Hazard Labels for
Dangerous Goods (DG)

The international community has established a classification system for easy identification of dangerous goods. These goods fall into nine primary classes, and some classes are further divided to address specific risks. Each class/division has a corresponding label that accurately represents the nature of the hazard. These labels must be attached to the package during transport and remain intact throughout the journey. Take a look at the illustrated examples below to understand how these labels effectively communicate the potential dangers.

Under regulations, labels must be clearly visible on the outside of the package and must stay on the package while in transit.

You can often find labels printed on most inner packages such as:

• aerosol cans
• bottles of bleach
• containers of thinners
• tins of paint
• many other products which are available at supermarkets and hardware stores.

Below are the 9 hazard labels for the 9 classes of dangerous goods.

Class 1 Explosives

This includes items such as:

• explosive substances
• pyrotechnic devices
• ammunition
• fireworks
• detonators.

Class 2 Gases

These can be transported as:

• compressed
• liquefied
• refrigerated liquefied
• gas in solution.

This includes aerosols. Class 2 has 3 divisions:

• Division 2.1 - flammable gases such as:
  • butane
  • propane
• Division 2.2 - non-flammable, non-toxic gases such as:
  • oxygen
  • liquid nitrogen
  • compressed air
• Division 2.3 - toxic gases such as:
  • chlorine
  • hydrogen sulphide.

Class 3 Flammable liquids

This includes liquids with a boiling point of 35⁰ C or less, or a flash point of 60⁰ C or less such as:

• petrol
• alcohol
• perfumes
• essential oils
• hand sanitiser
• paints.

Class 4 Flammable solids

These are substances that can spontaneously combust and substances, that when they come into contact with water or emit flammable gases. Class 4 has 3 divisions:

• Division 4.1 - flammable solids such as:
  • hexamine solid fuel tablets for camping stoves
  • self-reactive substances
  • desensitised explosives
• Division 4.2 - substances that can spontaneously combust under normal air transport conditions include:
  • camphor
  • sulphur
  • matches
• Division 4.3 - substances that emit flammable gases when they come into contact with water include:
  • sodium
  • zinc particles
  • activated carbon.

Class 5 Oxidising substances and organic peroxides

These substances are not necessarily combustible on their own but can react dangerously with other substances. Class 5 has 2 divisions:

• Division 5.1 - oxidising substances that may not be necessarily combustible, but they may readily yield oxygen and cause other materials to combust, such as:
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • ammonium nitrate
  • potassium chlorate
  • sodium nitrate
• Division 5.2 - organic peroxides are thermally unstable and can emit heat and give off harmful or flammable vapours. They can also be liable to explosive decomposition and react dangerously with other substances. Examples are:
  • acetyl acetone peroxide
  • benzoyl peroxide
  • peracetic acid.

Class 6 Toxic and infectious substances

These substances can cause sickness, injury or death if consumed. Class 6 has 2 divisions:

• Division 6.1 - toxic substances that can cause death, injury or to harm human health if swallowed, inhaled or by skin contact, such as:
  • chloroform
  • arsenics
  • cyanides
  • cytotoxic waste
  • barium compounds
  • pesticides
• Division 6.2 - infectious substances that contain or are expected to contain pathogens that can cause disease in humans or animals, including:
  • medical or clinical waste
  • patient specimens
  • genetically modified organisms
  • infectious substances
  • infected animals.

Class 7 Radioactive materials

These are substances that emit invisible ionising radiation that can be harmful to humans and animals. It can cause objects such as aircraft and equipment to become contaminated if not packaged and handled correctly, such as:

• uranium
• radioactive ores
• isotypes
• radium
• cesium
• x-ray equipment
• medical equipment or parts.

Class 8 Corrosives

These substances can cause irreversible damage if they come into contact with skin and could destroy other freight, or materially damage containers or aircraft. This includes:

• acids
• corrosive cleaners
• battery fluid
• formaldehyde
• hydrofluoric acid.

Class 9 Miscellaneous

These are substances and articles which, during air transport, present a danger not covered by other classes. There are 2 types of handling labels – 1 for lithium battery shipments, and another for all other miscellaneous dangerous goods. This class includes:

• lithium batteries
• battery powered vehicles
• battery powered equipment
• first aid kids
• environmentally hazardous substances
• dry ice
• magnetised materials
• asbestos.

