In aviation, you have an important role in protecting yourself, the aircraft and the environment.  Safety starts before arriving at the airport.  It starts with the safety of baggage, mail and cargo.  Anything that is added to an aircraft can cause or increase risk.  Dangerous goods (also known as hazard materials) in baggage, mail or cargo can contribute to serious incidents when process are not followed.  Everyone’s responsibility is baggage, mail and cargo safety and preventing misdeclared, undeclared and hidden dangerous goods.  Learn to identify common dangerous goods, how to manage risk, and how to ship and travel safely. It’s important to observe safety awareness, the regulations and requirements, on the carriage of dangerous goods by air.

What are Dangerous Goods?

Dangerous goods are any articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, property or the environment and which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in the ICAO Technical Instructions part 3 chapter 2 and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations section 4.2, or which are classified according to this technical instruction and the regulations.

·        some dangerous goods are identified as too dangerous ever to be carried on any aircraft;

·        some are forbidden in normal circumstances but may be carried with specific approval from the Director of Civil Aviation Safety Authority;

·        some are restricted to be carried only on all cargo aircraft; but

·        most are carried on both passenger and all-cargo aircraft, subject to meeting the required conditions.

Rules and Guidance materials

CAR Part 92 prescribes rules governing the carriage and the offer of dangerous goods by air.  This Rule Part applies to all persons, including any entity other than an air operator that performs any function described in this Part.

Advisory Circulars 92-1, 92-2 and 92-3 contain information about standards, practices and procedures that the Director has found to be an Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) with the associated rule.

Referenced Documents: current editions- ICAO Technical Instructions (ICAOTI) for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air, supplementary to the ICAO TI, the Emergency Response Guidance for Aircraft Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, provides current and detailed information on the transportation of dangerous goods by air.

Links:  Technical Instructions For The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284)             IATA - Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)

Dangerous Goods Transportation approval processes refer to:  PNG Air Operator Certification

Dangerous Goods Training

Training provides knowledge and skills required to determine when a consignment of dangerous goods is classified, packed, marked, labelled, documented, accepted, handled and transported, in accordance with the current Part 92, ICAO’s Technical Instructions and the IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations.

To ensure that dangerous goods can be safely transported by air, it is important to provide training to all personnel with functions involving the transport of dangerous goods by air.  This includes the air operators and its ground handling agents, entities other than air operators such as Shippers, Freight Forwarders and Security screeners of baggage, mail and cargo.

Reporting of Dangerous Goods Incidents and Accidents in accordance to Part 12 of the Civil Aviation Rules

·      An Air Operator must report to the appropriate authority (CASA PNG) of the State or the State in which the dangerous goods incidents and accidents have occurred, in accordance with the reporting requirements of those appropriate authorities.  Reporting dangerous goods accidents and incidents, instances of undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods found in cargo, forbidden dangerous goods discovered in baggage, and damaged packages found to contain or that are suspected of containing dangerous goods.

·      Entities other than air operators who are in possession of dangerous goods at the time of occurrence or at the time discovered to have occurred, should follow the reporting requirements.  This includes discovery of undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods.  These entities may include, but are not limited to, freight forwarders, security screening providers and ground handling agents who carry out some or all of the functions of an air operator.

CA ACT Section 275N. Dangerous Goods states

(1) A person who, in breach of the rules, carries or causes to be carried on an aircraft any dangerous goods commits an offence.

(2) Despite Section 69(6), a person who commits an offence under Subsection (1) is liable to a fine not exceeding K75,000.00.

Additionally, an air operator must report any occasion when undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods are discovered in a passenger’s baggage.

Classes and Common Dangerous Goods

Many household items, consumer products and industrial supplies known by their general descriptions may contain articles or substances that are classified as dangerous goods. If undetected, such products may unknowingly be offered as undeclared dangerous goods for transportation by air.  When such items are transported by air, they can become hazardous if not properly identified, prepared, processed/accepted, handled and transported.