highlights from the recent literature

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY A N D SCIENCE VOL 1 1051 11 (1988)

Highlights from the Recent Literature

PACKAGING OF DANGEROUS GOODS

During the recent past much has been written about the change in 1990 from the present transitional arrangements covering the packaging of Dangerous Goods for transport by Land, Sea and Air t o the requirements that such goods be ‘Performance Tested and Certified’ under the UN Orange Book procedures. An article on this subject will be found on page 99 and the Abstracts of relevant publications appearing in International Packaging Abstracts is appended here for general information.

These Abstracts have been selected from over 350 published each month by Pergamon Press on behalf of Pira. T h e full coverage includes items selected from journals, trade magazines and other literature in 20 languages. Each monthly issue is arranged by a subject classification, under head- ings such as retail unit packages, transit packs and packaging operations and machinery. The cumulative monthly issues back to 1975 form the PIRA PACKAGING DATA BASE.

T h e full text of most of the abstracts can be obtained from the Pira Information Centre at a cost of f2.60 per item for Pira members (f3.00 for non-members). T h e Centre will also assist with literature searches, charges available on application. Enquiries t o Marie Rushton (Tel +44 372 3761 61).

331 Anon, 1986 (In Swedish)

METAL CANS FOR DANGEROUS GOODS TH Transport & Hantering no. 10, p. 51,

PLM Industripac now produces a complete series of cans made of thin sheets which conform with the regulations for the transport of dangerous goods. They include a one litre, round bottle, two rectangular cans for 2.5 and 5 litres respectively and two round, conical cans for 10 and 20 litres respectively. These packagings have been tested and approved by Statens Provningsan- stalt (The State Testing Establishment). (Short article).

0894-3214/88/020 105-07$05 .OO @ 1988 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

333 BUSINESS UNDER A CLOUD Anon, 1986, pp 3-4,6

Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 7 , no. 10, Nov.

A report on the 35th session of the UN Group of Rapporteurs gives details of the papers discussed by the Group in August 1986 and by an informal working group on a variety of topics. These include test methods and criteria for class 4 testing and the selection of standard substances for Division 5.1 testing. Following submission of papers to improve regulations relating to IBCs, various changes were accepted, in respect of bottom lifting, wooden packagings and hydraulic pressure tests. Other areas of discussion were specifications for refillable gas cylinders and changes to pesticide groupings suggested by Switzerland. The working group’s series of tests for organic peroxides, still being finalized for inclusion in the UN manual is described and summary given of the more important miscellaneous papers accepted by the group, relating to listing and classification of substances.

334 HONING THE FINER POINTS Anon, HazardousCargoBull. vol. 7 , no. 10, Nov.

At the 26th session of the UN Group of Experts on Explosives in August 1986 the finer points of the class 1 provision were considered. Subjects discussed included container linings, the definition of cartridge types, and a revision of the glossary. Over the last two years the Group has concentrated on producing an extensive manual of tests for packages of explosive articles and an amendment submitted by the UK relating to metal outer packaging was accepted. The meeting also studied proposals formulated by the US for the inclusion of insensitive high explosives (IHE) in Division 1.5 and to papers submitted by Norway, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK which led to changes in three chapters (2, 3 and 10) of the UN Orange Book.

1986, pp 7-9

335 Anon,

THE LITTLE AND THE LARGE Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 7 , no. 10, Nov.

The 53rd session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee which took place in September 1986, reached several important decisions in the bulk and packaged dangerous goods fields. The committee

Received 10 January 1988

1986, pp 12-13

106 DANGEROUS GOODS PACKAGING ABSTRACTS 1987

concurred with the decision on bulk chemicals taken by the Manne Environment Protection Committee in July. Details of discussion on International Gas Carrier Code are reported. Discussion also focused on amendments to the MARPOL Protocol I, particularly concerning guidelines for reporting incidents involving dangerous goods in packaged form; and other amendments to the IMDG code.

