How to Spot Potentially Hidden Hazards in Shipping Documentation

This year’s ICHCA campaign has been on the handling and transport of Dangerous Goods. As we approach the end of 2025, we are taking the opportunity to refresh members about the topics we have covered and to remind readers that Amendment 42-24 which has been voluntary, will become the mandated IMDG Code in January 2026. Today’s topic is:

How to Spot Potentially Hidden Hazards in Shipping Documentation

We will look at the potential for simple phrases used in shipping documentation that through error or omission might mean there are unexpected dangerous goods involved. We have also developed a video on this topic, which we will be resending over the next couple of weeks to further raise awareness of the risks associated with hidden dangerous goods.

According to TT Club, millions of tonnes of packaged dangerous goods are safely transported each year. These include everyday items such as fireworks, propane, gasoline, lighters, bleach, solvent-based paint, aerosols, pest control substances, charcoal, and lithium batteries. When properly packed, labelled, and documented, these goods can be transported safely in compliance with international regulations.

However, when dangerous goods are misdeclared, improperly packaged, or inadequately documented, the risks to people, cargo, infrastructure, and the environment can be severe. Ensuring that shipping documentation accurately reflects the nature of the cargo is essential for managing these risks and preventing catastrophic incidents.

The Consequences of Misdeclared Dangerous Goods

The consequences of incorrect or misleading shipping documentation can be severe. If a road or rail carrier, port, or vessel operator is unaware that they are handling dangerous goods, they cannot implement the appropriate safety measures. A single oversight in the supply chain can lead to serious accidents, endangering lives and causing significant damage to vessels, terminals, and the wider environment. Tragically, past incidents have resulted in loss of life and entire ships being lost due to undeclared dangerous goods.

It is estimated that approximately six million shipping containers carry dangerous goods each year. Concerningly, around 1.3 million of these may not be properly packed or may be incorrectly classified. While some misdeclarations are the result of mistakes or a lack of knowledge, others are deliberate attempts by bad actors to bypass regulations.

Identifying Potentially Hidden Dangerous Goods

Recognizing potentially misdeclared dangerous goods starts with scrutinizing shipping documentation. Various trade documents, including Bills of Lading, Shipping Notes, Dangerous Goods Notes, and Customs Declarations, must be completed accurately by individuals with sufficient knowledge and understanding of dangerous goods regulations.

Certain descriptions in documentation have been known to obscure the presence of dangerous goods. While these terms do not automatically indicate a problem, they should prompt further scrutiny:

Ship’s Spares – May include explosive flares, pyrotechnics, paints, adhesives, gases, fire extinguishers, and aerosols.
Household Goods – Can contain paints, adhesives, polishes, bleach, corrosive cleaners, aerosols, and matches.
Pharmaceuticals – May include radioactive medicines, toxic substances, and flammable liquids.
Photographic Supplies – Could contain heat-producing devices, flammable liquids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, toxic or corrosive substances, and lithium batteries.
Automobile Parts – Might include fuel-containing engines, wet batteries, compressed gases, fire extinguishers, air bag inflators, and lithium batteries.
Dental Apparatus – May contain flammable resins, compressed gases, mercury, and radioactive materials.
Medical Supplies – Can include flammable liquids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, and lithium batteries.
Battery-Powered Apparatus – Such as wheelchairs, lawnmowers, or golf carts may contain wet batteries, lithium batteries, fuel cells, or cartridges.
Machinery Parts – Could include adhesives, sealants, solvents, batteries, compressed gases, and mercury.
Show, Motion Picture, Stage & Special Effects Equipment – May contain flammable substances and explosives.
Tool Boxes – Can include power rivets, compressed gases, flammable adhesives, corrosive liquids, and lithium batteries.
Groupage Loads – May contain a mixture of dangerous goods across all hazard classes.
Expeditionary Equipment – Can include explosives, flammable liquids, and compressed gases.
Sporting Goods or Team Equipment – May contain compressed gases, lithium batteries, aerosols, and flammable adhesives.
Camping Equipment – Can include propane gas, flammable liquids such as kerosene or petrol, and flammable solids such as hexamine or matches.

A Systematic Approach to Identifying Risks

If your organisation encounters any of these descriptions in shipping documentation, it is advisable to have a systematic, risk-based policy in place. While these descriptions are not inherently problematic, further scrutiny and due diligence can help ensure safety. There are commercially available software tools that can assist in reviewing documentation and flagging improperly identified dangerous goods.

Shared Responsibility for Safe Transport

Ensuring the safe transport of dangerous goods requires cooperation from all parties involved in the supply chain:

Shippers, consolidators, and forwarders must ensure that dangerous goods are correctly classified, packed, labelled, and documented.
Carriers should adopt a proactive approach by thoroughly understanding their customers and their cargo, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Cargo handlers should collaborate with shippers and carriers to receive, handle, and load cargo safely.

Undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods have led to numerous accidents, some with fatal consequences. Proper identification and transparent documentation are critical for managing risks effectively.

Conclusion

Safety in dangerous goods transport is a shared responsibility. By remaining vigilant and adopting a proactive approach to documentation review, industry stakeholders can mitigate risks and help prevent future tragedies.

Cooperation, coordination, and communication are the keys to ensuring an ever more safe and responsible global supply chain.

For more information and ongoing updates on our work, visit www.ichca.com

Amanda Cooper2025-12-08T09:59:17+00:00December 8th, 2025|