Rules and Law of Ukraine on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods

The transportation of hazardous cargo on the transport routes of Ukraine is regulated by Law No. 1644-III of 03.04.2000. An additional document that logistics companies are guided by is the “Rules for the Transportation of Hazardous Goods” No. 656 of 04.08.2018. Ukraine has signed the international ADR agreement, which defines the procedure for transporting potentially harmful substances across European countries.

Rules for the Transportation of Hazardous Goods: Ukrainian Legislation

The category of hazardous substances includes any substances, goods, materials, mechanisms that, under certain circumstances and conditions, cause harm to people, structures and the environment. The Law on the Transportation of Hazardous Goods is the main document that the participants in the process rely on in their actions.

Legislative act No. 1644-III reflects the legal and organizational aspects that must be observed when transporting hazardous materials and substances. The law covers aspects of the activities of government agencies and transport companies that participate in organizing the transportation process. The document addresses the following issues:

• Government regulation and safety.
• The procedure for performing work operations by contractors for the transportation of potentially harmful substances.
• Compliance with international agreements in the field of transportation of dangerous goods.

The rules for the transportation of dangerous goods stipulated by law are subject to application by enterprises manufacturing potentially harmful substances and materials, as well as companies that transport, store and dispose of them. The law addresses the specifics of the transportation of dangerous goods, taking into account the classification and hazard class.

The law separately addresses terminology. Dangerous goods are understood to mean products and materials that, due to their special properties, can cause explosions, fires, loss of life and other large-scale disasters. Depending on the properties and characteristics, each potentially harmful substance is assigned a class:

1. explosive;
2. gaseous;
3. flammable liquid media;
4. flammable products and raw materials of solid consistency;
5. capable of oxidizing;
6. toxic;
7. radioactive;
8. corrosive;
9. others.

The Law specifies logistics companies, consignors and consignees as subjects of cargo transportation. The names of the consignor and consignee must be reflected in the accompanying documents. The task of the carrier is the safe delivery of potentially harmful substances from the point of receipt to the point of destination. The tasks of the logistics company include the following operations:

• Preparation of the vehicle and accompanying persons – driver, forwarder, security guards.
• Acceptance, placement and fixation of goods in the back of the vehicle.
• Implementation of measures to preserve the consumer properties of the transported products.

Selection of the optimal delivery route and approval by the competent authorities.

The Law covers issues of training and preparation of personnel involved in cargo transportation, as well as equipment and marking of vehicles. The Law provides information on the procedure for obtaining permits and accompanying documentation.

The rights of the consignor include the transfer of potentially harmful substances to the logistics company in accordance with the approved procedure. The shipper has the right to expect the goods to be delivered to the destination within the time period specified in the contract, and also has the right to claim compensation for damages related to the loss or damage of dangerous goods. Shipper’s responsibilities:

• Creating safety conditions when transferring potentially harmful substances to the carrier for transportation.
• Providing the necessary information about the properties of hazardous substances, countermeasures and elimination of consequences in the event of a leak or accident.
• Preparing goods for transportation – placing in appropriate packaging with the necessary markings.

The carrier has the right to claim reliable information about the transported goods. The rights of the carrier include refusing to transport in the event of providing false information, inappropriate packaging or lack of necessary documents.

Rules for the transportation of dangerous goods: what you should know

The procedure for the transportation of dangerous goods established by law is mandatory for transport companies. In order for a logistics company to be engaged in the transportation of potentially harmful substances, it is necessary to obtain a license – a permit. Another important condition is permission to transport hazardous goods, which is issued to drivers who have completed training and successfully passed the exam. After the training course, the driver receives an ADR certificate. ADR regulations are legally binding in Ukraine. Why comply with the rules for transporting hazardous goods:

• Timely adoption of measures and ensuring safety – radiation, fire, sanitary and epidemiological.
• Preservation of the environment, favorable ecological conditions.
• Protection of human health and life.
• Protection against destruction and damage to infrastructure facilities.
• Organization of safe road traffic.

The legislative acts examine in detail the rights and obligations of entities participating in the process of cargo transportation, as well as liability for non-compliance with the legislation and rules for the transportation of dangerous goods. Other issues that the document addresses:

• Requirements for the organization of transportation of potentially harmful substances.
• Control over compliance with the law.
• The procedure for insuring liability for possible harm as a result of an accident or leak.
• Social protection of employees of logistics companies engaged in cargo transportation.