336 SSCI GUIDE FOR EXPORT SHIPPERS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Anon, New Jersey, USA: Steel Shipping Con- tainer Institute, 1985, 16pp, 4.00 US dollars (PM 11677)

This guide applies only to the transport of hazardous materials by land and sea. Details are given of Regulatory agencies affecting the export shipment of hazardous materials. These include the UN recommendations, US/Department of Transport regulations, a comparison between UN and DOT recommendations. The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, issued in 1965 by the UN committee of Experts known as the International Maritime Organization, is described. The applicability of UN/IMO and US/DOT regulations, ADR and RID regulations are discussed. The interpretation of applicable regulations is related to packaging equivalency and the US Steel Shipping Container Institute chart of UN/IMO and US/DOT equivalents. Use of this chart is intended to facilitate identification of the US/DOT drum specifications which conform to UN/IMO packaging standards. Marking requirements for steel drums are included. Procedures and examples for determining UN/DOT equivalence are described. Details are given of US/DOT specifications for 55 gallon steel drums and for UN/IMO specifications for 55 US gallon steel drums.

429 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Anon, Ind. Relat. Rev. Rep. no. 379,4 Nov. 1986, Health and Safety Inf. Bull., no. 131, pp 6 9

Significant changes and additions to the UK requirements for warning labels for dangerous substances will be required as a result of the 7th EEC Commission directive amending directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. Over 50 new chemicals have been added to those covered by the directive, and a new warning of a carcinogencity hazard will be required for 30 substances. More details of the amendments are given. On a separate issue, the UK Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has proposed that the two documents giving guidance on the regulations governing the transport by road of dangerous substances be combined into one publication. One of the present documents relates to road tankers and tank containers, and the other relates

to the more general 1984 dangerous substances labelling regulations. The coverage of these two sets of regulations are discussed, with particular reference to how they treat substances not specifically listed. A table summarizes the legislation and codes of practice on dangerous substances issued by the HSC.

432 LEGAL UPDATE Swinbank, C., Nov. 1986, p. 26

Packag, Week vol. 2, no. 29, 26

A major trend in bulk packaging is the use of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) particularly of the flexible type. Britain being a major producer with an estimated use of 6.5 million this year. For the transport of dangerous goods IBCs have been distinguished from conventional packaging or portable tanks under UN regulations as rigid, semi-rigid or flexible portable packaging that have a capacity of not more than 3m' (3,0001). In the UK such containers fall under the provisions of the Classification, Packaging and Labell- ing of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1981, but requirements under international regulations vary. The provisions of the new Chapter 16 of the UN recommendations are outlined and the test requirements discussed, with reference to the work of the IMO and provisions of RID and ADR.

533 PROTECTION IN TRANSIT Cale, P . , Can. Packag. vol. 39, no. 10, Oct. 1986.

A discussion of shipping problems, especially in Canada highlights the work of the Packaging Technolo- gies Group of the Ontario Research Foundation and the National Safe Transit Association of Chicago, US. Both organizations are campaigning for improved transit packaging. A recent survey by the PTG discovered that only one manufacturer, among North American companies whose steel drums were drop tested, was able to meet UN requirements of the dangerous goods code for 208 and drums containing Group 2 chemicals, findings disputed by the Canadian drum industry. Two tables given, show the causes of shipping insurance claims and typical hazards in distribution.

pp 12-16

1103 1990 AND ALL THAT Swinbank, C., Packag. Week vol. 2, no. 36, 4 Feb. 1987, pp 18-19

1990 is the last year by which industry must comply fully with United Nations international regulations relating to the dangerous goods act. The government of the People's Republic of China is committed to the implenientation of the IMDG Code and ICAO technical instructions. The authors mission to China on behalf of the International Trade Centre, UNCTAD/ GATT reflects this concern. The visit related specifically to the packaging of dangerous goods and main

DANGEROUS GOODS PACKAGING ABSTRACTS 1987 107

contact was with the China Export Commodities Packaging Research Institute. Features of this visit and seminars held in Zhen Jiang organized by the Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission are outlined. Competent authorities and testing and certification of packages in China is described. Details are given of some of the industrial packages inspected which are claimed will conform to UN regulation including 210 I capacity steel drums, 50 1 capacity steel and plastic composite drums, fibreboard drums and 20 and 25 1 capacity rectangular plastic drums.

1105 BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Anon, 1987, pp 6-8

Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 1, Jan.

