If there was a white ‘LQ’ diamond on the box (and there probably was one because things like that are usually packed so that they can be shipped without ADR) it’s exempt from ADR. You could carry a whole truckload with no training.
Posted under Hazardous Goods - ADR
Posted by Alec at 10:07 am, November 28, 2007
Odd that, because without any further information and with just UN Number 1950 to go on it looks to me as if he could carry between 20 & 1000kg (depending on the actual classification) of it with just awareness training. What’s more it’s also quite likely (again depending on the actual classification) that unless the aerosols were over 1 litre each then the load would be exempted from ADR by virtue of being packed in LQ packages and he could carry a full load of it without any training at all.
Unless that happens to be a white diamond containing the UN Number(s) or the letters ‘LQ’
When read with your previous sentence that sort of implies that you don’t understand the significance of a white diamond containing a UN number? And why ‘so called LQ label’, what would you call it?
Absolute bollocks. Both ‘specialist paint’ (whatever that is) and aerosol cans of deodorant are (or aren’t) covered by ADR depending on the exact nature of the goods, the quantities carried and (importantly for both aerosols and paint) the packaging.
Based on no information whatsoever you’ve apparently decided that this consignment should have a UN number of 1950 (Aerosols). Now you’ve decided that it should be treated as a super-hazardous ‘specialist paint’, UN 1263.
Oddly the term ‘specialist paint’ doesn’t appear on the Dangerous Goods List, so how exactly are you defining it? Paint is paint is paint; it’s all different and it’s all ‘specialist’ to its actual application; as the carrier it’s not up to us to decide what UN number or transport category a product is classed as – it’s up to the shipper.
Most paint (even your scary ‘specialist’ paint) is LQ6 or LQ7, so up to 6 x 5 litre tins in a cardboard box can happily have an LQ diamond slapped on them by the shipper and ADR doesn’t apply, even if you’re carrying a whole van full of the stuff. That’s the whole point of the LQ exemption.
Anyway, that’s enough arguing over this, because none of us actually know the full details of what he was carrying. The important thing is that people know how to react when faced with this type of situation:
1) If the packages are marked with a WHITE diamond containing the letters ‘LQ’ and/or UN numbers of all substances contained then they’re exempt from ADR and you can carry them without any specialist training. http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/exemptions.htm#lq Your insurance companies may possibly have their own ideas about whether these goods are classed as hazardous so you may need to check with them before carrying them.
TAKE CARE – most traffic office numpties seem to have decided that ADR doesn’t apply at all to goods below the ‘small loads’ thresholds. When the driver (with no training) questions whether they’re allowed to carry the goods they say something like “don’t worry, it’s limited quantities”. IT DOESN’T CARRY A LIMITED QUANTITY EXEMPTION UNLESS IT CARRIES A LIMITED QUANTITY LABEL.
2) If you’ve had ‘awareness’ training then you can carry goods up to the small load thresholds given at http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/exemptions.htm#categories You need to carry a fire extinguisher and take care that the goods are properly secured. If you’ve had ‘awareness’ training then you SHOULD know this anyway. Again your insurance companies may have their own ideas about whether you’re insured to carry these goods.
3) For loads above the small loads thresholds full ADR and access to the services of a DGSA is required.
4) If in any doubt then ask for advice or just refuse the job.
All the information you need is available at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/index.htm
http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/adr/adr2007/07ContentsE.html
and http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20071573.htm
I think they’re bullshitting. Somebody may correct me here but I can’t think of any scenario where you could carry a few boxes without even awareness training but would require ADR to carry a truckload of the same boxes.
Somebody tell me I’m wrong.
I made my mind up about that some months ago.
If he can carry it AT ALL without awareness training then it’s either not hazardous at all or it’s packed in LQ packages. If he filled a truck up with LQ packages (or non-hazardous goods) then he still wouldn’t need ADR or awareness training. Therefore the numpties at the collection point were bullshitting