Dangerous goods sticker on box

Dangerous goods

Dangerous goods are articles and substances capable of posing a significant risk to safety when transported by air.

At Qantas, safety is our first priority.

Our aim is to move shipments classified as dangerous goods as carefully and smoothly as possible, whilst safeguarding against any potential hazards to our staff, our aircraft and other cargo. Additional precautions need to be taken with shipments that may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, oxidising or reactive with water. Whatever their properties, great care is needed when handling, storing and transporting dangerous goods.

Some items used in day-to-day activities around the home, office or workshop, may appear of no real concern, however, are actually classified as Dangerous Goods when carried by Post or Air transport. Please check with your transport agency before simply sending such goods on their way.

The United States Department of Transportation has adopted a system of classification and labelling for dangerous goods - from 1 to 9 - which can help quickly idenfity the properties and potential dangers:

  1. Explosives - commercial explosives, fireworks, ammunition and flares
  2. Gases - compressed and liquefied gases and aerosols
  3. Flammable liquids - lighter fluid, matches, paint thinner, fire lighters and alcohol
  4. Flammable solids - adhesives, articles containing celluloid, oily rags and petrol
  5. Oxidising substances and organic peroxides - bleaches, acids and pool chemicals, glass fibre repair kits, hair and textile dyes, disinfectants and adhesives
  6. Toxic and infectious substances - viable micro-organisms and pathological samples
  7. Radioactive materials - instruments and medical or research materials containing radioactive sources
  8. Corrosive materials - acids, alkalis, wet-cell batteries, caustic soda and mercury
  9. Miscellaneous dangerous goods - lithium batteries, magnetised materials, dry ice, machines equipped with fuel tanks, polymerisable materials, noxious or irritating substances, articles liable to damage aircraft structures and articles possessing other inherent characteristics that make them unsuitable for air carriage unless properly packed.

Lithium Battery Consignments
IMPORTANT - The Group does not accept consignments of the following lithium batteries:
- UN3480 Lithium Ion Batteries (batteries packed on their own)
- UN3090 Lithium Metal Batteries (batteries packed on their own). 

    

Booking and labelling dangerous goods

Due to the increased risk of transporting dangerous goods by air, each shipment needs to be booked and labelled correctly. You can specify whether your shipment contains dangerous goods or dry ice when booking your freight on qantasfreight.com.

As with all other shipments, it's also important that the AWB and dangerous goods declaration reflects the correct number of pieces and total combined weight. Any discrepancies, including not declaring the goods accurately can result in delays, loss of goods or incorrect charges being applied.  

Dangerous goods shipments have a separate cut off time from general cargo, which must be considered when booking and lodging freight.

Failure to declare dangerous goods is an offence by Aviation law and carries severe penalties. Be aware - and declare!

 

 

Special handling restrictions

The carriage of dangerous goods by air is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Dangerous goods can only be accepted in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. We recommend customers pay particular attention to Qantas Specific Operator variations when booking freight. 

The outer packaging must show the full shipping name of the contents and not contain any old labels.

 

 

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