Hazardous items are generally those which pose a threat should they spill, leak or be involved in an incident, and it’s up to the company exporting the product to understand the risks and ensure their shipments are safe.
As Mike Josypenko, director of special projects at the Institute of Export, notes, it’s a highly complex matter, but one that can be managed by following the standard regulations.
“Handling dangerous goods is a potentially very dangerous aspect of transportation, and obviously when you transport goods internationally that level of risk multiplies,” says Josypenko.
Guidance is set at an international level in the UN Model of Regulations. The specific procedures that apply will depend on the item’s nature, and the level of danger posed. The nine classifications of dangerous goods are listed on the gov.uk website.
Know your Orange Book
Procedures also vary by mode of transport, with shipments by air often under stricter regulation than those by road, rail or sea.
Josypenko advises: “The starting point for any company is to refer to the Orange Book, the UN’s Recommendation for Transport of Dangerous Goods.”
While these are only recommendations, they are used by the international regulatory bodies covering each mode of transport to draw up binding regulations. These are in turn ratified into law by individual governments. Carriers too, often require that customers comply with these regulations so it’s important for the exporter to establish which products require a contractual agreement for shipping.
Kiel Harkness, marketing director, UPS, UK, Ireland and Nordics, says that “certain items are prohibited for international trade to all countries and in other cases, there are restrictions to quantities or how they are transported across borders so you may need to agree transport on a contractual basis. The UPS export toolkit is a good place to start as it includes resources and expert advice on rules and regulations for exporting to global markets.”
Josypenko says most companies will already have a strong suspicion if the goods they’re handling are listed as dangerous, but the responsibility to check lies with the exporter, even if they aren’t the manufacturer or originator. Most carriers will also provide guidance to exporters to help them identify common items or descriptions that could indicate dangerous goods or hazardous materials.
Where products do fall under the dangerous goods classification, they must be safely packaged, and in many cases it is obligatory to use packaging which is approved to certain standards by the UN or the independent authorities governing that mode of transport. The International Maritime Organisation has the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the International Civil Aviation Organisation publishes technical instructions.
There are also regulations on labelling dangerous goods, using approved labels that tell anyone coming into contact with them the nature of the hazard.
Companies should provide technical information on the product. For example, goods transported by road should display an emergency instructions sheet with details of the correct measures to take in case of an incident.
Josypenko adds: “For companies regularly trading in dangerous goods there is an additional requirement for companies to appoint a dangerous goods safety advisor.
“This is an individual who is trained in the transport and handling of dangerous goods. They act as the company’s representative to ensure that regulations are followed, record and monitor incidents and possible infringements, and report any accidents that may occur.”
Safety first
To meet this obligation, companies can train their own members of staff, or hire an independent consultant to act on a contractual basis.
Training can be gained through providers such as Atlas Knowledge Group, which provides online learning with a specialism in safety critical industries. Last year, the firm’s courses were undertaken by nearly half a million users in 110 countries, and this year it has launched a Dangerous Goods by Air Awareness certification.
Commercial director Kevin Short says: “The keyword is in the title, it’s dangerous. If something were to go wrong then it could have a calamitous effect. The recommendations are there for a reason, to prevent accidents and keep everybody safe.”
The new course was developed when Chevron, a customer operating in the oil and gas field, requested course materials to use internally and Atlas realised the topic had wider potential. It covers an understanding of the classifications, packaging, documentation and other legal requirements.
Short says: “There can be real-world legal implications for a company if they do not adhere to the required procedures. But not only that, holding internationally-recognised certification can be an advantage. It’s like having an ISO. It could be used to help lower insurance premiums or it can put you higher up the pecking order when you’re tendering for work.”
This may all sound too complex, but many business make it work.
Arrow Solutions manufactures specialist chemical and maintenance products for the aerospace, commercial hygiene, engineering, marine and rail sectors.
The East Midlands company exports more than 50% of its products overseas, throughout Europe and beyond, subjecting it to some of the most stringent rules regarding labelling, packaging and handling.
Sales director Jonathan Lane says: “Everything has to be labelled exactly correctly. The can will be labelled inside the box, the box will be labelled on the pallet and the pallet will be labelled as well. The exact loading of products on each pallet has to match precisely with the paperwork.”
But Lane says it’s worth the extra effort: “Most of the demand for our products lies outside of Europe, let alone the UK. Overseas customers appreciate the quality of our products and the assurance that comes with manufacturing to European standards.
“Exporting has allowed us to win long term business with blue chip overseas customers. It also gives us the opportunity to spread some risk. Ultimately it is worth jumping through these extra hoops if you are going to really fulfil the potential of your business.”
Content on this page is paid for and produced to a brief agreed with UPS, sponsor of the Exporting to New Markets hub on the Small Business Network.
