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The Australian Transport Advisory Council recognized the Advisory Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (ACTDG) in 1970 to expand and harmonize standardized national requirements for safe transportation of Dangerous Goods. The Advisory Committee on Transport of Dangerous Goods have released seven editions of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code and three editions of the Australian Explosives Code, documents which makes a significant level of standardization in transportation of dangerous goods is present in Australia. ADGC is currently used with individual legislations and laws in each in state and territory, and has been issued by eight governing bodies in Australia^[1] .

Ministers in the early 1990’s decided to establish a national process in order to nationally develop consistent dangerous goods transport legislation. Even though the Dangerous Goods Code was agreed to be adopted in every state and territory legislation of dangerous goods, this legislation is wide ranging in the duties and obligations of the individuals handling dangerous goods. Improvement of Dangerous Goods Code legislation was found to be on the Road Transport Reform schedule and incorporated essential reforms of the National Competition Policy. The Commonwealth Government established the Road Transport Reform Act in 1995, followed by the Road Transport Reform Regulation in 1997.

The seventh edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code was released in 2008. However, the sixth edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code still applies as a substitute to the 7th edition for a period still not decided by governments. The structure of ADG6 which was established in 1998 differs from the current ADG7. ADG7 complies with international standards of importation and exportation of dangerous goods (United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods). Australia is establishing a separate dangerous goods regulation for road and rail transport.

Explosives can be described as:

• Explosive substances include substances that are capable of becoming explosive in an atmosphere of vapour, dust and gas. Excluding those that are also dangerous to transfer or those where the primary danger is appropriate to a different group.

• Explosive articles, which excludes devices that contain explosive substances in large quantities or nature where unintentional ignition during transportation won’t source any exterior result to the apparatus, neither by projection, loud noise, fire, heat or smoke.

• Substances and articles that are produced for explosive, practical or pyrotechnic effect.

Class 1 is divided into the following hazard divisions:

Articles and substances that have a potential of mass explosion. A mass explosion may affect approximately the total load instantly.

Articles and substances that comprise of a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.

Articles and sub=stances that have a potential of a fire hazard, not mass explosion hazard. This group includes articles and substances that are capable of producing radiant heat or those that burn one after another.

Articles and substances that have no potential of a major hazard, such as minor hazard in the occasion of ignition at the time of transportation.

Articles and substances that are insensitive and have the potential of a mass explosion hazard, however, during transport the chance of detonation under standard conditions is very low.

Articles that are extremely insensitive and pose no potential of a mass explosion hazard.

Gases are substances that: at 50°C have a vapour pressure more than 300kPa; or is entirely a gas at 20°C at a standard pressure of 101.3kPa. Class 2 includes:

• Compressed gas – a gas (not as a solution) that is completely a gas at 20°C when packaged below pressure for transport.

• Liquefied gas – a gas that when packaged for transportation is partly liquid at 20°C.

• Refrigerated liquefied gas – a partly liquid gas due to its low temperature when packaged for transport.

• Gas in solution – compressed gas that is dissolved in a solution when packaged for transport.

• Mixtures of gases with one or more vapours of substances of other classes; and

• Aerosols.

The class groups the flammability of goods in accordance with their flashpoint and boiling points. Flammable liquids are defined as, liquids that give off flammable vapour at a temperature of no more than 60°C in a closed test, as well as liquids that give off a flammable vapour in an open cup test at a temperature of no more than 65.6°C. Class 3 goods also include liquids offered for transport temperatures at or above their flashpoints, as well as substances that are to be transported at high temperatures and which give off a flammable vapour.

• Class 3 PG I: Liquids with an initial boiling point of less than 35°C.

• Class 3 PG II: Liquids with an initial boiling point greater than 35°C, but a flash point less than 23°C.

