Factsheet 64 – May 2008

Transporting dangerous goods

The requirements for safely transporting dangerous goods are set out in Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005 (the Dangerous Goods Rule).

This factsheet briefly outlines the requirements for transporting dangerous goods under the Dangerous Goods Rule, which took effect from 27 June 2005.

Who the Rule applies to

The Rule applies to all people who transport dangerous goods, but how it affects you will depend on:

• the type of dangerous goods
• how much you are transporting
• whether you are transporting the dangerous goods in a transport service, as tools-of-trade or for your own domestic or recreational purpose.

Where you can find out more

You can get more detail from the following factsheets:

• Factsheet 67 Dangerous goods carried by transport service operators or for direct reward. This is for transport operators transporting dangerous goods for hire or reward.
• Factsheet 68 Dangerous goods transported as tools of trade. This covers the transport of dangerous goods for agricultural use or a commercial purpose, but not for hire or direct reward.
• Factsheet 69 Dangerous goods transported for domestic or recreational use.
• Factsheet 37 D-endorsements for carrying dangerous goods. This tells you about getting a dangerous goods (D) endorsement on your driver licence if you're transporting dangerous goods in a transport service.

These factsheets provide an overview only – if your business involves transporting dangerous goods, you must also refer to the Dangerous Goods Rule. Printed copies of the Rule are available from bookshops that sell legislation and some libraries.

What are dangerous goods?

For transport on land, dangerous goods include: substances that have explosive, flammable, toxic, infectious or corrosive properties; and containers that have held dangerous goods.

All classes of dangerous goods are described in Table A of the Dangerous Goods Rule, which is based on classifications in the United Nations recommendations on the transport of dangerous goods. Some commonly available items, such as fireworks, petrol, swimming pool chemicals, LPG, compressed air cylinders and solvent-based paints, are classified as dangerous goods.

How do I recognise dangerous goods?

Packages containing dangerous goods must be marked or labelled to identify their hazardous properties. This warns everyone who handles or transports the goods, or who finds the goods in an emergency situation.

For transport, dangerous goods are identified with a United Nations number, a "proper shipping name" and a diamond-shaped class warning label. Dangerous goods packaged for retail sale don't always have the diamond label on the package, but are marked with warning information to identify the hazards they present.

How can I transport dangerous goods safely?

The Dangerous Goods Rule details how you can transport dangerous goods safely and securely, depending on the nature and quantity of the dangerous goods.

What are my responsibilities?

Everyone involved in transporting dangerous goods has to comply with the Rule. Responsibilities are allocated according to tasks, and you are responsible for all the tasks you do.

There are specific responsibilities for consignors (manufacturers, importers or distributors), loaders, drivers or operators of road or rail vehicles, and employers.

Small quantities of dangerous goods

If you carry dangerous goods as tools-of-trade for agricultural use or for a commercial purpose – but not for hire or direct reward – and the quantity is within the limits in schedule 1 of the Dangerous Goods Rule, then you are responsible for:

• making sure the goods are properly packaged and identified
• segregating incompatible dangerous goods
• securing the load on your vehicle
• carrying emergency response information
• ensuring safe handling practices and emergency procedures.

If you carry dangerous goods for domestic or recreational use, but not for hire or direct reward, and the quantity is within the limits in schedule 1 of the Dangerous Goods Rule, then you are responsible for:

• making sure the goods are properly packaged and identified
• segregating incompatible dangerous goods
• securing the load on your vehicle.

If you are a transport service operator, you have specific responsibilities when transporting dangerous goods in small quantities.

Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities and Consumer Commodities are dangerous goods of low or medium danger in small primary containers and packaged for transport in strong outer packagings. They can be transported with some relaxation of controls, as long as you are not carrying more than one tonne of these products. The requirements for this category of dangerous goods are set out in section 2 of the Rule.

Small Packages of dangerous goods in limited quantities or consumer commodities may be transported without a dangerous goods declaration, placards on the vehicle or drivers having a dangerous goods endorsement on their driver licence, as long as the total quantity does not exceed 50 kg.

Some explosives can also be transported under the small packages provisions. Refer to section 2 of the Rule for requirements for small packages.

Large quantities of dangerous goods

You must comply with all the requirements of the Dangerous Goods Rule if you carry dangerous goods as tools-of-trade, for agricultural use or for a commercial purpose, and the quantities are more than the limits in schedule 1.

These include requirements for packaging, identification, documentation, segregation, placarding and driver licence endorsement.

For domestic or recreational use, you must comply with additional requirements in the Dangerous Goods Rule if you carry more than the limits shown in schedule 1. This includes additional requirements for packaging, labelling and marking, segregation and transport procedures – including emergency response information.

Transport service operators have to comply with all requirements of the Rule when transporting large quantities of dangerous goods.

Technical information to comply with the Rule

Not everyone involved in dangerous goods transport will need technical information, but if you are a manufacturer, importer or distributor of dangerous goods, you will have to refer to one of the documents incorporated in the Rule to meet your responsibilities. New Zealand Standard NZS 5433:2007 Transport of dangerous goods on land provides information on:

• classification of dangerous goods for transport
• packaging performance standards
• specifications for hazard warning labels
• the United Nations list of UN numbers and proper shipping names for goods classified as dangerous for transport, and the list of special provisions.

Where you can find out more

• Read the Dangerous Goods Rule.
• Get a copy of NZS 5433:2007 from Standards New Zealand (0800 735 656).
• Read Factsheets 67, 68 or 69.
• Call our contact centre on 0800 699 000.