WHAT ARE DANGEROUS GOODS (DG)?

Dangerous goods are items or materials that have corrosive, infectious, toxic, flammable or explosive properties. These goods are hazardous in nature, and they may pose a potential hazard to the safety and health of humans and the surrounding environment when not properly controlled. These goods should, therefore, be transported in a very safe way to reduce the probable risks. Passengers are therefore forbidden to carry these goods either on their baggage or in the aircraft cabin. The transportation of this type of goods is governed and controlled by various regulatory laws operating on international and national levels. These regimes mandate on the safe means of transporting dangerous goods. They give directives on how the goods should be labeled, packaged, handled and transported.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON DGS IMPORTED/EXPORTED TO AND FROM SINGAPORE?

The following are some of the most common dangerous goods imported and exported in Singapore:

• Petroleum/ Diesel Products
• Paints
• Mercury
• Biological specimen
• Bleach
• Car batteries
• Pesticides
• Flares
• Lighter liquid
• Fireworks
• Camping gas

CLASSIFICATIONS OF DG GOODS IN SINGAPORE

Class 1- Explosives

These are items or materials that can detonate or conflagrate rapidly as a consequence of chemical reaction.

Division1.1:  articles and substances with mass explosion hazard

Division 1.2: articles and substances with hazard but without mass explosion hazard

Division 1.3: articles and substances with a fire hazard. It can either have a minor projection hazard or a minor blast hazard but without a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.4: articles and substances that do not present any significant hazard

Division 1.5: substances that are very sensitive and those with a mass explosion hazard

Division 1.6: articles that are extremely sensitive but with no mass explosion hazard

Examples of explosives

• PETN composition
• Rockets
• Igniters
• Air bag inflators
• Primers
• Fuse
• Flares
• Fireworks
• Blasting cups
• Ammunition

Class 2- Gases

Gasses are substances whose vapor pressure is above 50 degrees or 300 kPa and are completely gaseous at 20 degrees at standard atmospheric pressure. Class 2 encompasses articles with aerosols and gas, a mixture of one or more gasses, refrigerated liquefied gasses, dissolved gasses, liquefied gasses and compressed gasses.

The regulation is put on gases since that are capable of causing serious hazards due to their corrosiveness, toxicity, ability to oxidize and flammability.

They are further divided to:

Division 2.1: Flammable gasses

Division 2.2: Nontoxic gases, non-flammable gasses

Division 2.3: Toxic gases

Examples gasses

• Ethylene
• Propylene
• Methane
• Ethane
• Butane
• Oil gas
• Natural Gas
• Oxygen
• Hydrogen
• Helium
• Carbon dioxide
• Fire extinguishers
• Aerosols
• Gas cartridges

Class 3- Flammable Liquids

This is defined as mixtures of liquids or liquids with solid suspension or solution that can give flammable vapor when exposed to temperatures of not more than 60 to 65 degrees. They are supposed to be transported at or above their flammable vapor temperature.  These liquids can cause serious hazards because of their propagating severe conflagrations, combustibility or volatility. This class does not have subdivisions.

Examples of flammable liquids

• Heating oil
• Turpentine
• Resins
• Kerosene
• Benzene
• Alcohols
• Diesel fuel
• Perfumery products
• Pints
• Adhesives

Class 4- Flammable Solids

Flammable solids are substances which are self-reactive or those that can cause fire through friction. They are liable to go through a strongly exothermic reaction. Other substances that are included in this class are those that can go through spontaneous heating when transported under normal conditions or when thy have any contact with air. Others are those that become flammable when in contact with water and those that emits flammable gasses. These goods can propagate severe conflagrations or cause serious hazards because of their combustibility and volatility when not taken care of during transportation.

