It is true: not only people dealing with dangerous goods shipments are exposed to risks, but also random passengers, on-road or planes, for leisure or work, can risk the same, even if they have nothing to deal with dangerous goods shipments. Let’s take as an example a passenger aircraft, onto where dangerous goods can be loaded and transported. We might not be conscious about that, but when we sit on a plane, we not only rely on who is piloting, but also on whom prepares, declares, loads, and stocks dangerous goods that very often travel with us, or better, below us.
Observe and respect limits and bans
For some of these dangerous goods, there are some quantities limits to be respected when they are loaded on a passenger aircraft, some others are even forbidden because they are too dangerous. Some of these limits and bans can turn into other issues, like hidden dangerous goods, not properly declared goods, or not properly packed goods.
Prepare packages ready for shipment in a compliant way
Another aspect that must be considered by whom prepares the package is the filling of void spaces. It often happens, especially when dealing with international inspectors, to hear about the Shake test. What is that? Simple as it sounds, it is a test to verify if the packaging has been prepared “carefully”. How does it work?
Your choice makes a difference for our safety
Ecco, quindi, alcuni esempi di come la scelta di spedire correttamente e con prodotti idonei, influisce sulla sicurezza di tutti noi, sui ritardi di consegna e sul portafoglio di chi spedisce.
1. Prevent
Train people, classify, pack, and declare correctly dangerous goods is a duty, other than being a responsibility. These choices do not only have an impact on the economical side (such as hefty fines, for instance in the USA a fine for undeclared goods starts from at least 17,500 $), but also on the safety of people involved directly or indirectly
2. Verify
When someone decides to buy a certain packaging or label, be this person responsible for shipments, for logistics or purchase department, he or she takes the duty and the responsibility to verify that the product complies with all the fundamental features and that is suitable for the shipment to be done. Even if the packaging is well done and well protected, it might still be not suitable: its compliance must always be checked through the test report and the UN certification. For this reason, the packaging supplier must always make all the necessary documents and information available, as so to allow final consumers to verify the compliance of what they are buying.
3. Rely on experts
As members of Serpac’s team, we always ask our valued customers: “What do you need to ship?”. This helps us identify the most suitable and compliant packaging, to ensure safe and smooth deliveries.
Always verify what you are shipping, how you are doing it, and if the products you are using are compliant.
Be responsible for everyone’s safety! Stick to our motto:
SHIP SAFE!