Australian Dangerous Goods Code
Encyclopedia
The Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADGC or ADG7) is promulgated by The Advisory Committee on Transport of Dangerous Goods. The most current version is the seventh edition, released in 2008. These documents create a significant level of standardisation for the transportation of dangerous goods in Australia
. The Australian Transport Advisory Council recognised the Advisory Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (ACTDG) in 1970 to expand and harmonise standardised national requirements for safe transportation of Dangerous Goods
. ADGC is currently used with individual legislation and laws in each in state and territory, and has been issued by the eight governing bodies
in Australia. ADG7 complies with international standards of importation and exportation of dangerous goods (United Nations
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
).
Improvement of Dangerous Goods Code legislation was found to be on the Road Transport Reform schedule and incorporated essential reforms of the National Competition Policy
. The Commonwealth Government established the Road Transport Reform Act in 1995, followed by the Road Transport Reform Regulation in 1997.
The seventh edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code was released in 2008. However, the sixth edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code still applies as a substitute to the 7th edition for a period still not decided by governments. The structure of ADG6 which was established in 1998 differs from the current ADG7. Australia is establishing a separate dangerous goods regulation for road and rail transport.
Each class is assigned a 4 digit UN number
. It is not typically possible to determine the hazard class of a substance from its UN number. An exception to this are Class 1 substances whose UN number will always begin with a 0. See List of UN numbers.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Australian Transport Advisory Council recognised the Advisory Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (ACTDG) in 1970 to expand and harmonise standardised national requirements for safe transportation of Dangerous Goods
Dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations. "HazMat teams" are personnel specially trained to handle dangerous goods...
. ADGC is currently used with individual legislation and laws in each in state and territory, and has been issued by the eight governing bodies
Parliaments of the Australian states and territories
The Parliaments of the Australian states and territories are legislative bodies within the federal framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. Before the formation of the Commonwealth in 1901, the six Australian colonies were self-governing, with parliaments which had come into existence at various...
in Australia. ADG7 complies with international standards of importation and exportation of dangerous goods (United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods are contained in two documents prepared by the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United Nations Economic and Social Council . They cover the transport of dangerous goods by all modes of transport except by...
).
History
Ministers in the early 1990s decided to establish a national process in order to nationally develop consistent dangerous goods transport legislation. Even though the Dangerous Goods Code was agreed to be adopted in every state and territory legislation of dangerous goods, this legislation is wide ranging in the duties and obligations of the individuals handling dangerous goods.Improvement of Dangerous Goods Code legislation was found to be on the Road Transport Reform schedule and incorporated essential reforms of the National Competition Policy
National Competition Policy
The term National Competition Policy refers to a set of policies introduced in Australia in the 1990s with the aim of promoting microeconomic reform.-Origins:...
. The Commonwealth Government established the Road Transport Reform Act in 1995, followed by the Road Transport Reform Regulation in 1997.
The seventh edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code was released in 2008. However, the sixth edition of Australian Dangerous Goods Code still applies as a substitute to the 7th edition for a period still not decided by governments. The structure of ADG6 which was established in 1998 differs from the current ADG7. Australia is establishing a separate dangerous goods regulation for road and rail transport.
Hazard classes
- Class 1 Explosive substances and articles
- Class 2 Gases
- Class 3 Flammable liquids
- Class 4.1 Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives
- Class 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
- Class 4.3 Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
- Class 5.1 Oxidizing substances
- Class 5.2 Organic peroxides
- Class 6.1 Toxic substances
- Class 6.2 Infectious substances
- Class 7 Radioactive material
- Class 8 Corrosive substances
- Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Each class is assigned a 4 digit UN number
UN number
UN numbers or UN IDs are four-digit numbers that identify hazardous substances, and articles in the framework of international transport....
. It is not typically possible to determine the hazard class of a substance from its UN number. An exception to this are Class 1 substances whose UN number will always begin with a 0. See List of UN numbers.