Handling labels

In addition to hazard labels, trained staff must attach handling labels where needed. Staff must use these 4 handling labels with the appropriate hazard labels:

Cargo aircraft only

This label is used to show that the load cannot be carried on a passenger aircraft.

Cyrogenics

This label is used on liquefied gases, such as the ones in Class 2.

This way up

This label ensures a load is placed the correct way up and can be used for non-dangerous goods.

Magnetised material

This label ensures that the load is kept away from the aircraft compass detector unit while being loaded and unloaded.

Sydney Airport – SYD

Melbourne Airport – MEL

Brisbane Airport – BNE

Perth Airport – PER

Adelaide Airport – ADL

Gold Coast Airport – OOL

Cairns Airport – CNS

Canberra Airport – CBR

Hobart Airport – HBA

Darwin Airport – DRW

Townsville Airport – TSW

Newcastle Airport – NTL

Sunshine Coast Airport – MCY

Mackay Airport – MKY

Avalon Airport – AVV

Alice Springs Airport – ASP

Rockhampton Airport – ROK

Ballina Airport – BNK

Ayers Rock Airport – AYQ

Karratha Airport – KTA

Hamilton Island Airport – HTI

Proserpine Airport – PPP

Broome Airport – BME

Coffs Harbour Airport – CFS

Port Hedland Airport – PHE

Newman Airport – ZNE

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport – KGI

Albury Airport – ABX

Gladstone Airport – GLT

Mildura Airport – MQL

Port Macquarie Airport – PQQ

Mount Isa Airport – ISA

Dubbo Airport – DBO

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 59TH EDITION (2018)
The 59th edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations incorporates all amendments made by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board and includes addenda issued by ICAO to the 2017–2018 edition of the Technical Instructions. The following list is intended to assist the user to identify the main changes introduced in this edition and must not be considered an exhaustive listing. The changes have been prefaced by the section or subsection in which the change occurs. 2—Limitations 2.3—Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers or Crew 2.3.5.9—Limitations have been adopted on the number of portable electronic devices (PED) and the number of spare batteries for the PED that may be carried by passengers or crew. The limit is a maximum of 15 PED and a maximum of 20 spare batteries. These maximums may be exceeded with the approval of the operator. Table 2.3.A has also been revised to reflect these limits. 2.8—Operator Variations There are a number of additions, deletions and amendments to variations submitted by operators. 3—Classification 3.9.2—This subsection has been restructured to bring in all substances and articles that are assigned to Class 9 with their respective UN numbers and proper shipping names. The substances and articles have then been grouped according to the hazard they pose in transport. 4—Identification 4.4—Special Provisions A70—Which identifies the conditions under which engines may be considered as “not restricted”. The conditions have been revised to require that the shipper provide written or electronic documentation stating that a flushing and purging procedure for flammable liquid powered engines has been followed. A203—Identifies that vehicles powered by an engine powered by both a flammable liquid and flammable gas must be assigned to the entry Vehicle, flammable gas powered. The special provision has been revised to clarify that in this instance the applicable provisions of PI 950(a) must also be met. 5—Packing 5.0.1.5.1—Has been revised to include new restrictions on packages containing lithium batteries, UN 3090 and UN 3480 only, being placed into an overpack with packages containing dangerous goods classified in Class 1 other than Division 1.4S, Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1 or Division 5.1. 5.0.2.11—An additional note has been added to identify that lithium batteries, UN 3090 and UN 3480 only, are not permitted in the same outer packaging with dangerous goods classified in Class 1 other than Division 1.4S, Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1 or Division 5.1. Packing Instructions PI 951—Has been revised to include a requirement that if the vehicle is powered by an engine using both flammable gas and flammable liquid fuels, then the shipper must also meet the relevant provisions of PI 950. PI Y960—A note has been added to reinforce that dangerous goods in PG I are not permitted. PI 965 and PI 968—Text has been added to identify the restrictions on packing lithium batteries (UN 3480 and UN 3090 only) in the same outer packaging with dangerous goods classified in Class 1 other than Division 1.4S, Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1 or Division 5.1. There are also restriction on placing packages containing lithium batteries (UN 3090 and UN 3480 only) into an overpack with packages containing dangerous goods classified in Class 1 other than Division 1.4S, Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1 or Division 5.1. These restrictions apply to Section IA and IB. For Section II, cells and batteries must not be packed in the same outer packaging with other dangerous goods. 7—Marking & Labelling 7.1.5.5.2—Text has been added recommending that the UN number(s) on the lithium battery mark be of a minimum size.

