dangerous-goods-transport

# Dangerous Goods Transport How to classify, document, pack, and declare dangerous goods for any transport mode. Scope: hazardous materials — classification, modal regimes, packing, marking, documentation. Boundary: `customs-and-trade` = duties and HS codes; `import-export-docs` = commercial paperwork; THIS skill = transport safety rules for hazardous materials. ## MCP Tools ``` # Search for dangerous goods regulatory signals mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="dangerous goods", limit=25) mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="lithium battery transport", limit=25) mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="IATA dangerous goods", limit=25) mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__search_signals(q="ADR dangerous goods road", limit=25) # Get regulation details for DG frameworks mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__get_regulation(id="<regulation-id>") mcp__claude_ai_Cleo_Insight__list_regulations(limit=100) ``` ## Classification Decision Tree ```dot digraph { rankdir=TB; node [shape=box style=rounded fontsize=10]; start [label="Is the substance or article\nhazardous?" shape=diamond]; not_dg [label="Not dangerous goods.\nNo DG rules apply."]; class [label="Identify UN hazard class\n(1 through 9)"]; un_number [label="Look up UN number\nin Orange Book / modal tables"]; pg [label="Assign Packing Group\n(I = most dangerous,\nII = medium, III = least)"]; mode [label="Which transport\nmode(s)?" shape=diamond]; air [label="Air: IATA DGR\n(ICAO TI basis)\nStrictest limits"]; sea [label="Sea: IMDG Code\n(IMO)"]; road [label="Road EU: ADR\n(UNECE biennial)"]; rail [label="Rail: RID"]; us [label="US domestic: 49 CFR\n(HMR, PHMSA/DOT)"]; pi [label="Apply packing instruction\nfor that class + mode"]; label_mark [label="Apply hazmat labels\n(diamond) + marks\n(UN number, proper name)"]; decl [label="Complete Dangerous\nGoods Declaration\nfor that mode"]; train [label="Shipper trained?\n(IATA cat 6 / ADR 1.3?)" shape=diamond]; ok [label="Ready to ship"]; train_req [label="Training required\nbefore tendering"]; start -> not_dg [label="NO"]; start -> class [label="YES"]; class -> un_number -> pg -> mode; mode -> air [label="Air"]; mode -> sea [label="Sea"]; mode -> road [label="Road EU"]; mode -> rail [label="Rail"]; mode -> us [label="US domestic"]; air -> pi; sea -> pi; road -> pi; rail -> pi; us -> pi; pi -> label_mark -> decl -> train; train -> ok [label="YES"]; train -> train_req [label="NO"]; } ``` ## The 9 UN Hazard Classes | Class | Name | Sub-divisions | Examples | Packing Group | |-------|------|---------------|----------|---------------| | **1** | Explosives | 1.1–1.6 (mass explosion → minor hazard) | Fireworks, airbag inflators (UN 0503), signal flares | N/A (compatibility groups A–S) | | **2** | Gases | 2.1 Flammable, 2.2 Non-flammable, 2.3 Toxic | Aerosols (UN 1950 Class 2.1), propane, oxygen cylinders, CO₂ | None (pressure drives limits) | | **3** | Flammable liquids | — | Perfume/cologne (UN 1266), nail polish (UN 1263), ethanol (UN 1170), essential oils | I / II / III by flash point | | **4** | Flammable solids / Spontaneous combustion / Water-reactive | 4.1 / 4.2 / 4.3 | Matches (UN 1944/2254), metal powders, sodium (UN 1428) | I / II / III | | **5** | Oxidizers / Organic peroxides | 5.1 Oxidizers, 5.2 Organic peroxides | Hydrogen peroxide >8% (UN 2014), benzoyl peroxide (UN 3104) | I / II / III | | **6** | Toxic / Infectious | 6.1 Toxic, 6.2 Infectious | Pesticides, UN 2814 (Category A infectious), UN 3373 (diagnostic specimens) | I / II / III | | **7** | Radioactive | — | Medical radioisotopes, uranium ore; requires RAM certification | N/A (categories I/II/III/fissile) | | **8** | Corrosives | — | Lead-acid batteries (UN 2794), hydrochloric acid (UN 1789), sodium hydroxide (UN 1824) | I / II / III | | **9** | Miscellaneous | — | Lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480/3481), lithium-metal batteries (UN 3090/3091), dry ice (UN 1845), environmentally hazardous substances (UN 3082/3077), magnetized material | I / II / III or none | ## Modal Regimes | Mode | Regulation | Authority | Update Cadence | Key Feature | |------|-----------|-----------|----------------|-------------| | **Air** | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), based on ICAO Technical Instructions (Annex 18 + Doc 9284) | IATA + ICAO | Annual (IATA DGR edition) | Most restrictive; many forbidden items; quantity per package caps lower than sea/road | | **Sea** | IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) | IMO | Biennial (even years) | Stowage + segregation between classes; segregation table mandatory | | **Road — EU / international** | ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) | UNECE | Biennial (odd years) | Tunnel restrictions; driver ADR certificate; transport document required | | **Rail — EU / international** | RID (Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail) | OTIF (appendix C to COTIF) | Biennial (aligned with ADR) | Annexed to CIM consignment note | | **Inland waterways** | ADN (European Agreement for Inland Waterways) | UNECE | Biennial | Vessel certificate required | | **US domestic** | 49 CFR Parts 171–180 — Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) | PHMSA / DOT | Continuous (Federal Register) | Applies to all US