Specialized Shipping Considerations for Hand Sanitizers Classified as Dangerous Goods

Posted April 6, 2020

By: Kirsten Alcock, Manager of Product Safety, email

Many of our clients are stepping up to help Canadians meet the need for hand sanitizers to help combat Covid-19. Many of these products are classified as Dangerous Goods and require enhanced shipping protocols. Continue reading to learn how product classification, flash point testing, and Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) training may all be required for the safe and compliant shipping of hand sanitizers. Contact Dell Tech today to learn more about TDG for hand sanitizers.

We are seeing an influx of products that would now be considered Flammable Liquids under the definition from the Transportation of Dangerous Goods. A product is included in Class 3, Flammable Liquids, if it meets the following criteria:

(a) have a flash point less than or equal to 60ºC using the closed-cup test method referred to in Chapter 2.3 of the UN Recommendations; or
(b) are intended or expected to be at a temperature that is greater than or equal to their flash point at any time while the substances are in transport.

The WHO provided some guidance on what would be considered an appropriate formulation to help with the current situation of the world. Those formulations contained Ethanol and Isopropanol which are flammable chemicals. Your overall product must be analyzed appropriately to ensure you are shipping it properly within our borders.

The classification of your product is a very important step in transporting your product safely within Canadian borders. It is important to determine the appropriate UN Number, Hazard Class, Proper Shipping Name and the Packing Group of your product. Here’s some questions you need to answer:

Is there someone at your company that has been properly trained in TDG? If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must have someone properly trained in these regulations. Part 6 of the TDG contains information on the Training Requirements. Please ensure that there is someone properly trained at your company for these regulations.
Did you test your overall product for the flash point? This is also a step that must be taken.

If you need help determining the classification of your product, please contact us. We have helped hundreds of clients over the years with their classification for transportation whether it is looking at your formulation to determine the best shipping classification, to testing for your flammable classification when you need to determine if you are a Packing Group I, II or III.

We can provide you with a quote and a turn-around time on our services.

HOW DELL TECH CAN HELP:

Perform the appropriate Flash Point Test for your product
Provide Transportation Consulting: Advise on appropriate Proper Shipping Name, UN, Class and Packing Group

Contact:

Dell Tech
Kirsten Alcock, B.Sc. (Hons)
Manager, Product Safety Group
519-858-5074
kirsten@delltech.com