0. TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR LEARNING FROM THE MISFORTUNES OF OTHERS

1. OBJECTIVES
To give a brief overview of the requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by air
To identify deficiencies in the supply chain that could lead to serious accidents/incidents
To demonstrate the challenges facing industry in ensuring compliance with the regulations

2. DEFINITION OF DANGEROUS GOODS
Dangerous Goods are articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment, and which are shown in the list of Dangerous Goods in the Dangerous Goods Regulations or which are classified according to these Regulations.

3. ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE SAFE TRANSPORT BY AIR OF DANGEROUS GOODS
Annex 18 to the Convention
Aviation Act No. 74 of 1962
ICAO Technical Instructions
ICAO Technical Instruction Supplement
Civil Aviation Regulations of 1997; Part 92
SA-CATS-DG
ICAO Emergency Response Guidance for aircraft incidents involving dangerous goods
Part 141 Dangerous Goods Training
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations – used by industry (mostly IATA Members) – contains all the requirements in the ICAO Technical Standards
In 1953 the member Airlines of IATA recognised the growing need of transportation by Air of Dangerous Goods ( articles and Substances having Harzadous properties) which if not properly controlled could adversely affect the safety of passengers, crew and or Aircraft on which they are carried. Eperience in other modes of transport had demosntrated that this articles can be transported provided that they are properly packed and the quantities in each package were properly limited. Using this experience together with the industry knowledge, IATA developed the first Regulations for Dangerous Gooods Transpotation by Air, and the first edition of the DGR manual was published in 1956 as the IATA Restricted Articles Regulations.

4. USE OF THE ICAO TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS and IATA DGR Manual
Classify & identify proper shipping name
Check if permitted on passenger/cargo aircraft or if forbidden
If forbidden, check if subject to exemption
Check quantity and packaging
Prepare consignment – mark/label/document
Sign Transport Document and offer for transport
State Variation Requirements
Operator Variations

5. LIMITATIONS OF DANGEROUS GOODS ON AIRCRAFT
Forbidden for air transport under any circumstances
- certain explosives
- substances liable to produce dangerous evolution of heat
Forbidden for transport unless exempted by various States
Acceptable for transport on both Passenger and Cargo Aircraft
Forbidden for transport on a Passenger Aircraft,
but acceptable on Cargo Aircraft only

6. LEARNING FROM THE MISFORTUNES OF OTHERS PROBABLE CAUSE
Valujet 592; Chemical Oxygen Generators
Pan American B-707; Onboard nitric acid fire
American Airlines DC-10; Chemical Oxygen Generators
Fed-Ex DC-10; Flammable Liquids in Lab Machine
Continental Airlines B-727; Safety Matches
DC-8 Freighter in Dallas; Carbon Dioxide fumes
American Airlines DC-9; Hydrogen Peroxide

7. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS Lack of training Negligence
Reluctance to declare correct contents - Shippers
Undeclared dangerous goods
Mis-declared dangerous goods
Lack of communication
Incorrect packaging

8. UNDECLARED/HIDDEN DANGEROUS GOODS A MAJOR RISK TO THE SAFETY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Risk to the safety of passengers & crew
Risk of explosion
Risk of smoke or fire
Risk of incapacitation of crew – toxic inhalation
Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
Exposure to contaminated substances/liquids
Risk to aircraft radiation contamination
Incompatible dangerous goods - a ticking
time bomb

9. UNDECLARED DANGEROUS GOODS

10. ORIGINAL CONSIGNMENT OF ACIDS

11. UNDECLARED SULPHURIC AND HYDROCHLORIC ACID

12. CORROSION CAUSED BY ACID TO PALLET BASE

13. UNDECLARED FLAMMABLE PAINT

14. UNDECLARED FLAMMABLE PAINT

15. UNDECLARED COMPRESSED GAS

16. UNDECLARED SPILLABLE BATTERY

17. UNDECLARED FLAMMABLES/AEROSOLS

18. How Could They Have Been Prevented
Correct content declaration
Correct classification
Adequately trained personnel
Educated clients
Documented and packed as dangerous goods
UN Specification packaging
Concerted effort by all to ensure an overall
level of safety (Don’t buck the system)

19. SUPPLY CHAIN (AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK)
Consolidator
Road C A R G O T E M I N L
Rail
CARRIER
Sea
Freight
Forwarder/
Agent
Shipper/
Courier
Org.
PACKER

20. SUPPLY CHAIN - GENERAL CONSIDERATION
Communication - Instructions from shipper clear
Compliance with relevant regulations
Supply chain commercially driven – No shortcuts
Packing - 99% of undeclared dangerous goods not packed in accordance with the regulations
Honesty/trust - Reluctance of Shippers to declare contents
Safety/security consciousness – do not compromise safety
Know what you are shipping
Liability issues in Supply Chain
Dangerous goods packing organisations can
assist

21. SHIPPER’S RESPONSIBILITY GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Dangerous Goods not to be transported under any circumstances
Identified/classified
Packed – essential component/Valid Package Performance Test Certificate – expiry date of packaging
UN Specified Packaging
Marked
Labelled
Accompanied by a properly executed transport document (Shippers Declaration)
Transport document to be signed by trained
personnel

22. OPERATOR’S RESPONSIBILITY
Acceptance Procedures
Storage and loading
Inspection
Retention of records
Training
Provision of information, Including emergency response information

23. DANGEROUS GOODS TRAINING
Requirement of regulations – ICAO/CARS and IATA DGR
Job Specific
Different categories of training
Shippers personnel involved in the preparation of a dangerous goods shipment and contractors
Air Operators personnel/aircrew/cabin crew/acceptance personnel/warehouse/drivers
Ramp personnel/security screening personnel
Freight Forwarders/processing dangerous goods
Training by a CAA accredited organisation

24. ENFORCEMENT BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY (SACAA)
CAR 185 & Section 19 of the Aviation Act of 1962
Criminal charges - on conviction; fine or imprisonment or to both fine & imprisonment
First Time Offender – if not serious - warning
Injury to persons or damage to property; SAPS will consider findings before moving for possible prosecution
Safety/security is a co-operative venture
for period not exceeding 10 years

25. ROLE OF SHIPPERS IN TRANSPORTING DANGEROUS GOODS BY AIR
Transported in accordance with Regulations
Overall level of safety maintained at all times
Security of dangerous goods
Personnel current in dangerous goods training
Ongoing training
Educate clients &personnel about dangerous goods
If a chemical is forbidden for transportation by Air check with CAA if Exemption is applicable

26. TODAY’S CHALLENGES
Multi-modal transport – stake holders acting in silos?
Vision for the future – key role players
Fragmented regulations
Proper management
Identification of critical issues
International requirements
Complexities in compliance
Harmonisation – A distant dream?