Amendments to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Manual

The laws concerning the movement of dangerous substances by road have changed. HSE and other government bodies have responsibilities for enforcing this area of work. HSE's guidance for operational staff has been changed to reflect these changes.
On 1 July 2007 the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007 came into force. These consolidate the regulations relating to the carriage of all dangerous goods including radioactive materials. They also refer to ADR 2007 and RID 2007. More information may be found on the website of the Department for Transport

For convenience the new regulations will be known as CDG 2007.

Apart from the updates, the main changes are:

Operational strategy and enforcement

The enforcement guidance in annex 3.1 has been amended to include a decision matrix in relation to the pressure gauges and dates of inspection of fire extinguishers. This reflects practical problems faced by enforcement officers. Dutyholders will see clearly how decisions on this matter will be made. Deficiencies in the provision or operability of fire extinguishers remain the single biggest reason for the issue of Prohibition Notice

Updated "Common problems"

• A new entry concerning the carriage of acetylene and other industrial gases in small quantities.
• A new entry on the relationship between IMDG and ADR. Many international transport operations (and some domestic) involve a sea passage. IMDG’s requirements for placarding and labelling of tanks and tankers are not the same as ADR but are permissible where the road journey precedes or follows the sea passage.
• A new entry on where on a vehicle fire extinguishers should be carried. This reflects some confusion amongst dutyholders and problems enforcement officers have found from time to time.
• A new entry on the carriage of waste aerosols.
• A new entry on waste batteries.
• A minor change to the guidance on "bowsers" in relation to their use for petrol. This refers to new restrictions on the use of IBCs for petrol. Bowsers are sometimes certificated as IBCs. Bowsers are not commonly used for petrol but are sometimes seen in support of light aircraft or motor sport. Their use wholly within premises (e.g. an airfield or motor sport event) is not affected.
• Updated guidance on carriage of clinical waste with references to the new parts of ADR at 7.3.2.6.2. This reflects a number of instances of poor standards particularly concerning bulk transport of the familiar “yellow bags”, but also abuses in the way “large packaging” is sometimes used. It also reminds consignors that non-UN approved “large packaging” should be taken out of use.