible size of the inner packaging, depends on how dangerous the product is.

Under section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), you will find the UN-number of the product. In Table A, column 7a of the ADR (the regulatory framework for road transport) you can see whether the UN number is allowed to be sent as a limited quantity and, if so, the permitted size of the inner packaging. If column 7a says '0', the product may not be transported according to the exeption limited quantity.

Example) UN 1170, ethanol solution, packaging group II. According to ADR Table A, UN 1170, ethanol solution, packaging group II may be sent as a limited quantity with inner packagings of up to 1 liter.

Chapter 3.4 of the respective regulations (ADR for road transport, RID for rail transport and IMDG code for maritime transport) and section 2.7 of IATA-DGR (air transport) specify packaging, labelling and any document requirements. 

Keep in mind! Check our Terms and conditions of Carriage so you know which rules apply to different modes of transport and services.

It is you as the consignor who is responsible for ensuring that everyone in the next stage receives the right information, so a large part of the responsibility rests on you when it comes to dangerous goods. The consignor is responsible, inter alia, for (depending on the mode of transport): 

• Classify the dangerous goods correctly and check that it is allowed for transport. A complete classification for the transport of dangerous goods means that the following information is established: • Class • Classification code • Packing group • UN number • Proper shipping name • Labels • Environmental hazard.
  As a consignor, you should preferably do this in consultation with your supplier, or manufacturer of the goods or your safety advisor for transport of dangerous goods. It is also important to investigate whether you can use any exception, such as the limited quantity exception.
• Pack the product safely and correctly, according to dangerous goods type and quantity.
• Mark and label the package
• Include correct dangerous goods documents
• Provide the correct information when booking the shipment, so that the next step in the chain can transport the product correctly.
• Make sure that all your personnel involved in the transport of dangerous goods have proper training for the tasks they perform, a so-called 1.3 training. Minimum requirement is proper awareness about dangerous goods.  The training requirement applies, for example, to persons who classify dangerous goods, issue transport documents, package dangerous goods, load, unload and other personnel who have duties related to the transport of dangerous goods. There are provisions on training for the transport of dangerous goods by all modes of transport.
• Have your own safety adviser for the transport of dangerous goods registered  according to the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, if your company is not exempted from the rules. Additional information available from Traficom.

Then it's a good idea to contact us! We together then look at what you ship, how much, sizes of units, containers and which shipping method you should use. The regulations differ depending on whether you ship by road, rail, sea or air. The rules for road, rail and sea are relatively similar, but air freight is subject to more and stricter rules.

It is worth pointing out that we have strong restrictions on dangerous goods sent as parcels (DB SCHENKER parcel) because we care about the safety of our employees. Within Finland, it is only allowed to send products that meet the rules for limited quantity - carefully packed - as well as smaller lithium batteries and lithium batteries in / with equipment, which are sent according to the exception SP 188.

Keep in mind! Check our Conditions of Carriage so you know which rules apply to different modes of transport and services.

To know if your product is classified as dangerous goods: 

• Check if there is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and, if so, read Transport Information, section 14 
• Check if the product is marked with any dangerous goods information 
• Contact your supplier or manufacturer
• Contact your safety advisor for the transport of dangerous goods 
• Contact Traficom who can help you with classification questions. 

 Contact customer service

Contact us Contact customer service

DB Schenker guidelines for dangerous goods 
We at DB Schenker have extensive experience of transporting dangerous goods and of complying with the many, sometimes complex, laws and regulations that exist. Since everyone in a transport chain has an important role to play when it comes to the transport of dangerous goods, we value our close cooperation with our customers, hauliers and others. 

Since 1999, dangerous goods have been handled according to the same procedure throughout Europe. Operations in the Americas and Asia Pacific began to apply this in 2002. In December 2002, a steering group was also created centrally in DB Schenker (Steering Committee Dangerous Goods) for dangerous goods with the task of focusing on this activity. 

In 2011, "SOP OG 04", our standard operation procedure, was established, which is group-wide. SOP OG 04 sets the framework for dangerous goods handling throughout the DB Schenker Group, but also takes into account each country's specific differences. This means that even though we have a common platform, there is flexibility that takes account of national deviations. We are convinced that our way of working leads to more satisfied customers, increased efficiency and better results. 

Continuous improvement promotes safer transport 
In order to increase safety when transporting dangerous goods, we continuously review our handling, both through internal audits and self-controls, but also via external parties and authorities. We work actively with dangerous goods issues at all levels within the Group. 

Our staff, including our drivers, have training in dangerous goods
Dangerous goods is an area under constant change, which requires constant updating of both training materials and personnel. Our personnel involved in the transport of dangerous goods have dangerous goods training and also participate in refresher courses to maintain competence.

All drivers who transport dangerous goods for us in Finland have an ADR driver's certificate for the transport of dangerous goods, or have undergone ADR 1.3 DG-awareness training, depending on what kind of goods are to be transported. We conduct regular evaluations, regarding training requirements as well as other important issues regarding dangerous goods, of our subcontractors.

The companies of DB Schenker in the EU and EEA countries and Switzerland have appointed safety advisors for the transport of dangerous goods in accordance with section 1.8.3 of the ADR / RID. The number of appointed safety advisors per company in Europe is related to the size of each company. In Germany and Sweden, the Safety Advisor legislation covers all modes of transport, which is also reflected in these companies within DB Schenker. 

For DB Schenker in Finland:

• Schenker Oy's Safety advisor dangerous goods: Heli Hörkkö, heli.horkko@dbschenker.com

Within Finland, there are also nominated dangerous goods contact persons at each terminal. Our dangerous goods contact persons, as well as all our competent employees, are important pieces of the puzzle in transporting dangerous goods safely.