They are further divided to:

Division 4.2: Flammable solids

Division4.2: substances predisposed to spontaneous combustion

Division 4.3: substances flammable or emit flammable gasses when in contact with water

Examples of flammable solids

• Sodium batteries
• Aluminum phosphate
• Metal powders
• Alkali metals
• Sulphur
• Phosphorus
• Desensitized explosives
• Oily cotton waste

Class 5- organic peroxides; oxidizing substances

Oxidizers are substances that cause combustion by yielding oxygen because of the redox chemical reaction. They are considered to be derivatives of hydrogen peroxide. This substance can yield oxygen through not by themselves and cause combustion of other materials. They are unstable and can exude heat when going through exothermic autocatalytic reaction. Organic peroxides can cause damage to eyes, react dangerously with other substances, sensitive to friction or impact and burn rapidly when not well handled.

They are further divided to:

Division 5.1: Oxidizing Articles

Division 5.2: Organic peroxides

Examples of organic peroxides and oxidizers

• Nitrites
• Nitrates
• Chemical oxygen generators
• Chlorates
• Calcium peroxide
• Potassium chlorate
• Lead nitrate

Class 6- infectious substances; Toxic substances

Toxic articles are those that can cause severe injury or death when inhaled or swallowed by humans or when in contact with the human skin. Infectious substances are those that contain pathogens in them. Pathogens are further described by the dangerous goods regulations as microorganisms like fungi, parasites, viruses or bacteria among others.

They can be further divided to:

Division 6.2: Infectious articles

Division 6.2: Infectious articles

Examples of infectious articles and toxic materials

• Clinical waste
• Alkaloids
• Dyes
• Tear gas substances
• Medical specimens
• Biological specimens
• Antimony
• Lead compounds

Class 7- Radioactive material

These are substances with radionuclides where the total activity and the activity concentration is more than the predefined values. A radionuclide is defined as an atom that is subject to radioactive decay because of its unstable nucleus. They require special transportation because they may emit ionizing radiation that is severe to the health of humans. It does not have any subdivisions.

Examples of radioactive materials

• Density Gauges
• Yellowcake
• Medical isotopes
• Enriched uranium
• Radioactive ores
• Surface contaminated objects

Class 8- Corrosives

These are items that under chemical action disintegrate or degrade other materials when in contact. They can cause serious damages to surrounding materials or then they are in contact with living tissue.

Examples of corrosives

• Iodine
• Hydrogen fluoride
• Bromine
• Sulphides
• Chlorides
• Amines
• Flux
• Sludge acid

Class 9- Miscellaneous dangerous goods

They are articles and substances that may pose hazards or danger when left uncovered during transportation. They present a potential hazard to the safety and health of the humans when not handled properly during transportation.

Examples of miscellaneous dangerous goods

• Ammonium nitrate fertilizers
• Fuel cell engines
• Lithium metal batteries
• Blue asbestos
• Solid carbon dioxide
• Internal combustion engines

 

Why UFMO for DG / Hazardous Goods transportation?

We are fully Licensed by SCDF to transport DG Goods via Local and Cross Border Land Transportation. All our vehicles are SCDF approved and are fitted with real-time tracking technology. Our drivers are Hazmat Trained and are quick to respond in the event of an emergency.

We offer expedited transportation (Same day for Cross Border) and within an hour (locally) to our clients. We are reliable and innovate to ensure our technology and processes stay relevant and efficient.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS FOR HAZARDOUS GOODS FOR SINGAPORE?

1. The PCD is responsible for checking and ensuring that new industrial and residential developments are sited properly and are compatible with the environment. They also impose the control of environmental pollution to be used in the development designs so as to mitigate and minimize risk to the surrounding.
2. Licensing controls are taken care of by the Fire and Safety Act and the Environmental Protection and Management Act. They control the storage, transportation, importation and use of ay dangerous goods.
3. Anyone who wishes to transport more dangerous goods than the limit given by the EPMA must get a transport approval. This approval is given to someone if:

• They give to prove that the dangerous goods will be transported safely
• One holds a license of handling dangerous goods

4. The storage tanks and containers of dangerous goods should be manufactured, designed and tested according to the internationally acceptable standards.
5. All the vehicles, tankers and containers used to carry dangerous goods should be labeled properly and carry the proper warning panels.