The rules for the transportation of dangerous goods reflect the procedure for the movement of trucks on public highways.

Rules for the transportation of dangerous goods: transport

According to the rules for the transportation of dangerous goods, certain requirements are imposed on vehicles that are used in the performance of the service. Trucks involved in the process of cargo transportation must be equipped with special equipment that ensures the safety and security of delivery of potentially harmful materials and substances. Trucks are allowed to enter the vehicle after inspection by employees of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of Ukraine. The vehicle equipment includes:

• Metal grounding circuits.
• Gasoline tank insulation with metal shields.
• Pipeline reinforcement.
• Rail chocks.
• Fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
• Strobe lights.

A vehicle for the transportation of hazardous substances is equipped with ADR kits depending on the type of cargo being transported. The ADR kit includes:

• A flashing yellow light with an autonomous power source.
• A vest with sewn-on reflective elements.
• Protective glasses, mask and gloves.
• Awning for covering sewer collectors (drainage trap).
• A container for collecting liquid and solid potentially hazardous substances.

A mandatory requirement is special markings on the vehicle body, which allow one to judge the nature of the cargo from a distance. Information plates are placed on the body in the front and rear parts of the vehicle. The body of vehicles constantly engaged in the transportation of dangerous goods is painted in a bright color taking into account the hazard class of the goods being delivered.

Rules for the transportation of dangerous goods: documents

If international transportation of dangerous goods is planned, the ADR rules are the main regulatory document governing the process. The ADR rules require the conclusion of an agreement between the logistics company and the owner of the dangerous goods that must be delivered to the destination. According to the requirements of ADR, the driver must have accompanying and permitting documentation:

• A consignment note indicating the type, weight, volume of cargo, information about the consignor.
• A waybill indicating all the points through which the truck will pass.
• A safety data sheet, which contains information on the use, storage rules and processing of cargo.
• An emergency card, which is an instruction for the transportation of dangerous goods by road. The emergency card contains a list of urgent measures in the event of a traffic accident. 

Upon request, the driver must present a permit confirming his/her qualifications and suitability to carry out the transportation of potentially hazardous substances. If we are talking about the transportation of explosive goods and other highly hazardous substances, additional documents must be prepared before transportation:

• Route coordination with representatives of the state traffic inspectorate.
• A contract for liability insurance of participants in the transportation process in case of undesirable consequences.
• Written instructions and recommendations for the transportation of dangerous goods in accordance with the ADR regulations.

• A certificate confirming that the container was loaded in accordance with the ADR regulations, indicating the responsible persons.

The driver, forwarder, security guards and other accompanying persons must, upon request, present documents with a photograph proving their identity and authority to carry out the operation.

Rules for the transportation of goods recognized as dangerous: personnel

According to the legislation, the transportation of especially dangerous goods in Ukraine is carried out by drivers who have undergone special training. The training program includes a general introduction to the types and properties of potentially harmful substances. The driver receives instructions on how to act in case of leakage of dangerous gases and liquids. Particular attention is paid to the following points:

• Loading and unloading.
• Securing in the vehicle body.
• Organization, compliance and maintenance of safety conditions.

The route is selected taking into account the traffic congestion and technical condition of the roads. Transportation of hazardous goods in Ukraine is subject to mandatory route approval by the traffic police. Basic rules for planning a route:

• The selected roads should avoid large industrial facilities, residential areas, nature reserves, architectural and cultural monuments.
• The developed route is provided to the state traffic inspectorate no later than 10 days before the planned cargo transportation.
• Transportation of hazardous substances is carried out accompanied by a patrol police car.

The driver ensures safety conditions during long-term parking and short-term stops of the truck. The driver’s admission to the transportation of goods recognized as hazardous means familiarization with the emergency card, which specifies the measures taken to eliminate the consequences of an emergency.

Rules for the transportation of goods recognized as hazardous: containers

A logistics company receives a license if it has the necessary resources to perform the service. To obtain permission to transport hazardous substances, funds and potential are needed:

• Specially equipped transport.
• Trained, qualified personnel.
• Knowledge of laws governing the procedure for preparing and processing documents.