carriers; different proper shipping names and packing instructions from IATA/IMDG for some items | | **Source of all** | UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods — Model Regulations ("Orange Book"); UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (tests, incl. UN 38.3 for lithium) | UNECE TDG Committee | Biennial | All modal rules derive from and align with the Orange Book | ## Lithium Battery Reference | Parameter | Li-ion cells/batteries alone | Li-ion in / with equipment | Li-metal cells/batteries alone | Li-metal in / with equipment | |-----------|------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------| | **UN number** | UN 3480 | UN 3481 | UN 3090 | UN 3091 | | **Hazard class** | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | **UN 38.3 test** | Required for every cell/battery design | Required | Required | Required | | **State of charge (air)** | Cells and batteries shipped alone: ≤ 30% of rated capacity | N/A (in/with equipment: full SoC permitted) | ≤ not capped at 30%; follow IATA DGR section requirements | N/A | | **Packing instruction split** | Section II (small) vs Section IA / IB (large) — threshold by watt-hour rating of the battery | Section II vs IA/IB by Wh | Section II (small) vs Section IA/IB by lithium content (g) | Section II vs IA/IB | | **Air quantity limit (Section II)** | Per-package Wh limit; check current IATA DGR edition for exact figure | Quantity of equipment drives limit | Per-package lithium content limit (g); check current IATA DGR | Quantity limit per package | | **Forbidden on passenger aircraft** | Section IA (large): cargo aircraft only | Section IA (large): cargo aircraft only | Section IA (large): cargo aircraft only | Section IA (large): cargo aircraft only | | **Label** | Class 9 diamond + lithium battery handling mark | Class 9 diamond + lithium battery handling mark | Class 9 diamond + lithium battery handling mark | Class 9 diamond + lithium battery handling mark | | **Section II mark** | Lithium battery mark (UN 3480) + UN number + emergency phone | Same + UN 3481 | Lithium battery mark (UN 3090) | Same + UN 3091 | **Note on watt-hour thresholds**: IATA DGR revises exact Wh cut-offs in each annual edition. Verify against the current edition rather than relying on a prior-year figure. For Section II eligibility in the edition in force, check Table 9.3.A (ion) and 9.3.B (metal). ## Marks and Labels Summary | Requirement | Description | Applies To | |-------------|-------------|-----------| | **Hazard label (diamond)** | Class-specific diamond, minimum 100mm × 100mm (international); 4-inch × 4-inch (US) | All DG packages; outer packaging | | **UN number mark** | "UN" + 4-digit number (e.g., UN 3480) on package | All DG packages | | **Proper shipping name** | Full technical name from modal tables (e.g., "Lithium ion batteries") | All DG packages | | **Packing group** | Indicated on mark where applicable (e.g., "PG II") | Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, some 9 | | **Orientation arrows** | Two upward-pointing arrows for liquid-containing packages | Packages with liquids, cryogenics | | **Overpack mark** | "OVERPACK" on outer container + all inner marks visible or listed | Overpacks containing DG | | **Lithium battery handling mark** | Specific IATA/ICAO mark showing battery + warning text | All lithium battery shipments | | **Marine pollutant mark** | Dead fish + tree triangle | Environmentally hazardous substances (UN 3082, UN 3077) by sea | | **Limited quantity (LQ) mark** | White diamond with black border + "Y" or mass | LQ shipments (reduced requirements, air and sea) | | **Excepted quantity (EQ) mark** | White with inner diamond per class colour | Excepted quantities (very small amounts) | | **UN certification mark** | Printed on UN-specification packaging (e.g., "UN 4G/Y10/S/…") | All DG packaging must bear UN performance test mark | ## Dangerous Goods Declaration Template ``` DANGEROUS GOODS DECLARATION -- [Shipment Reference] -- [Date] Shipper: [Company name, address, country] Consignee: [Company name, address, country] Transport mode: [ ] AIR [ ] SEA [ ] ROAD [ ] RAIL TWO-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODES (air): Origin: ___ Destination: ___ Vessel / Voyage (sea): ___________________________ Vehicle plate (road): ___________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------- | Field | Entry | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | Proper shipping name | [e.g., Lithium ion batteries] | | UN number | [e.g., UN 3480] | | Class / division | [e.g., 9] | | Subsidiary risk | [if any, e.g., 8] | | Packing group | [I / II / III / N/A] | | Packing instruction | [e.g., PI 965 Section II (IATA)] | | Quantity and type of packs| [e.g., 4 cartons, 2 batteries each]| | Net quantity per package | [e.g., 160 Wh per battery] | | Total net quantity | [e.g., 1.28 kWh / 1,280 g] | | Packaging specification | [UN 4G/Y10/S or outer box spec] | | State of charge (Li only) | [e.g., ≤30% SoC for air] | | UN 38.3 test reference | [Test summary report reference] | ------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional handling information: [e.g., "Keep away from heat. Do not short-circuit. Cargo aircraft only."] Emergency response telephone: [24h number] Declaration: "I hereby declare that the contents of this consignment are fully and accurately described