During the latter half of 1985 the U.S. Coast Guard launched a nationwide freight container inspection programme to determine the degree of compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations. Areas of particular concern were freight unproperly blocked and braced and secured within freight containers; and the shipment of hazardous materials in containers packed by non-vessel operator common carriers (NVOCCs). The background to the inspection programme, the main results and observations are discussed and a table showing results for most of the major parts involved is given. A number of recommendations made as a result of the programme are listed. Generally, a high degree of non-compliance with the regulations was discovered and the Coast Guard has agreed that the freight container inspection programme should be continued.

1413 AIR FREIGHT OF DANGEROUS SUBST- ANCES Anon, Nord Emballage vol. 52, no. 12, Dec. 1986, p. 88 (In Swedish)

The packaging group Serlachius is the first company in Finland to develop airfreight boxes for dangerous substances. As liquid substances are often transported by air, the boxes can be supplied with Airsorb filling which has been developed by Suomen Oljyntorjunta Oy. The boxes are in four different sizes and the material is durable, PE covered corrugated board. They have statutory warning texts and handling instructions. (Short article).

1840 HEALTH AND SAFETY. THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS SUB- STANCES IN PACKAGES ETC.) REGULA- TIONS 1986 Anon, Statutory Instrument 1986, no. 1951, London: HMSO, 20pp, f2.90 (656.073.436) (PM 11940)

These UK regulations lay down requirements for the transport of packaged dangerous goods by road, including bulk transport (except in road tankers or tank

containers which are covered by separate regulations). The regulations apply generally to packages larger than 200 I , except for certain particularly hazardous substances for which a limit of 5 1 is given. The scope of the regulations, including the range of substances classified as dangerous, is described, and then provisions relating to the following are presented: the construction of suitable vehicles and freight containers; the availability of information relating to the load on a vehicle; the training of drivers; loading, unloading and storage of vehicles; marking of vehicles; granting of exemption certificates by the Health and Safety Executive. The regulations came into force on 6 April 1987, except for provisions relating to driver training.

2462 COMBINATION PACKAGES FOR DANGEROUS GOODS AND THEIR TESTING IN SWITZERLAND Harmati, Z., Packaging (U.K.) vol. 58, no. 671, Apr. 1987, pp 27-29

Combination packagings used for dangerous goods in Switzerland are subjected to rigorous testing at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, St Gallen. Guide lines existing for testing combination packagings are listed and testing includes Drop Test, Leakproofness, Internal Pressure Test and Stacking Test. Three categories of packagings are distinguished: Single packagings, Composite Packag- ings and Combination Packagings. Of the 500 packages so far approved 45% were combination packages, and 6% were composite packages. Details are given of packaging designs used for combination packagings. Materials used for inner and outer packagings are listed. Studies of packages are used to highlight any weak points. Procedures in testing variants on a single design are outlined and simplifications of tests suggested. The value of such regulations is emphasized to achieve safe transport of dangerous goods interna- tionally.

763 HEALTH AND SAFETY. THE ROAD

STANCES IN PACKAGES ETC) REGULATIONS 1986 Anon, Statutory Instruments 1986 no. 1951, London: HMSO, 1986, 19pp, f2.90 (PM 11872)

The UK Health and Safety Committee Road Transport Regulations cover manufacturers and suppliers of dangerous goods, vehicle operators and drivers but not explosive and radioactive materials. They cover the proper design of carrying vehicles, information supplied to the vehicle operator and driver, driver training, loading, unloading and stowage requirements, use of vehicle warning plates and parking of vehicles. Regulations are arranged as follows: citation and commencement, interpretation, application, construction of vehicles and freight containers, information for

TRAFFIC (CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS SUB-


operator, carriage and instruction and training from drivers. Loading, storage and unloading of dangerous substances, precautions against fire or explosion, limitation on the carriage of certain dangerous substances, marking of vehicles, supervision, information to be given to police officers, defence in proceedings for contravening these regulations, exemption certificates, revocations and modifications. Four schedule groups are defined.

