gefahrgut

Gefahrgut, short for dangerous goods, are substances and articles whose chemical or physical properties pose risks to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport. They are subject to strict rules at international, regional, and national levels to ensure safe handling, packaging, labeling, and documentation.

Classification and labeling: For transport, substances are categorized into hazard classes (for example, Explosives, Gases, Flammable Liquids, Flammable Solids, Toxic Substances, Corrosives, Radioactive Materials, and Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances). Each item is assigned a UN number and a proper shipping name, along with a packing group (I, II, III) reflecting the level of danger. Goods are marked with appropriate hazard labels, and road transport often uses orange danger plates to indicate the presence of dangerous goods.

Regulatory framework and modes of transport: Different transport modes rely on specific international regulations. Road transport uses ADR, rail transport uses RID, maritime transport uses the IMDG Code, and air transport uses IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. National laws implement these frameworks; in Germany, for example, national rules complement ADR, RID, IMDG, and IATA requirements and cover training, documentation, and enforcement.

Packaging, documentation and handling: Dangerous goods must be packaged according to class- and packing group-specific standards. Shipments require a transport document with the proper shipping name, hazard class, UN number, and packing group, as well as safety and emergency information. Handling and labeling must follow segregation rules and quantity restrictions to minimize risk during loading, transport, and unloading.

See also: hazard communication, emergency response, and regulatory compliance.