What is a Dangerous Good?

Many products pose some danger while being transported, but dangerous goods are generally products that are inherently dangerous, whether or not they are in transport. Special precautions are called for to ensure safe transportation. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, (TDGA, 1992) defines dangerous goods as "a product, substance or organism included by its nature or by the regulation in any of the classes listed in the schedule.”

The schedule to the TDGA, 1992 identifies nine classes of dangerous goods. Manufacturers of dangerous goods, or products containing dangerous goods, cannot offer these for transport unless they have been properly classified. Each dangerous good falls within one of these nine classes. Some classes are further divided into divisions, in order to provide more information. The sub-class identifies additional dangers associated with the particular good within that general class.

Dangerous Goods on Buses:

Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, in column nine of Schedule 1, gives the quantity limits for dangerous goods above which those dangerous goods must not be transported on a passenger-carrying road vehicle (bus). The quantity limit is expressed in kilograms for solids; litres for liquids; and, for gases, the capacity of the means of containment of the gases.

The word "Forbidden” in this column means that the dangerous goods must not be transported in any quantity on-board a bus. If no index number is shown, then there is no quantity limit. A few exceptions do exist: for example, dangerous goods that are required for the health and safety of passengers, such as medical oxygen.

Before transporting dangerous goods, bus operators should check the regulation for prohibitions and applicable exemptions.