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LESSONS & TOPICS

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods present unique challenges and heightened risks in transport. Poor restraint of dangerous goods doesn’t just risk physical damage—it can lead to:

  • Chemical spills and environmental contamination
  • Fire or explosion
  • Toxic exposure to drivers and the public
  • Severe legal penalties and criminal charges
  • Catastrophic multi-vehicle incidents

Legal Framework for Dangerous Goods

Under the National Heavy Vehicle Law (NHVL) and the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail, dangerous goods transport requires:

  1. Compliance with standard load restraint performance standards:
    • 8g forward deceleration
    • 5g rearward deceleration
    • 5g lateral acceleration
    • 2g vertical acceleration (if using friction)
  2. Additional dangerous goods-specific requirements:
    • Proper segregation of incompatible goods
    • Use of approved packaging and containers
    • Correct placarding and labelling
    • Specialised restraint methods for specific classes

Dangerous Goods Classification System

Special Restraint Considerations for Dangerous Goods

General Principles

When restraining dangerous goods:

  1. Prevent ANY movement– Even minor shifts can damage packaging and cause leaks
  2. Protect packaging integrity– The packaging is part of the safety system
  3. Consider emergency access– Restraints should allow for emergency response if needed
  4. Maintain segregation– Incompatible goods must remain separated during transport

Multi-Method Approach

For dangerous goods, often a combination of restraint methods provides the best security:

  • Direct restraint (blocking/containing) to prevent initial movement
  • Tie-down restraints secondary protection
  • Dunnage or separators to protect packaging and maintain segregation

Segregation Requirements

Before loading:

  1. Check compatibility using the Dangerous Goods Segregation Table (Section 9.7.3, ADG Code)
  2. Plan load placement to maintain required distances
  3. Verify packaging integrity, damaged packages increase risk

During loading:

  1. Maintain visual supervision of segregation
  2. Use physical barriers between incompatible goods.
  3. Handle incompatible goods at different times
  4. Document any deviations or incidents.

Emergency Response Procedure

If incident occurs:

  1. STOP: safe location, engine off, hazards on
  2. SECURE: set up exclusion zone
  3. NOTIFY:
    • Emergency services:000
    • Supervisor/ manager
    • Environmental authorities if spills
  4. DOCUMENT:
    • Photos from a safe distance
    • Weather conditions
    • Witness details
    • Timeline of events
  5. DO NOT:
    • Attempt a cleanup without proper training
    • Move the vehicle if it is leaking
    • Use water on water reactive substances