What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous Goods are items that may endanger the safety of an aircraft or persons on board the aircraft. Dangerous Goods are also known as restricted articles, hazardous materials and dangerous cargo. Many common items found in your household can be considered dangerous goods for air transport.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or the local Civil Aviation Authority Regulations govern their carriage onboard aircraft.
Setting the standards leads to safety
Some items may endanger the safety of an aircraft or persons on board, and these dangerous materials can either be forbidden or restricted for air transport. IATA leads industry efforts to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods by air. We provide a great variety of technical knowledge, products, services and training solutions, tailored to satisfy industry needs.
The development of standards for documentation, handling and training, as well as the promotion and use, contributed to achieving a very high degree of safety in the transport of dangerous goods by air.
Dangerous Goods Regulations
IATA works closely with local governments and ICAO in the development of regulations. This way, it is ensured that the rules and guidelines on dangerous goods transport are effective and operational practical.
The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) manual is the global reference for shipping dangerous goods by air and the only standard recognized by airlines.
Training
The 63rd edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations includes the provisions on competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) as agreed by the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel in DGP/27 (September 2019). There is a two-year transition period and therefore, the training provisions from the 61st edition may continue to be used until 31 December 2022.
Appendix I.1.5 as shown in the 61st edition has been adopted in Subsection 1.5 and Subsection 1.5 from the 61st edition has been moved to Attachment A of Appendix H.
The guidance material on the development and implementation of competency-based training and assessment can be found in Appendix H. This material is the practical guide for the industry players to develop their training framework in accordance with the new provisions and will continue to be enhanced by the Dangerous Goods Training Working Group (DGTWG) based on the feedback from training providers and member airlines.
e-DGD Concept
The e-DGD is an electronic approach to manage the IATA DGD, leveraging industry initiatives to digitalize data and embrace data sharing platform principles.
Data is made available on the data sharing platform by the data owner and is accessible to whoever requires it depending on the roles and responsibilities in the supply chain. The data sharing platform principle allows for a close collaboration between all stakeholders, including shippers, forwarders, carriers, ground handling agents and third party providers.
In March 2018, the IATA Cargo Services Conference endorsed the principles of data sharing platform for e-DGD with the adoption of a policy item.
Benefits
1. Increased data quality
2. More transparency and traceability
3. Reduced number of errors and delays
4. Leaner and faster DG processes
5. Improved customer experience
Satisfying international regulations
To ship dangerous goods, consignors are required to prepare a form certifying that the cargo has been packed, labeled and declared according with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The attached sample Shipper’s Declarations form reflect those that have been adopted into the 60th edition of the DGR. Forms of the design as shown in the 59th edition may continue to be used until 31 December 2024.
Process to Ship Dangerous Goods
1. Know the guidelines
It’s essential to follow the guidelines while transporting anything named hazardous products.
The guidelines contain an assortment of limitations, including remembering subtleties for the sorts of bundling, checking, marking, and documentation required. Rules can change contingent upon the method of transport, so look at your transporter to observe how your hazardous merchandise will be shipped.
2. Ensure you’ve received training
Anyone transporting hazardous products needs to have gotten the required training(s) and comprehend the pertinent regulation(s). Then again, someone else or an organization that has gotten the suitable training(s) can be recruited to set up the shipment for your benefit.
3. Arrange and pronounce your shipment accurately
The transporter is answerable for guaranteeing that hazardous merchandise should be distinguished, grouped, pronounced, pressed, stamped, and named with the right documentation for the nations/regions of beginning, travel, and objective. Assuming you’re uncertain, check with the producer or provider to figure out the grouping of your risky products.
4. Pack your shipment appropriately
Much of the time it’s a necessity to utilize affirmed bundling with unobscured United Nations detail markings. These markings show that the bundling has been tried for specifically required abilities expected to ship risky products. See the present IATA DG Regulations see whether your shipment requires them.
5. Have the right marking and documentation
Most hazardous merchandise shipments require unobscured marks that connect with the risk class and auxiliary peril. Clients can buy supported marks (or view a rundown of other name sellers) on the IATA hazardous merchandise site. Old marks on reused boxes should be eliminated.