Hazardous goods are governed by a specific set of regulations because there is a risk associated with them. It is possible to transport hazardous goods, but only by companies that specialise in these activities and have the necessary certifications. Failure to do so entails the possibility of heavy penalties, in addition to the risk involved.

Only a company that offers domestic and international transport specialising in hazardous goods can carry out this activity with guarantees. 

Rules and regulations on the transport
of hazardous goods

National regulations on the transport of hazardous goods are regulated by Royal Decree 97/2014, of 14 February, regulating the transport of hazardous goods, which transposes international regulations (ADR and UN Regulation).

The ADR agreement on the transport of hazardous goods is the main EU-wide regulation for land transport. Signed in 1957, it is updated periodically (most recently in 2023). Today, it is applied in more than 50 European, Asian and African countries. The ADR follows the recommendations of the UN Hazardous Goods Regulations.

The current legislation specifies which type of vehicles carry each class of hazardous goods, the packaging, containers, the numerical identification of each class (UN number), the pictographic symbols and the training required for drivers. The transport of hazardous goods without ADR is unfeasible, because the authorities will be able to stop vehicles that do not comply with the rules and above all because of the risk to which the load, the vehicle, the driver and the population would be exposed.

There are also other regulations for the transport of hazardous goods. For maritime transport, the International Maritime Hazardous Goods Code.  By air, the Hazardous goods Regulations of the International Air Transport Association. And finally, the International Regulations for the Transport of Hazardous goods by Rail.

Finally, all companies operating with hazardous goods must have a Safety Advisor to check that the regulations are complied with. The person who holds this position must be proactive and not only supervisory but also propose strategies and plans for implementation.

Transport safety requirements

The transport of hazardous goods entails basic safety requirements. The following aspects should be emphasised:

Goods

The labelling and packaging of goods must be in accordance with ADR regulations. This will certify the identification and avoid problems with customs, refunds or withholding.

Vehicles

Vehicles must comply with a number of safety conditions. For example, in the case of lorries, the trailer must be marked as carrying hazardous goods with a front and rear panel measuring 40 x 30 centimetres and with a black border measuring 15 millimetres. The panel shall also show the hazard identification number at the top and the UN number (category being carried) at the bottom. This signage provides information and ensures safety in transit. 

Driver

Driver training is another safety requirement that must be met. In addition to the driving licence and the Certificate of Personal Aptitude (CAP), the ADR Training Certificate provided by the Spanish Department of Transportation - Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is required.

Documentation

Obviously, the carriage of hazardous goods requires that the documentation be in order during the journey. The ADR consignment note and instructions must be included in each consignment. The haulier must have liability insurance.

Functions of the Security Advisor

The Safety Advisor of the haulage company, as mentioned above, is a key role. To ensure transport safety, it has the following duties and responsibilities:

●      Check that the legislation and regulations for the carriage of hazardous goods are being complied with. To this end, it has to prepare annual reports and report any and all types of incidents, as well as check that staff have the necessary documentation and equipment.

●      Advise the haulage company on the implementation of compliance measures. One concrete policy is to establish protocols for company personnel. It should also propose actions for the improvement of procedures.

●      Train staff and raise awareness in the company to comply with regulations. This can be done individually, collectively or both.

In short, this professional performs an essential function for companies involved in the transport of hazardous goods to reduce risks.

Risks and precautions

Transporting hazardous goods involves potential risks, for which precautions must be taken. The main threats are fires, explosions and contamination, not only of the goods, but also of the person handling or receiving them. To this end, in addition to applying the Law on Occupational Risk Prevention in general by training staff, protocols are implemented for each class, periodically checking vehicles to ensure that they are in perfect condition. 

Logista: Specialist in the transport
of hazardous goods  

The transport of goods that are considered hazardous must comply with safety requirements that are much more stringent compared with goods that do not present a risk. This is because both domestic and international regulations have established very strict and detailed regulations to ensure that such materials are transported in a safe and responsible manner. For this reason, only those companies with the appropriate training and expertise are authorised to offer these services. At Logista, we have the necessary infrastructure, as well as specifically designed vehicles, to carry out the transport of hazardous goods, complying with all the guarantees required to ensure the safety of each consignment.