Properly selected transport packaging prevents leakage of hazardous substances. To avoid damage to the container, containers are securely fixed in the back of a truck. If a container is damaged during transportation, the cargo is placed in emergency packaging, which is always included in the truck’s equipment kit.

Emergency containers are used if the packaging is damaged during transportation. In other situations, hazardous substances are placed in specialized packaging that prevents hazardous substances from penetrating into the surrounding space. The rules for transporting hazardous goods by road transport provide for the use of packaging that meets the standards:

• Prevents leakage and loss of potentially hazardous substances.
• Prevents accidental ignition or detonation.
• Helps preserve the consumer properties of the cargo.

Depending on the type of hazardous substances to be transported, packaging varies. Popular types of packaging are tanks, metal drums, containers with a hermetically sealed lid. The responsibility for the primary packaging and appropriate labeling of hazardous substances rests with the shipper.

Packaging for hazardous products and raw materials must be carefully inspected for damage and defects before loading. It is not allowed to use containers made of materials that can enter into chemical reactions with the contents. Transportation of potentially hazardous substances in fragile containers requires additional protection of the body from mechanical impacts. Usually, strong boxes filled with soft cushioning materials are used for these purposes. Delivery of consolidated lots is allowed in the case of chemical inertness of materials and substances relative to each other.

Rules for the transportation of hazardous goods: labeling

Failure to comply with the rules for the transportation of potentially hazardous substances may cause emergency situations – explosions, fires, contamination of soil and air with toxic chemical compounds. To reduce the risk of road accidents involving trucks delivering hazardous goods, labeling is used. Labeling provides visual identification of potentially hazardous substances and the vehicle that transports them. The main tasks of marking:

• Creating conditions for safe transportation and storage.
• Proper organization of loading, unloading and delivery to the destination.
• Reducing the risk of situations that negatively affect people and the environment.

Proper marking means the legality of cargo transportation and helps to avoid conflicts with law enforcement officers. Special plates, stickers and other identification signs notify road users of potential risks. The following are used to mark trucks:

• plates with an inscription;
• plates with a graphic image;
• codes for the implementation of emergency measures (KEM).

KEM consists of digital and letter designations that reflect the degree of danger and indicate the types of protective equipment necessary for the safety of people. The plates are usually painted in bright colors, clearly visible from a long distance. Usually this is red and orange in combination with black. The plate may contain KEM and the UN number, which confirms the presence of the cargo in the list of hazardous substances. Marking signs are placed on the sides of the truck body, as well as the front and rear. All individual containers, drums and tanks are subject to marking.

Rules for the transportation of dangerous goods: important points

According to the rules for the transportation of dangerous goods by road, only substances and materials that do not pose a threat to people around them, construction sites and the natural environment are allowed for handling operations, provided that safety conditions are met. Key points:

• Compliance with requirements that minimize the risk of accidents and emergencies.
• In the event of an accident or leak, the driver is obliged to promptly notify the rescue services and police, and perform the necessary actions specified in the emergency card.
• Carrying out the necessary measures to reduce the consequences of emergencies and leaks of potentially harmful substances.

The delivery of hazardous materials, products and substances requires a responsible approach and compliance with approved standards. Ignoring the rules for the transportation of dangerous goods by road often causes emergencies:

• Destruction of construction sites.
• Explosions, damage to technical structures and devices.
• Fires and fires.
• Poisoning of people, soil, air.

Compliance with the developed precautions at the stages of loading, unloading, and moving potentially harmful substances allows you to avoid negative consequences.

Transportation of dangerous goods with Neolit ​​Logistics

The logistics company Neolit ​​Logistics offers cargo transportation services in Ukraine and abroad. We guarantee the safety and timely delivery of goods to any point in Ukraine and Europe. Use the services of professionals to save time and successfully run your business. What we can offer our clients:

• Professional service.
• A fleet of specialized trucks.
• Monitoring and tracking the location of cargo at any time.
• Assistance in preparing accompanying documents.

We know and comply with the conditions for the transportation of dangerous goods, which allows you to avoid problems and delays along the way due to violations. A full range of logistics services is available to our clients, including unloading, picking and loading of goods, escort, intermediate storage in warehouses.