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Developed and maintained by the NFCC Contents Road transportation .................................................................................................................................. 3 Emergency Action Code (EAC) ........................................................................................................... 38 This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 2 of 42 Road transportation Packaged goods transport labelling Different regimes are used to placard and label dangerous goods transported in packages. Following classification, the manufacturer or importer will be able to produce an appropriate label for the substance. For transport purposes, this label will include: The designation of the product or its proper shipping name (PSN); this is the official description listed in the regulations for a particular UN number The UN number Appropriate hazard warning symbols If a product is not specifically listed in the Regulations, or the hazardous properties and emergency response procedures for a solution or mixture differ significantly from those of the pure substance, then one of the generic (N.O.S.) entries must be used. In such cases, the PSN must be supplemented with the technical name of the goods. The technical name should be a recognised chemical name for the substance or substances which caused the product to be classified as hazardous. Normally not more than two ingredients are named (for example, gasoline and carbon tetrachloride mixture UN 1992 flammable liquid, toxic, N.O.S. or trimethyl gallium UN 2003 metal alkyl, N.O.S.). Image 8 Transportation label for packaged methanol There are different requirements for labelling products for supply and use, which are covered This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 3 of 42 separately. However, for some containers the labels for transport and supply can be combined. Image 9 A combined label for transport and supply Combination packages Packaged goods are usually transported in a combination package consisting of inner packages of a size intended for supply (usage), packed into an outer box convenient for transport. Packages for transporting hazardous goods are required to be fit for purpose and be tested and marked with a UN symbol to show this (for example: 4G/Y25/S/03/GB/PRL271). For further information regarding packaging see HSE Packaging. The inner package will be labelled for supply purposes, while the outer package will be labelled for carriage. Because the regulations for transport and supply of hazardous goods cover different hazards, the labels that have to be provided on each layer of the package can be different for each. This can cause some confusion, particularly where the inner containers of a package may be labelled as toxic because of their potential to cause adverse effects with long-term exposure, while the outer containers may not be labelled at all because the product does not have an effect with short-term exposure. This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 4 of 42 Image 10 Combination package Road transport regulations The regulations concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by road apply from when the goods are being loaded on to a vehicle until they are removed. In some cases they apply until any receptacle containing dangerous goods and/or the vehicle itself has been cleaned to a set standard so that there is no risk from the original product. For example, the hazards associated with a receptacle containing flammable liquids such as petroleum products will be present even when the receptacle is empty due to flammable vapours remaining until it has been cleaned. Duties are placed on different people. There are those consigning dangerous goods for carriage, vehicle operators, drivers and others such as those involved in the design and construction of vehicles. Many of the requirements in the regulations are placed on the operator of the vehicle, i.e., the person who has the management of the vehicle (has the vehicle operator's licence). The requirements of the legislation only apply above certain quantity thresholds. These depend on whether the dangerous goods are being carried in packages, tanks or in bulk. The consignor of a load has a duty to classify the dangerous goods, in accordance with strict guidance, and correctly package and label them. Before responsibility for the safe carriage of these goods passes to the operator of the vehicle, the consignor needs to fulfil further important requirements. They must: Provide the operator with information Ensure that the rest of the transport chain; from the operator to the vehicle carrying the goods to the driver and the person who finally receives the consignment (the consignee) – has the necessary information to enable them to: Identify what is being carried and the hazards the goods pose This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 5 of 42 Ensure appropriate precautions are taken to prevent, as far as possible, any risk to the health and safety of anyone who might be affected by the carriage of the goods Respond quickly and effectively in the event of an accident involving the carriage of dangerous goods and, in particular, provide the information to the emergency services so that they can act appropriately. Marking of packaged goods vehicles The image below shows a vehicle that is used to transport dangerous goods in packages that is within the scope of the regulations by displaying plain orange placards at both the front and rear. While this is an indication that the vehicle is carrying dangerous goods, it gives no indication of their nature Further information regarding the load would need to be found on the driver’s delivery schedule, dangerous goods note (DGN) or on the packages themselves. Image 11 Vehicle carrying packaged dangerous goods Voluntary marking of packaged goods vehicles Two examples of voluntary vehicle marking schemes are currently operated by transport carriers of dangerous goods in the UK with the agreement of the Health and Safety Executive, the Police Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) Practitioners Forum and the Department for Transport. Hazchem Emergency Response Service (HERS) The HERS is a group of member carriers that use a central hub depot and satellite depots to transport packaged dangerous goods on pallets. This system displays a decal on the rear of its member vehicles showing the name of the scheme and a contact emergency telephone number. The telephone number can be used to access emergency advice, to potentially access details of what the vehicle is carrying (if the registration number is known) and to access clean-up arrangements already put in place. This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 6 of 42 Image 12 Hazchem Emergency Response Service (HERS) Decal used by the Hazchem Network palletised dangerous goods carriers in the DHL Hazchem Emergency Response Service A similar decal is displayed on the back and sides of vehicles used to transport dangerous goods These vehicles are sometimes used to carry radioactive materials but the Hazchem Emergency Response Service (HERS) decals are used when the vehicles are carrying packaged dangerous goods but not radioactive materials. These decals will only be displayed if the vehicle is carrying dangerous goods of sufficient quantities that the vehicle is subjected to the requirements of the ADR Regulations. In other words, if the vehicle is carrying goods that fall under the limited quantity exemptions to ADR, or the vehicle is not carrying dangerous goods at all, then the decals will not be displayed. This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 7 of 42 Image 13 Hazchem Emergency Response Service (HERS) decal used by some DHL vehicles while carrying dangerous goods in the UK This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 8 of 42 Image 14 Type of vehicle used by DHL to transport packaged dangerous goods in the UK. The class 7 and ‘Radsafe’ labels would be Placarding of road tankers and tank containers Although the UK is a signatory to the international agreements on road transport movements (ADR) there are different requirements for placarding tankers and tank containers for purely domestic journeys (UK Hazchem). These do not apply to international movements of dangerous goods either starting or completing their journey in the UK. Images 15 and 16 below illustrate the difference between the two systems. Image 15 UK Hazchem placard Image 16 ADR placard Table 21 Comparison of UK Hazchem and ADR placarding This content is only valid at the time of download - 29-09-2021 06:10 9 of 42 Information UK Hazchem ADR UN number Yes Yes Hazard symbol Yes Yes Emergency action code (EAC) Yes Emergency telephone number Yes Hazard identification number (HIN) Yes UK Hazchem hazard warning panel UK Hazchem hazard warning panels or placards used in the United Kingdom contain information on the hazardous substance being carried by the vehicle. UK Hazchem hazard warning panels or placards are not the ADR hazard identification number (HIN), also known as the Kemler Code; this is a different warning placard. The main difference is the ADR HIN details the nature of the hazard presented by the goods as opposed to the actions to be taken when dealing with them. Image 17 below shows a UK Hazchem hazard warning placard. The top-left section of the panel gives the emergency action code (EAC) that advises fire and rescue services on the actions to take if there is an accident. The middle-left section gives the UN substance identification number. The lower-left section gives the telephone number that should be called if special advice is needed. The warning symbol at top-right indicates the UN hazard class of the load.