Various Kinds of Dangerous Goods and Risks Involved in Their Transportation

The nature of a product should be examined before sending it to another place via any mode of transport. The inflammable or explosive materials need more attention and utmost care while transportation by road, water or air. Many dangerous goods can cause accidents while transporting from the manufacturing points or sources of production to local and foreign markets. Hence, there are many strict rules in every country regarding the safe transport of such materials, which should be obeyed by all commercial companies to avoid hassles or accidents in the future.

Different Categories of Dangerous Goods Produced Commercially

1. Inflammable goods – Many solids, liquids, and gases may catch fire spontaneously after coming in contact with even a small spark, or sometimes even with atmospheric air. Some dangerous goods burst out into flames when contacted with water particles due to a chemical reaction. Ethane, methane, propane, butane, and hydrogen are inflammable gases, while petrol, diesel, benzene, and acetone are inflammable liquid chemicals. Fireworks, nitro-glycerine, ammunition, and a few common igniters are known as most inflammable materials that demand maximum care during transportation.

2. Explosive substances – Many materials cause sudden explosions if handled roughly or clashed accidentally with any other solid object. Mostly, hazardous chemicals are categorised as explosives that can explode even at the slightest disturbance. Usually, these explosives are needed in mining and construction industries, for which these products should be transported carefully to the required worksites.

3. Toxic materials – Some gases, like chlorine, hydrogen, nitrogen dioxide, and fluorine are known to be highly toxic and harmful for human bodies when inhaled with air. Various chemicals like cyanide, mercuric salts, selenite, and iprite are also highly toxic and should not come in contact with human bodies. Rat poison, pathogenic substances, serums, and vaccines may also be toxic for healthy people and direct touch should be avoided while transporting these dangerous goods from one place to another.

4. Radioactive chemicals – Uranium and thorium are good examples of highly radioactive materials that can adversely affect human health. Sometimes, radioactive waste products need to be transported for disposal with the utmost care. However, most of the radioactive chemicals are prohibited for common use now, and thus need not handled by transport companies.

5. Oxidising materials – Many chemicals oxidize spontaneously when exposed to air, resulting in undesired explosions. These oxidising substances, like bromides, nitrates, chlorates, peroxides, and permanganates, are considered as dangerous goods for transporting through public transporting systems. These materials can cause harmful effects to the human bodies due to the oxidising effects on internal body organs.

6. Infectious substances – Various biochemical and biological substances, like the microorganisms, body fluids, and excreta of organisms are needed for medical research, which may cause infections without proper precautions. Clinical wastes also need to be transported for safe disposal, which can be infectious for normal human beings.

7. Corrosive materials – Some corrosive materials, like cleansing liquids, paint removers, and electrical batteries can impose negative effects on the body tissues of human beings if come in direct contact with their bodies. Various corrosive chemicals, like caustic soda, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid are known as dangerous goods that should be transported with utmost caution.

8. Other risky items – Many materials can be hazardous for human health, among which asbestos, magnetic substances and dry ice are the most common ones that have commercial uses. Hence, these goods need to be transported with care to avoid direct touch or inhalation or negative effect on the body.

The correct packaging of all these dangerous goods while abiding by the concerned laws of the country is the most vital factor. The mode of transport is also chosen according to the nature of the materials to be sent, confirming of least risk while transportation Dangerous Goods.