764 PROGRESS REPORT ON REGULATIONS McKee, A. N . , Aast. Packag. vol. 34, no. 11. Nov. 1986, pp 1%19

The adoption by Australian government of the United Nations recommendations on the Transport of Danger- ous Goods has led to improved levels of packaging performance and quality. The Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods has been developed by the Packaging Council of Australia Transport of Dangerous Goods Committee, the Advisory Commit- tee for the Transport of Dangerous Goods and various individual companies and industry associations, repre- sented on the Drafting Sub-committee and must be applied only to explicitly adopted members of nomin- ated companies or bodies. Following approval by the Australian Transport Advisory Council the draft of the new edition of the code is expected to be published by the end of the first quarter of 1987 and compliance is expected after a 6 month period. A conference organized by Pira to clarify UN regulations is outlined.

765 MAKE YOUR CHOICE - BUT HOW? Cartwright, D. E . , Nov. 1986, p. 21

Aust. Packag. vol. 34, no. 11,

The classification scheme contained in the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail is described. Nine main classes of dangerous goods are identified and some of these are further subdivided. Labels accompany this scheme. The system, based on the United Nations Classification developed by their Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods covers international air and marine transport. Kerosene is used as an example of the workings of the Australian Code and its classification is followed through. Use of plastic drums for packaging kerosene is dependent on the ability of the drum to withstand stacking, drop, leakage and hydraulic testing. Principles behind the United Nations Recom- mendations are summarized as a need for suitable, protective packaging which has been subjected to performance tests. Packaging should be compatible with the goods carried and test-marketing of the package is also required.

884 WORLD FIRST FOR PAIL MANUFAC- TURERS Anon, Aust. Packag. vol. 34, no. 11, Nov. 1986,

Member companies of the Australian Canmakers Institute have released details of the new range of Safe Seal tinplate pails compliant with international regulations for the transport of solid or liquid dangerous goods. Rheem Australia have produced this pail as part of $3 million programme producing containers for a wide range of dangerous goods. A new closing system features a curl on the rim of the pail and uses an air-operated closing tool. Pails are available in sizes from 10 to 231. (Short article).

p. 22

2482 Anon,

NO EXCUSE NOW FOR IBCS Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 4, Apr.

This article forms the second part of the Hazardous Cargo Bulletins two-part article surveying the progress made at the UN Committee of Expert’s 14th session, held in Geneva 1-10 December 1986. This part discusses amendments to the UN list for organic peroxides, intermediate bulk containers, gas cylinders, environmentally hazardous substances and other miscellaneous items. Approval was given to the specific requirements listed for IBC’s including composites with plastic liners, fibreboard, wooden and rigid plastics. These were approved for use with substances in Groups I1 and 111, but agreement was reached that a competent authority might approve Group I use in special conditions. Current progress on the insertion of appropriate regulations in the UK and overseas transport using FIBC’s is being examined by RIDiADR and IMO authorities. New clauses added revised packaging methods for organic peroxides, are discussed using a flow chart to illustrate the new scheme. Other packaging recommendations and environmental hazards are also discussed.

1987, pp 3-5, 7

2483 APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE - PACKAGING OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES FOR CONVEYANCE BY ROAD (REVISION 1) CLASSIFICATION, PACKAGING AND LABELLING OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES REGULATIONS 1984 Anon. London, UK: HMSO for Health and Safety Commission, 1987, 22 pp, f4.00 (621.798: 656.073.486) (PM 11988)

The first revision of the Approved Code of Practice has been published by the UK Health and Safety Commis- sion and is to be enforced o n 7 April 1987. Practical guidance, on the Packaging and Labelling of Danger- ous Substance Regulations 1984 is given and the code of practice generally deals with the conveyance by road of dangerous substances. The first appendix deals with the requirements for packaging organic peroxides and


is based on UN recommendations revised by their Committee of Experts in December 1984. Some new entries are for composite packaging, organic peroxide, special provision for existing peroxides and some other packaging is revised. The contents of the report cover General Recommendations in Part 1 and suitable packagings for particular substances are listed in Part 2. Part 1 covers all aspects of packaging including stacking, handling and re-use of packages. Appendix 1 lists organic peroxides, special provisions, recorn- mended packagings and organic peroxides which must not be carried above a specified temperature. Appen- dix I1 compares with international rules and recorn- mendations.

2564 Cornpton, M., 5 , May 1987, pp 36-37

UK PORT RULES FOR PACKAGES Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no.