• Class 3 PG III: Liquids with a flash point less than or equal to 23°C or more, but less than or equal to 60.5°C

Class 4, flammable solids are defined as solids that are susceptible to spontaneous combustion when in contact with water, produce or emit flammable gases. There are three divisions of flammable solids, these are:

• Division 4.1: flammable solids that are self reactive solids and solid desensitised explosives.

• Division 4.2: substances that are likely to cause spontaneous combustion.

• Division 4.3: substances that when in contact with water produce flammable gases.

Class 5 is subdivided into oxidising substances and organic peroxides. These need to be stored in a way that prevents any explosion hazard when transported in a cargo container or unit load. The subsequent factors must be considered when storing these substances appropriately:

• The amount and number of the dangerous good

• The packaging used and how they are packed.

Liquids or solids that will not essentially self combust, but will aid in the combustion of other substances by yielding oxygen. For example calcium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and ammonium nitrate.

Organic Peroxides can rapidly decompose because they are thermally unstable. They are thought to be derivatives of H2O2 and they have a bivalent -O-O- .Some other properties they might have are:

• Prone to explosive decomposition and sensitive to impact or friction
• Rapid burning and might react with other substances
• Damage eye on contact.

This class is composed of two subclasses:

These are Substance that cause serious injury, death or harm human health through skin contact, inhalation or if swallowed.

These contain or are thought to have pathogens that can spread a disease through exposure.

Radioactive material is assigned a number by the UN which depends on the activity level of radionucleides in the package, their fissile or non-fissile properties, and how they are packaged. Radioactive material must also comply with the regulations of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). Individuals using or possessing radiation apparatus or radioactive substances must have a radiation license from the NSW government Department of Environment Climate Change and Water (DECCW).

In Australia the transport of class seven is not subjected to the ADG code, but rather is subject to state and territory legislation and the Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Substances. The ADG code does however apply if radioactive material is transported with any of the other classes (segregation).

Corrosive substances will chemically react with living tissue or other material goods causing severe damage. Class 8 chemicals are separated into three packing groups (PG) according to the degree of hazard with PG1 being the most hazardous and PG3 being the least hazardous.

Corrosives must comply with ADG general packaging rules, which require there to be no leaks in the packaging and for it to be strong enough. Depending on the substance itself the packaging material will vary as some strong corrosives will dissolve most packaging types.

Miscellaneous substances are those substances that are not covered by any of the other classes (1 – 8). This includes environmental pollutants, substances that need to be transported at very high temperatures (100°C or more for a liquid or 240°C or more for a solid) and GMO/GMMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms/Microorganisms) that do not fit the class of 6.2 but can alter animals, plants or microbiological substances.

Marking requirements include; the proper shipping name for the dangerous goods, the corresponding UN number preceded by the letters “UN”, IBC, cylinder, pressure drum, tube, MEGC or other unpackaged article.

Packages containing liquid goods in their inner packaging need to be marked with orientation arrows. If a package has multiple packagings, for example an inner and an outer wrapping, it must be marked with the word “OVERPACK”, along with the shipping name, UN Number and appropriate label. Environmentally hazardous substances are given the symbol of a fish and tree on a white background. Substances that need to be carried at elevated temperatures should have the label of a thermometer. If transporting more than one class of dangerous goods, the mixed class label is used instead of the class label, this has orange and black stripes and the words "Dangerous Goods".

• Emergency information panels are used as a safety measure and include information such as the HAZCHEM code and emergency contacts as well as the UN number, shipping name and class label. For ethyl methyl ether which is a flammable gas (class 2) a red label with a fire and the text "Flammable Gas" would be present.

• For substances that pose multiple risks, the emergency information panel should state both the main risk and all subsidiary risks. So for nitric acid the main risks class label is corrosive (class 8) and the subsidiary risks class labels are oxidising agent (class 5.1) and toxic (class 6).

Depending on the mode of transport either the class label or an emergency label will be shown All radioactive material must also bear the label "UN 2911, RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" unless there is an exception or on instruments the radiation level at 10cm from the article is less than 0.1 mSv/h.