9—Handling 9.3.2—Table 9.3.A and the provisions of 9.3.2 have been revised to introduce segregation requirements for lithium batteries (UN 3480 and UN 3090 only) and dangerous goods classified in Class 1 other than Division 1.4S, Division 2.1, Class 3, Division 4.1 or Division 5.1. This aligns to the changes in 5.0.1.5, 5.0.2.11, PI 965 and PI 968. A note has been added to identify that the segregation of packages and overpacks loaded into ULD and aircraft cargo compartments, while recommended as of 1 January 2018, will not become mandatory until 1 January 2019. Appendix B—In Appendix B.2.2.4 new Cargo IMP codes have been added for UN 3090, Section IA and IB of PI 968—RBM and UN 3480, Section IA and IB of PI 965—RBI. These two new IMP codes facilitate the differentiation of fully regulated lithium batteries (UN 3090 and UN 3480) from those packed with equipment or contained in equipment (UN 3091 and UN 3481), which are currently assigned to RLM and RLI respectively. Appendix D—contact details for competent authorities have been updated. Appendix E—changes have been made to the list of UN Specification Packaging Suppliers (E.1) and the Package Testing Facilities (E.2). Appendix F—the list of Sales Agents (F.2), IATA Accredited Training Schools (F.3—F.5) and IATA Authorised Training Centres (F.6) have been revised. Appendix I—A new appendix has been added to this edition of the DGR to provide the detail of the changes that will come into effect as of 1 January 2019 based on the adoption of the changes arising from the 20th revised edition of the UN Model Regulations as well as the changes that have been agreed to date by the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel for inclusion into the 2019–2020 edition of the Technical Instructions. These changes include: ● replacement of most instances of the word “risk” by the word “hazard”. The changes reflects the increasing use of safety management systems where “risk” is the likelihood of an event combined with the severity of the outcome, whereas hazard is used to identify the inherent properties. So, for example a substance may have a “subsidiary hazard”, not a “subsidiary risk”. ● significant changes to the provisions for the classification of corrosive substances. These changes reflect the work of the UN Subcommittee with the GHS Subcommittee to better align the classification provisions for transport for Class 8 substances with those for supply and use. ● a new requirement for manufacturers and subsequent distributors of lithium cells or batteries to make available a summary of the UN 38.3 tests. ● new provisions for the classification of articles containing dangerous goods, n.o.s.. This includes twelve new UN numbers, UN 3537 to UN 3548, that have been assigned to articles containing dangerous goods in Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 and Division 6.1. The details of the provisions that will come into effect in 2019 for air transport have still to be finalised by the ICAO dangerous Goods Panel. ● a number of new and modified special provisions. ● removal of the lithium battery handling label (7.2.4.7). As of 1 January 2019 only the lithium battery mark (7.1.5.5) will be permitted on packages of lithium batteries prepared in accordance with Section IB of PI 965 or PI 968, or Section II of PI 965 to PI 970. REFERENCE MARKS The following symbols placed against an item indicate changes from the previous edition: Symbol—Meaning —Addition of a new item. —Change to an item. —Cancellation of an item. —Additional IATA requirements. —Indicates that the item relates entirely to Radioactive shipments

Types of Unit Load Devices Used in Australia

AKE Container

• Type: AKE CONTAINERATA Code: LD3
• Internal Volume: 152 cu. ft. 4.3 mc
• Weight Limit: 1,588 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F, 777, Airbus

AAU Container

• Type: AAU CONTAINER
• ATA Code: LD29
• Internal Volume: 505 cu. ft. 14.3 mc
• Weight Limit: 4,626 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F

 ALF Container

• Type: ALF CONTAINER
• ATA Code: LD6
• Internal Volume: 310 cu. ft. 8.78 mc
• Weight Limit: 3,175 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F,777, Airbus

AMA Container

• Type: AMA CONTAINER
• ATA Code: M1
• Internal Volume: 621 cu. ft. 17.58 mc
• Weight Limit: 6,804 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747F

AMF Container

• Type: AMF CONTAINER
• Internal Volume: 516 cu. ft. 14.6 mc
• Weight Limit: 5,035 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747,747F, 777, Airbus