Until recently, dangerous goods in UK ports have been regulated by local bylaws and the various regulations for difference modes of transport. The need for harmonization has now been recognized with the adoption of the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas. Regulations which entered into force on 1 June 1987. They are based on IMO recommendations, and deal with both packaged and bulk goods. Transport operators must notify harbour authorities of the entry into a port area of dangerous goods in general not less than 24h in advance. The harbour master is entitled to refuse entry. Control of vessels in the harbour is dealt with, as is handling during loading and unloading. Supervision, protection and training of handling staff are discussed, and specifications for freight containers and receptacles are made. Receptacles have to be constructed to prevent the contents escaping during the stresses and strains of normal transport. Labelling must comply with established standards.

3595 UN-DOING THE US RULES Anon, Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 7,

Proposals published by the US Department of Trans- port, adopting the UN Hazardous Materials Regula- tions (HMR) and the recommendations of the UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods contained in the ‘Orange Book’, are discussed. Advance Notice of the Proposed Rulemaking was published in 1982 and since that time the position has been consolidated with amendments stipulating the carrier’s responsibilities in Parts 174-176 of 49 CFR yet fully integrated. Publication of the amendments has been brought about by the fast approaching expiry date of ‘Grandfather’ clauses in international transport codes for packaging dangerous goods. The full legislation will not be enforced until 5 years after the implementation date which is in 1989. Advantages of this performance based criteria legislated in the US

July-Aug. 1987, pp 12-13

Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) are discussed. The Hazardous Materials Table lists UN descriptions of shipping names with cross references to air transport, transport by water, highway, rail, in bulk packagings, non-bulk packagings and intermodal portable tanks, implications of these regulations are discussed.

3596 TECHNOLOGY’S FRONT END Anon, Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 7,

Reports from the packaged dangerous goods session at the Ninth International Symposium on the Transport and Handling of Dangerous Goods by Sea and Inland Waterways, held in Rotterdam 13-17 April, are presented. Presentations covered research work, risk analyses, experience gained and regulatory development, carried out since the previous conference at Havana in 1985. Summaries of these reports are presented in this journal. Titles are as follows; ‘Development of a safe philosophy for the trans- shipment of dangerous goods as general cargo’; ‘Testing of chlorine tank containers’; ‘Packaging and transporting of dangerous goods in Australia’; ‘Cana- dian experience with the marine transport of dangerous goods in FIBCs’; ‘Compatibility testing of polyethylene receptacles for Class 5.2 substances’; ‘Receptacles for radioactives’; ‘Cryogenic tanks - a new tank type in the IMDG code’; ‘Self-ignition behaviour of unstable substances during transport in I S 0 containers; and ‘The design of safe means for transport of dangerous goods: an underdeveloped area’.

3597 THE BIG BANG Anon,

July-Aug. 1987, pp 6 1 4 2

Packag. Today vol. 9, no. 7, July 1987, pp

In 1990 the complex, more stringent ADRiRID regulations for containers of hazardous substances are due to be implemented, but there are pressures within the industry to use draft legislation on IBCs to change existing ADR/RID requirements. The main requirements which conform with longstanding UN guidelines are generally accepted but the accelerated plastics compatibility test for HMWPE products is one area of concern and dissension. The costs of setting up testing facilities to comply with the new code, such as those at BASF Germany and BP, UK are regarded as restrictive. Proposals are being prepared by the US CIA and European counterparts to accept less stringent regulations to enable the use of IBCs for hazardous substances.

35-36

3955 DANGEROUS GOODS REGULATIONS EXPLAINED Murphy, M . , Packag. Week vol. 3, no. 16, 26 Aug. 1987, Suppl. pp xxi-xxii

In the format of an interview, Harry Mostyn (manager of the Transport Packaging Group at Pira, UK)


explains the international recommendations and regulations which govern the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail, sea and air. He covers aspects such as: how the regulations for different modes of transport relate to U N Recommendations and the extent to which the regulations are uniform; how the regulations, have been implemented by the UK and the rules which apply for domestic transport; the transitional arrangements which end in January 1990; the authorized test stations (in the UK. Pira) which carry out testing and certification of dangerous goods packages; the availability of certified packages; the scope of the regulations in terms of types of package covered; the progress which has been made towards use of packages with UN certification (which will become mandatory for almost all dangerous goods packages in January 1990).

