Truck and Track Autumn 2025 www.truckandtrack.com 58 DANGEROUS GOODS There has been a significant increase of late in incidents involving dangerous goods, both on the road and at sea. It is suspected that many of these involve mis-declared or unmarked shipments which have, consequently, been stored or segregated incorrectly. Hazard labels on dangerous goods shipments are there to highlight the properties of the products being transported. Whether they take the form of a placard on a tanker or bulk container, or as a label on a box or a drum, they are usually the only visual indication of the hazard contained within. For dangerous goods professionals, these labels also provide information for handling, storing and shipping the products. For the emergency services, the instant information that they give can be critical to ensure that an incident, such as a spill or a fire, is managed with minimum risk to people, property and the environment. It’s imperative, therefore, that these labels are manufactured to a standard that ensures they will: ■ stay on the surface that they have been applied to. ■ retain their colour when exposed to sunlight. ■ keep their integrity and marking during the rigors of transport and over time. These requirements are expressly stated in the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods: ADR (the dangerous goods transport regulations for road) states that labels shall be able to “withstand open weather exposure” and placards shall be “weather resistant and shall ensure durable marking throughout the entire journey.” The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (for air) uses similar phrasing as ADR for labelling. For sea, the IMDG Code is more demanding: “The method of affixing the label(s) or applying stencil(s) of label(s) on packages containing dangerous goods shall be such that the label(s) or stencil(s) will still be identifiable on packages surviving at least three months’ immersion in the sea. In considering suitable labelling methods, account shall be taken of the durability of the packaging materials used and the surface of the package.” The requirement to withstand three month’s immersion in the sea is repeated in the IMDG Code to cover marks on packaged goods as well as placards and marks on cargo transport units. One way of ensuring that your labels and marks are likely to comply with the above requirements is to make sure that they are certified to BS5609. This is a globally recognised specification to test labels for their adhesive properties and resistance to abrasion and sunlight. The practical elements of the accreditation are carried out under two sections: Section 2 tests the properties of the label media, including dimensional stability, adhesion, artificial weathering, temperature cycling, colour fastness, and the ability to withstand marine conditions for three months. Section 3 tests the performance of the printed labels applied to materials certified in Section 2. The printed labels are thoroughly tested for print key properties, abrasion resistance and colour fastness after exposure to salt spray and accelerated sunlight. Labels are sometimes produced using Section 2 approved media and marketed as “BS5609 approved” but it is Section 3 that determines the performance of finished labels for print permanence, effectiveness against abrasion, and artificial weathering. Another way to ensure that your labels comply is to test them yourself – just stick a hazard label to a south facing surface (without misleading passers-by). To achieve maximum adhesion, it is important that labels are applied to a clean, dry and suitable substrate. Applying labels to an extremely cold surface can also affect their adhesive properties. Labeline’s labels BS5609 certified for both Section 2 and Section 3. What’s more, we are fortunate to be situated on the It’s not just a sticky label! Richard Shreeve, Labeline’s Compliance Manager warns of the risks of purchasing sub-standard hazard labels Faded tanker placard “ADR, IMDG & IATA compliant” Richard Shreeve
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