P1P_PAG Pallet

• Type: P1P, PAG PALLET
• Size:
  • Base: 88″x 125″
  • Height: 64″, x 96″,118″
• Weight Limit: 4,626kg
  (LD),6,033kg (MD)
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747,747F, 777, Airbus

PEB Container

• Type: PEB CONTAINER
• Size:
  • Base: 53″ x 88″
  • Height: 84″
• Weight Limit: 1,800kg
  (B-HIH -1,300 KG)
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747F

PLA Pallet

• Type: PLA PALLET
• Size:
  • Base: 60.4″x 125″
  • Height: 64″
• Weight Limit: 3,175kg
  Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F, 777, Airbus

PMC_PQP_P6P Pallet

• Type: PMC, PQP, P6P PALLET
• Size: Base: 96″ x 125″
• Weight Limit: 5,035 kg (LD), 6,804 kg (MD)
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F, 777, Airbus

RKN Container

• Type: RKN CONTAINER
• ATA Code: LD3
• Internal Volume: 125.41 cu. ft. 3.55 mc
• Weight Limit: Weight: 1,588 kg
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747, 747F, 777, Airbus

VZA_VRA

• Size: Fitted on PGA 20 ft. Pallet
• Max Width for Lower Car: 81″/ 205 cm
• Max Centre Height for Lower Car: 59″/ 150 cm
• Max Wheel Base: 312 cm
• Weight Limit: 2,500 kg(Upper Car)
  9,300 kg c(Max Gross Weight of Pallet)
• Loadable Aircraft Type: 747F Upper Deck

INCOTERMS are standard trade terms most commonly used in international freight contracts for sale of goods. It is essential that you are aware of your terms of trade prior to shipment.

EXW – EX WORKS (… named place of delivery)
The Seller’s only responsibility is to make the goods available at the Seller’s premises. The Buyer bears full costs and risks of moving the goods from there to destination.

FCA – FREE CARRIER (… named place of delivery)
The Seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, to the carrier selected by the Buyer. The Seller loads the goods if the carrier pickup is at the Seller’s premises. From that point, the Buyer bears the costs and risks of moving the goods to destination.

CPT – CARRIAGE PAID TO (… named place of destination)
The Seller pays for moving the goods to destination. From the time the goods are transferred to the first carrier, the Buyer bears the risks of loss or damage.

CIP– CARRIAGE AND INSURANCE PAID TO (… named place of destination)
The Seller pays for moving the goods to destination. From the time the goods are transferred to the first carrier, the Buyer bears the risks of loss or damage. The Seller, however, purchases the cargo insurance.

DAT – DELIVERED AT TERMINAL (… named terminal at port or place of destination)
The Seller delivers when the goods, once unloaded from the arriving means of transport, are placed at the Buyer’s disposal at a named terminal at the named port or place of destination. “Terminal” includes any place, whether covered or not, such as a quay, warehouse, container yard or road, rail or air cargo terminal. The Seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods to and unloading them at the terminal at the named port or place of destination.

DAP – DELIVERED AT PLACE (… named place of destination)
The Seller delivers when the goods are placed at the Buyer’s disposal on the arriving means of transport ready for unloading at the names place of destination. The Seller bears all risks involved in bringing the goods to the named place.

DDP – DELIVERED DUTY PAID (… named place)
The Seller delivers the goods -cleared for import – to the Buyer at destination. The Seller bears all costs and risks of moving the goods to destination, including the payment of Customs duties and taxes.

MARITIME TERMS

FAS – FREE ALONGSIDE SHIP (… named port of shipment)
The Seller delivers the goods to the origin port. From that point, the Buyer bears all costs and risks of loss or damage.

FOB– FREE ON BOARD (… named port of shipment)
The Seller delivers the goods on board the ship and clears the goods for export. From that point, the Buyer bears all costs and risks of loss or damage.

CFR– COST AND FREIGHT (… named port of destination)
The Seller clears the goods for export and pays the costs of moving the goods to destination. The Buyer bears all risks of loss or damage.

CIF – COST INSURANCE AND FREIGHT (… named port of destination)
The Seller clears the goods for export and pays the costs of moving the goods to the port of destination. The Buyer bears all risks of loss or damage. The Seller, however, purchases the cargo insurance.