South Africa’s PREMIUM Transport Emergency Card (TEC™)
South African Legislation
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations as set out in the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 are intended to promote the safe transportation of hazardous material through the effective management of systems and processes.
With tons of dangerous goods being transported throughout South Africa and across the African continent every year, it is important to ensure the safety of this travel. Dangerous Goods can include everything from explosives, flammables, and corrosive or toxic chemicals to spent reactor fuel, low-level radioactive wastes, and disease-causing biological agents. If not controlled properly, these hazardous substances could present a potential hazard to human health and safety as well as that of the surrounding environment.
The National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996
The National Road Traffic Act was implemented in August 2000. This legislation included provisions for the road transport of Dangerous Goods as listed in SANS10228 and the relevant regulations were enforced from 3 August 2001. Since then, the legislation has been updated to reflect new changes in regulations.
Who does this affect? Dangerous Goods Regulations require all individuals, companies or entities involved in the handling, warehousing, and transporting of dangerous goods to receive training and abide by the South African Codes of Practice outlined in the Act and relevant standards.
Failure to meet the dangerous goods requirements as legislated by the National Road Traffic Act of South Africa and its amendments could result in heavy fines and penalties, putting your business at risk and could cost you your reputation. Violations include: incorrect or missing dangerous goods declaration, failure to meet trem card regulations, no designated space for documents, no danger warning diamond displayed, operator not registered as a dangerous goods carrier – the list goes on.
Not sure if you comply? Contact us today to request a consultation
Examples of Dangerous Goods Hazard Classes
CLASS 1: EXPLOSIVES |
|
 |
SUB CLASS 1.1: SUBSTANCES & ARTICLES WHICH HAVE A MASS EXPLOSION HAZARDA mass explosion is one which affects almost the entire load virtually instantaneouslyExamples:
|
|
SUB CLASS 1.2: SUBSTANCES & ARTICLES WHICH HAVE A PROJECTION HAZARD BUT NOT A MASS EXPLOSION HAZARDExamples:
|
|
|
SUB CLASS 1.3: SUBSTANCES & ARTICLES WHICH HAVE A FIRE HAZARD & EITHER A MINOR BLAST HAZARD OR A MINOR PROJECTION HAZARD OR BOTH, BUT NOT A MASS EXPLOSION HAZARDThese explosives give rise to considerable radiant heat, or burn one after the other, producing minor blast or projection effects or bothExamples:
|
|
 |
SUB CLASS 1.4: SUBSTANCES & ARTICLES WHICH PRESENT NO SIGNIFICANT HAZARDThis division comprises substances and articles which present only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation during transport. The effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire does not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents of the packageExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 1.5: VERY INSENSITIVE SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE A MASS EXPLOSION HAZARDThis division comprises substances which have a mass explosion hazard but are so insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions of transportExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 1.6: EXTREMELY INSENSITIVE ARTICLES WHICH DO NOT HAVE A MASS EXPLOSION HAZARDThis division comprises articles which contain only extremely insensitive detonating substances and which demonstrate a negligible probability of accidental initiation or propagationExample:
|
CLASS 2: GASES |
|
 |
SUB CLASS 2.1: FLAMMABLE GASAny gas which is ignitable when mixed with air in certain mixture ratiosExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 2.2: NON-FLAMMABLE, NON-TOXIC (NON POISONOUS) GASGases which are transported at a pressure not less than 280kpa at 280°C or as refrigerated liquefied gases, and which are asphyxiate or oxidisingExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 2.3: TOXIC (POISONOUS) GASThese gases are so toxic or corrosive as to pose a hazard to healthExamples:
|
CLASS 3: FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS |
|
 |
Any liquid, the flash point of which is not more than 60.5°C. Also liquefied desensitised explosives, with no explosive properties, are included in this class.Note: Flash point is not a temperature at which a liquid can ignite spontaneously. It is the lowest temperature of a liquid at which flammable vapour is given off in a test vessel in sufficient concentration to be ignited in air when exposed momentarily to a source of ignition.Examples:
|
CLASS 4: FLAMMABLE SOLIDS |
|
 |
SUB CLASS 4.1: FLAMMABLE SOLIDSSolids which are readily combustible, or may cause or contribute to fire through friction, or self-reactive substancesExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 4.2: SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTIONAny substance which is liable to heating up or igniting in contact with airExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 4.3: SUBSTANCES WHICH, ON CONTACT WITH WATER, EMIT FLAMMABLE GASESWhen interacting with water, these substances are liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable gases (decomposes water into hydrogen & oxygen) |
CLASS 5: OXIDISING SUBSTANCES & ORGANIC PEROXIDES |
|
 |
SUB CLASS 5.1: OXIDISING SUBSTANCESSubstances which may, by yielding oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other materialExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 5.2: ORGANIC PEROXIDESUnstable organic materials that ignite readily or react dangerously with other substancesExamples:
|
CLASS 6: TOXIC (POISONOUS) & INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES |
|
 |
SUB CLASS 6.1: TOXIC (POISONOUS) SUBSTANCESLiquid or solid substances that are dangerous if inhaled or swallowed or absorbed through the skinExamples:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 6.2: INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCESSubstances known to contain, or reasonably expected to contain, pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, parasites, fungi) or recombinant micro-organisms that are known or reasonably expected to cause infectious disease in humans or animalsExamples:
|
CLASS 7: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL |
|
| Max radiation level at any point on the external surface of the container: (The Sievert symbol: Sv is the derived unit of dose equivalent) | |
 |
SUB CLASS 7(I)Less than or equal to 0.005 msv/h (0.5mrem/h)Example:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 7(II)Greater than 0.005 msv/h (0.5mrem/h) but less than or equal to 0.5msv/h (50mrem/h)Example:
|
 |
SUB CLASS 7 (III)Greater than 0.5msv/h (50mrem/h) but less than or equal to 2 msv/h (200mrem/h)Example:
|
CLASS 8: CORROSIVE SUBSTANCES |
|
 |
Substances which can cause visible damage to the skin or other living tissue or which can damage other cargo.Examples:
|
CLASS 9: MISCELLANEOUS |
|
 |
MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES & ARTICLESSubstances and articles which, during transport, present a danger not covered by other classes. Substances which pose a hazard to marine life, aquatic life, animals & air – frequently used for substances & articles being transported by airplaneExamples:
|
MARINE POLLUTANT |
|
 |
Any substance that will have a harmful effect on or in any waterway or aquatic system must display this labelExample:
|
LOW HAZARD GOODS IN BULK |
|
 |
ENVIRONMENTALThe environmental hazard symbol shall be used when a spill will pose a threat of a temporary nature to any ecological system, for example, a water pollutant that would endanger aquatic lifeExamples:
|
 |
SLIPPERYThe slippery hazard symbol shall be used when spills will result in slippery road conditions that could lead to accidents)Examples:
|
 |
FINE DUSTThe fine dust hazard symbol shall be used when spills will result in fine dust that could present a breathing hazard, or cause irritation of the mucous membrane, or affect road visibility)Examples:
|
 |
SPRAYING WITH WATERThe symbol for the hazard caused by spraying with water shall be used when spraying with water could result in slippery conditionsExamples:
|
 |
MINIMALThe minimal hazard symbol shall be used when the goods being transported present no greater hazard than that presented by a wet road and have no adverse effect on the environmentExamples:
|