4189 Anon, 1987, pp 78, 81, 83

ED1 - EVERYBODY’S DOING IT Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 10, Oct.

Electronic Data Interchange or ED1 is expected to become standard practice in the shipping industry in the next couple of years, and companies which do not start making preparations to adopt ED1 are in danger of going out of business. ED1 is expected t o reduce the cost of documenting shipping by eliminating paperwork and reducing delays arising from incorrect documentation. The introduction of a consistent and aligned series of trading documents, such as that pioneered in the UK by the Simplification of International Trade Procedures Board, was a prerequisite to the computerization of documentation. The industry is now working on other aspects such as standard ways of coding trade documents and protocols for data transmission. A standard format, EDIFACT, for shipping records has been agreed and submitted to I S 0 for consideration. Customs authorities are also altering their methods of working to take advantage of ED1 when shippers adopt it.

4190 DATA - ICI SHOWS HOW Anon, Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 10, Oct.

ICI, the UK chemicals company, handles a large proportion of its exports through the central Overseas Freight Department in Runcorn, Cheshire, and has been at the forefront in the development of paperless trading or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the shipping industry. The company is a member of DISH (Data Interchange for Shipping), a group of major exporters and shipping companies working to compute- rize documentation.. The first phase of the DISH project was a six-month trial of documents common to exporter and shipper concerning, for example, the reservation of cargo space. If the documents and corresponding computer records generated by exporter

1987, pp 83-85

and shipper have the same format and coding system, then the data corresponding to a shipment may be transmitted electronically. DISH has provided a form to make this possible, and the trial was successful. A description is presented of the processing of an export order under the new system, and future extensions of the system are noted.

4265 SHIPPER’S USE OF PACKAGINGS Anon, 1987, p. 24

Hazardous Cargo Bull. vol. 8, no. 9, Sept.

About one third of the output of ICI plc (UK) is classified as hazardous under transport of dangerous goods regulations, and the range of package sizes and types used and the number of chemicals involved has led ICI to develop a computerized database to assist in providing the correct labelling and documentation for each consignment. Nearly 60% of output is exported, largely by sea, and the great majority of output transported in packages conforms with UN recommendations. ICI cooperates widely with packaging suppliers in the development of new pack designs, not only for new products but also for well established lines such as sodium chloride. Here the use of special PE blends for sacks has enabled filling of the hot salt to be automated. Albright and Wilson Ltd (UK) uses a similarly wide range of packages for both non- hazardous and hazardous products, and like ICI constantly works with packaging suppliers t o find better solutions to packaging problems.

4266 UNITED NATIONS PACKAGE PER- FORMANCE STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Gaynes, C . , SPHE Tech. J . vol. 6, no. 1, Spring 1987, pp 2 4

The UN recommendations on the packaging of dangerous goods for transport have become increasing- ly important in the US. US producers must first ensure their packaging complies with US Department of Transportation requirements but, if US companies export, the packaging must also comply with UN-based requirements, which may be different to domestic regulations. Until about 1984, US producers of packages for dangerous goods had to send packages to Europe for testing and certification since no US laboratories were approved for these purposes. Now, however, the necessary procedures have been developed in the U S t o approve testing stations, and eight laboratories have been approved, including the au- thor’s company, Gaynes Testing Laboratories. The UN package performance tests are described with particular reference to steel drums and fibreboard cases, and the coding system used to designate types of packaging and classes of dangerous goods is outlined.


4262 HOLDING BACK THE REARS Anon, Hazardous 1987, p. 21

contents of the freight container shift during transport, the least desirable packages are liable to fall out when the doors are opened. Netting or sheeting is generally used to catch any dislodged packages, and Ancra Corp.

Regulations require that dangerous goods be packed at (Leek, Staffs, UK) supplies suitable materials in the rear (door) end of freight containers to be polyester or PVC. These were developed for containers transported by sea, so that any leakage or fire rapidly used to supply North sea oil rigs, a particularly severe becomes apparent. However, this means that if the testing ground. (Short article).

Bull. ~01. 8, no. 9, Sept,

highlights from the recent literature

Documents