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Dg & Safety
Module 4 - Classification and Labelling Page 1 of 6

MODULE 4 || Classification Of Dangerous Goods

 

Classification 

Dangerous Goods are defined as those goods which meet the criteria for one or more of nine United Nations (UN) hazard classes and, where applicable, to one of three UN packing groups.

The nine classes relate to the type of hazard. The packing groups relate to the applicable degree of danger in that class. Some hazard classes are further subdivided into hazard divisions due to the wide scope that some classes present.

The order in which they are numbered is for convenience only and does not imply a relative degree of danger.

List of the Nine Dangerous Good Classes

The following is a list of the 9 classes relating to the type of hazard they present. 

 

List of the Nine Dangerous Good Classes and their Divisions. 

Now that we understand that there are 9 classes of dangerous goods, let's have a look at their divisions. The list below highlights the 9 classes of dangerous goods & their divisions.

Some classes do not have any divisions. These are: Class 3 Flammable liquids, Class 7 Radioactives, Class 8 Corrosives and Class 9 Miscellaneous. 

Class 1 - Explosives

Class 2 - Gases

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

This class has no sub-divisions.

Class 4 - Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances Which, in Contact with Water, Emit Flammable Gases

Class 5 - Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides

Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances

Class 7 - Radioactive Material

This class has no sub-divisions.

Class 8 - Corrosives

This class has no sub-divisions.

Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

This class has no sub-divisions.

Packing groups

Some substances within a particular class or division may present different degrees of hazard. In other words, some dangerous goods in the same class and division can be more dangerous than others. So, in addition to their classification they are further identified according to their packing group based upon the degree of hazard they present. 

A simple example would be that some acids (Class 8 - Corrosives) are more concentrated and acidic than others. Therefore they are more corrosive, even though they are in the same class and division. That is why they are also designated to a Packing Group. A highly corrosive substance would need to be packaged in a very specific way as opposed to a much weaker corrosive substance. 

The Packing Groups are:

 

Multiple hazards

To further complicate the issue, some substances can be defined as having characteristics belonging to more than one hazard class. An example of this type of dangerous good would be a liquid that is both flammable (Class 3) and corrosive (Class 8). In this instance, both dangerous goods labels must be displayed as this will assist in case of an accident or incident.

IATA lists these types of dangerous goods as having both primary and subsidiary risks. The primary risk is allocated to the most dangerous hazard.

You can identify if a substance or article has more than one hazard by referring to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or by identifying the proper shipping name in the List of Dangerous Goods commonly referred to as the Blue Pages within the IATA DGR. The List of Dangerous Goods (Blue Pages) will be covered in module 5.

 

The above information is a lot to take in. The main takeaway message is:

Now let's go though the 9 classes of dangerous goods in the next few pages!

 
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