WHAT IS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR DANGEROUS GOODS

Packages containing dangerous goods must be durably marked with the correct technical name and with distinctive labels or stencils of the labels.

International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is a branch of the United Nations (UN), classifies dangerous goods into nine hazard classes, as illustrated in the Hazardous Materials Shipping Labels below. The diamond labels denote the hazards involved by means of colors and symbols.

Labels for packages should not be less than 10 cms. x 10 cms. (4" x 4") except in the case of packages which, because of their size, can only bear smaller labels.

The class number should appear in the bottom corner of the label. The use of the text shown on the shipping labels and of further descriptive text is optional. However, for Class 7 substances the text should always appear on the labels.

The word "flammable" is the same as "inflammable" meaning easily set on fire.

Class 3
The flammable liquid (Class 3) has three divisions differentiated by the flash point of liquid---the lowest temperature at which vapor of an inflammable liquid catches fire in the air when a flame is applied.

Class 4 Division 2
The spontaneously combustible (4.2---Class 4 Division 2) substances are liable to combustion, without direct application of flame or spark, due to an internal rise of temperature to the ignition point, usually caused by a slow oxidation process.

Class 4 Division 3
The dangerous when wet (4.3---Class 4 Division 3) substances when in contact with water will emit flammable gas.

Class 7
The radioactive (Class 7) non-fissile materials have three categories (I, II and III) determined by the radiation level of the package. Class 7 has no divisions.

Class 8
The corrosive (Class 8) substances cause damage to the skin and/or metal.

Class 9
Class 9 covers miscellaneous hazardous materials not covered by other classes, for example magnetized material which poses a danger to the aircraft compass unit.

Subsidiary Risks
Some dangerous goods may have properties that meet more than one hazard class. The less serious property is referred to as the subsidiary risk. Dangerous goods which posses subsidiary dangerous properties must bear the subsidiary risk labels denoting these hazards. However, the subsidiary risk labels should not bear the class number in the bottom corner.