Proper Dangerous Goods Shipping and Handling

Are you aware that the item you are shipping is safe? It is important that you check the different classifications and ensure that the shipment is safe and compliant with the DG shipping regulations.

Note: DG is short for dangerous goods and we will refer to either ‘DG’ or ‘dangerous goods’.

What is considered as dangerous goods?

Any item that is harmful to the health of humans and as well as the environment, especially when not handled correctly. If you are unsure that the item you are trying to ship is dangerous or not, you may need to ask the manufacturer or supplier for a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). If in the MSDS it contains a UN number, then it is considered as dangerous goods. you can alternatively reach out to DG shipping services to determine it for you.

Examples of Dangerous Goods

You may be surprised that some products or items that are considered hazardous materials such as perfumes, aerosols, and electronic gadgets that contain lithium batteries such as phones, tablets, and laptops.

So before you send off items to someone or check-in items with you when you travel, it helps to know some samples of dangerous goods.

• Lithium batteries – if these are packed wrongly or got damaged during transit, the lithium batteries can short-circuit that can lead to overheating and then catch fire.
• Sprays and aerosols – compressed gas makes these items dangerous and can explode if they are packed incorrectly.
• Paints and varnishes – oil-based paints, spray paints, and even varnishes can overheat and catch on-fire in certain conditions.
• Perfumes – alcohol-based perfumes are considered flammable substance, and is a crucial ingredient in almost all perfumes and colognes.

Dangerous Goods Classifications

DG shipping services have 9 classes of dangerous goods and a few sub-classes. The classification that your DG shipment would fall will affect the type of labeling and how it should be transported.

• Like fireworks or flares
  DG classification: 1. Explosive substances and articles
• Like aerosols or camping gas
  DG classification: 2.1. Flammable gas
• Like compressed oxygen
  DG classification: 2.2. Non-flammable gas
• Like insecticide gases
  DG classification: 2.3. Toxic gas
• Like solvents or paints
  DG classification: 3. Flammable liquids
• Like matches
  DG classification: 4.1. Flammable solids
• Like phosphorus
  DG classification: 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
• Like calcium carbide
  DG classification: 4.3. Substances that emit flammable gases when in water
• Like fertilizer
  DG classification: 5.1. Oxidizing substances
• Like fiberglass repair kits
  DG classification: 5.2. Organic peroxides
• Like pesticides
  DG classification: 6.1. Toxic substances
• Like blood tests or medical trials
  DG classification: 6.2. Infectious substances
• Like smoke detectors
  DG classification: 7. Radioactive material
• Like bleach or drain cleaner
  DG classification: 8. Corrosive substances
• Like airbags, magnets, telephones or laptops
  DG classification: 9. Miscellaneous