For those who think that dangerous goods (DG) as far as the cargo world is concerned, applies only to obvious things like weapons and firecrackers, are in for a surprise. In the shipping world, unsafe goods describe anything that may potentially do bodily harm to the person transporting it. It could be something as ordinary as fishing hooks or glass bottles. In fact, there are several international governing bodies that regulate shipping, and they have their guidelines that describe what dangerous goods are.
Moreover, the shipping company itself will have their own set of rules. For example, one of the most common dangerous items that are being shipped these days is lithium-ion batteries. In fact, most, if not all shipping companies are requiring special labels to let the carrier know that the package contains these types of batteries.
Best Practices
However, there are some best practices that customers can follow to make shipping a hassle-free experience. The first thing that needs to be done is to identify the item and label accordingly. Some things are not necessarily dangerous on their own but may contain a dangerous ingredient. Some types of goods are downright banned on overnight airfreight. They will need to be shipped by ground freight. Second, make sure the product being shipped is packed properly. Something seemingly innocent as a bottle of wine can be very dangerous when dropped. Lastly, make sure all documentation is completed and done correctly including the hazard label if need be.
A lot of shipping companies are now charging an extra shipping and handling fee for dangerous goods shipping. Some couriers even require customers to take out insurance to cover the person handling the goods and the company. Whatever the requirements are, all they need to do is refer to DGD Hazmat to make things easier when dangerous goods shipping needs to be done.
