In air transport, the term “dangerous goods” refers to any material that may pose a danger to aircraft during transit. Some of these goods are obvious, like fireworks and oxygen tanks. Others are common household items, like batteries and aerosol cans. Certain goods belong to certain classes, and each class determines how such materials should be handled.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Dangerous Substances vs. Hazardous Materials
- Dangerous Goods Classifications
- Get Certified for Dangerous Goods Regulations at Hazmat School
Dangerous Substances vs. Hazardous Materials
Dangerous goods and hazardous substances are often used interchangeably, but in regulatory terms, they are different.
Dangerous goods are materials that may pose an immediate danger if tampered with, like explosives, poisons and corrosive substances. Hazardous materials include anything that can threaten the health of humans, property or the environment, particularly in the long term.
While goods can be both dangerous and hazardous, knowing the differences is important for regulatory guidelines regarding handling.
Dangerous Goods Classifications
Dangerous goods training is essential for anyone who works with those materials, including freight forwarders, logistics teams, shippers, packagers, flight crews and security scanners. The nine dangerous goods classes will be one of the first things you’re expected to learn in training, so let’s take a look at what makes up each of them:
- Class 1 — Explosives: Fireworks, ammunition and flares
- Class 2 — Gases: Fire extinguishers, aerosol cans, oxygen or CO2 containers and lighters
- Class 3 — Flammable and Combustible Liquids: Perfume, hand sanitizer, gasoline, paint, paint thinner, adhesives and alcohol
- Class 4 — Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible and Dangerous When Wet: Matches, seed cake and metal powders
- Class 5 — Oxidizer and Organic Peroxide: Certain chemicals, resin and oxygen generators
- Class 6 — Poison and Poison Inhalation Hazard: Infectious substances, medical waste, pesticides and insecticides
- Class 7 — Radioactive: Radiopharmaceuticals and smoke detectors
- Class 8 — Corrosive: Bleach, chlorine, battery acid, sulfuric acid (and other acids) and paint strippers
- Class 9 — Miscellaneous: Any substances that may include hazardous materials not classified above, such as electronics, lithium batteries, motor engines and dry ice
Get Certified for Dangerous Goods Regulations at Hazmat School
If you work with dangerous goods in any class as a business or individual, most air transportation professionals will require you to be IATA certified before agreeing to work with you. The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) certification ensures all transportation personnel know how to handle dangerous substances in any situation.
Ready to get certified and further your career? Enroll in Hazmat School’s DGR training program and let our self-paced course teach you everything you need to know to be a responsible handler. Get started today and be ready for certification as soon as possible.
Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
