Standard Operating Procedure
Dangerous Goods (DG)
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General
Dangerous Goods (DG) are articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment, as listed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Dangerous goods are classified according to one or more criteria in the 9 UN Hazard Classes.
Some hazard classes are further subdivided into hazard divisions.
Dangerous goods can be transported safely by air provided certain principles are strictly followed.
Most dangerous goods can be safely carried in passenger & cargo aircraft.
DG shipment may only be carried on passenger aircraft with prior approval from the airline.
Approved DG shipments must be packed properly according to the Dangerous Goods (DG) Regulations.
Some dangerous goods are not permitted on the aircraft under any circumstances. For example, substances with a mass explosion hazard are forbidden from air transport.
Accepted DG by AOC
DG Accepted Commodity by AOC - Commodity List.pdfPackaging, Marking and labelling
Dangerous goods which are acceptable for air transport must be packed in packages that meet the minimum standards stated in the DGR. The packages are marked with required marks and bear the required labels to ensure that the hazards can be recognised without relying on accompanying documents in an emergency.
Documentation
The shipper’s declaration is required for dangerous goods accepted as cargo according the regulations.
9 classes of Dangerous goods
Class 1
Explosives
Products that possess the ability to alight or detonate during a chemical reaction. Explosives are dangerous because they have molecules designed to rapidly change their state, which is usually a solid state into a very hot gas. There are 6 sub-divisions of explosives, which relate to the product’s behaviour when initiated.
Examples : Fireworks, Flares, and Ignitors.
1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard.
1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both.
1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard; only a small hazard in the event of ignition during transport with any effects largely confined to the package.
1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard.
1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard.
Class 2
Gasses
Class 2 consists of compressed gases, gases in their liquefied form, refrigerated gases, mixtures of gases with other vapours and products charged with gases or aerosols. These sorts of gases are often flammable and can be toxic or corrosive. They’re also hazardous because they can chemically react with oxygen. They are split into three sub-divisions:
Examples : Aerosols and Fire Extinguishers.
2.1: Flammable gas - Any gas which when mixed with air in certain proportions, forms a flammable mixture.
(Examples : Butane, Hydrogen, Propane, Lighters).
2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases - Any non-flammable, non toxic gas or refrigerated liquefied gas.
(Examples : Carbon dioxide, Neon, Fire extinguisher, Liquified Nitrogen or Helium).
2.3: Toxic gases - Gases known to be toxic or corrosive to humans and known to pose a health risk. Most toxic gases are forbidden for carriage.
(Examples : Insecticides Gas, Tear Gas Devices).
Class 3
Flammable Liquids
A flammable liquid is defined as a liquid, a mixture of liquids, or liquids containing solids having a close-cup flash point of 60 Degrees or below. This makes flammable liquids very dangerous to handle and transport, as they are very volatile and combustible.
Examples : Paints, Varnishes, Alcohols, Petrol.
Class 4
Flammable Solids
Class 4 dangerous goods are classified as products that are easily combustible and likely to contribute to fires during transportation. Some goods are self-reactive and some are liable to spontaneously heating up. There are 3 sub-divisions for Class 4 dangerous goods.
4.1: Flammable Solid - Flammable solids: These will burn easily than normal combustible materials. The burning of flammable solids is also fierce and rapid; they are also incredibly dangerous because they can decompose explosively, burn vigorously, or produce toxic gases.
(Examples : Matches, Sulphur, Celluloid).
4.2: Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion - Such substances are liable to spontaneous heating up in contact with air and the liable to catch fire.
(Examples : White or Yellow Phosphorus, Magnesium Diamide)
4.3: Dangerous When Wet - Substances, which by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously flammable or emit flammable gases.
(Examples : Calcium Carbide, Sodium).
Class 5
Oxidizing Substances
& Organic Peroxides
Class 5 dangerous goods are subdivided into ‘oxidising agents’ and ‘organic peroxides’. These are often extremely reactive because of their high oxygen content. They react readily with other flammable or combustible materials, which means fires may break out and continue in confined spaces. These materials are also incredibly difficult to extinguish, which makes them even more dangerous.
5.1: Oxidizer - A substance that yields oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion of other material.
(Examples : Ammonium nitrate fertilizer, Calcium Chlorate, Bleachers).
5.2: Organic Peroxide - An organic material (liquid/solid) that can be ignited readily by external flame and then burns with an accelerating rate. Some substances react dangerously with others.
(Examples : tert-Buthyl hydroperoxide, hardeners for fibreglass repair kits).
Class 6
Toxic & Infectious Substance
Toxic substances are those that, when ingested, inhaled, or in touch with the skin, have the potential to kill, seriously hurt, or injure humans. Infectious substances are those that are known to contain pathogens or can be presumed to do so.
6.1: Toxic Substance - Liquid or solids, which are dangerous if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through skin.
(Examples : Arsenic, Nicotine, Cyanide, Bromoacetone, Pesticides).
6.2: Infectious Substance - Substances, which are known to contain pathogens and cause disease in humans/animals.
(Examples : Virus, Bacteria, such as Ebola, H1N1, HIV, Rabies. Diagnostic speciments, Medical and Clinical waste)
Class 7
Radioactive Material
Radioactive materials are substances which emit certain rays. These rays may be harmful to humans, animals and certain types of cargo. Radioactive material rays can neither be felt or seen and they can only be detected by means of a specialized device.
Category 1 White Class 7 - Low radiation.
Category 2 Yellow Class 7 - Radiation level higher than category 1.
Category 3 Yellow Class 7 - Radiation level higher than category 2.
Fissile Material - Criticality Safety Index label must be used to provide control over accumulation of packages.
(Examples : Plutonium, Uranium or any combination of these radionuclides).
Class 8
Corrosives
Corrosives are substances that causes severe damage when in contact with living tissue, or in the case of leakage will materially damage and destroy anything that it comes into contact with.
Examples : Battery acids, Mercury, Sulphuric acid.
Class 9
Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods (RMD)
This class covers substances or articles which during transport present a hazard/danger that cannot be classified into the other classes. These include aviation regulated solid or liquids, where materials may have irritation, noxious or other properties which could cause extreme annoyance or discomfort.
Class 9 Miscellaneous - This class encompasses but is not limited to, environmentally hazardous materials, substances that are transported at elevated temperatures, miscellaneous articles and substances, magnetised materials and aviation regulated substances.
(Examples : Dry Ice, Asbestos, Combustion engines).
Class 9A Lithium Battery Miscellaneous - Contains high levels of electric energy. If packed incorrectly or damaged in transit, lithium batteries can short-circuit, causing them to overheat and catch fire.
(Examples : Laptops, Mobile phones, MP3 players, Portable DVD players).
Batteries
For battery commodity needs a proper document submitted in order to issue an approval certificate, documents as below.
Batteries Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Batteries U.N Manual of test and criteria part III subsection 38.3 (DGR 3.9.2.6) must be attached.
Photo of shipment.
Packing list.
Batteries under UN3480 is strictly forbidden to accept into pax aircraft unless it meet the requirements the Manual of test and criteria part III subsection 38.3 (DGR 3.9.2.6).
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