Transporting chemicals by public road

Business-related transport and applicable rules:

 

The transporting of chemicals in a registered vehicle by public road is subject to specific rules based on an assessment of the level of hazardousness of the goods and the volumes involved. The Danish rules governing the transport by road of hazardous goods are based on the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods (ADR). The rules govern the securing of places of accident and the parties involved in the unfortunate case of transports becoming involved in a road accident. The danger concept is therefore not necessarily directly linked to the hazard classification.

 

As such transports take place during working hours and/or as part of official duties, they are always regarded as commercial transports and thus subject to the stricter rules governing such transports.

 

If your chemical has a UN number, it is considered to be dangerous goods and covered by ADR. This is indicated in the chemical directions for use at Kemibrug under item F: Spillages and waste disposal.

 

Transporting chemicals on more lenient conditions:

 

If carrying very small quantities/containers or if carrying chemicals for use in connection with your own work (i.e. fieldwork), more lenient rules may apply. These are the rules which LIFE employees must observe if needing to transport chemicals from one location to another. However, this does not necessarily mean that the goods are completely exempted from the ADR rules, but for example from the rules governing driver certificates and the marking of the vehicle.

 

The more lenient rules concern, for example, the required level of training of the driver, the marking of the vehicle and/or goods and the required transport papers. Thus, the rules do not exempt the persons responsible from making a risk assessment of the transport so that steps can be taken to prevent and control any damage or injury so as to ensure the safest possible working environment for the driver (and any passengers), cf. the Danish Working Environment Act (Arbejdsmiljøloven).

 

It is a good idea to consult occupational health and safety consultant Maj-Britt K. Stærfeldt,  before taking chemicals in a vehicle.