JAS AROUND THE WORLD

JAS has numerous in-house experts in a wide range of fields required for the transportation of various commodities and goods. An essential area of expertise is managing consignments containing hazardous materials.

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Caroline Söderholm and Christina Jopengrip, two highly experienced forwarders at JAS Sweden, specialize in dangerous goods for air freight and assist our clients in making the right decisions when shipping these commodities.

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They spoke with us about their experiences and important considerations regarding booking and shipping dangerous goods by air.

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Please tell us about yourselves and your role at JAS Sweden? 

Christina: For the past eight years, I have worked as an import and export specialist for Air, Sea, and Rail shipments at our office in Sundsvall.

Caroline: I have worked as an Air Export Specialist at our Arlanda/Stockholm office since 2017. I have been in the forwarding industry since 2005, handling import and export air consignments.

What are dangerous goods?

Dangerous Goods is the term used for substances and objects that, if not handled properly during transport, can cause harm to people, the environment, or property.

The classification of dangerous goods is based on criteria outlined in the UN model regulations. These goods are then divided into different classes depending on their nature and level of danger.

You are both experts with dangerous goods, primarily by air. What training is required to be able to work with dangerous goods shipments? 

Caroline: You have to be approved for an IATA DGR course (7.3 Function: Personnel Responsible for Processing or Accepting Dangerous Goods Consignments), where there is a requirement that you attend it every two years to be up to date with the latest rules and regulations.

Christina: It is good to have attended stage 1 and 2 courses for Lithium batteries.

There are a lot more batteries (for electric cars, hybrid cars, electric bicycles, laptops, mobile phones, cameras, etc.) compared to previously. And many of them are transported by air, so the rules have become much stricter. Did you know, for example, that there is a difference between sending only batteries, batteries packed with equipment, and batteries packed in equipment?

How do you help customers with dangerous goods transportation? 

Caroline: We collaborate with our dangerous goods partner, Dangerous Goods Management (DGM), to assist and advise our clients on how to properly package their goods in accordance with current regulations, as well as identifying necessary documentation.

What would you say is the main difference between handling dangerous goods and non-hazardous goods as a forwarder when it comes to air transportation?

Christiana: Compliance with IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR) is mandatory for air shipments of dangerous goods. This includes following strict guidelines for classification, marking, packaging, labeling, and documentation of hazardous shipments. Additionally, certain states or airlines may have specific restrictions or rules that must be followed. In other words, handling hazardous goods is more complex than handling non-hazardous goods.

What information do you need when contacting you for a dangerous goods transport, and what responsibility does the customer have according to law? 

Christiana: As the shipper/supplier is always ultimately responsible for their goods, we must be clear about what can and cannot be shipped and how.

Caroline: When booking a shipment that includes dangerous goods, the customer must provide a "Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods" for air transport. This declaration helps us determine the correct pricing and routing based on how the goods are packaged. It's important to note that different rules apply for flights that use passenger aircraft versus freighters, which are known as Cargo Aircraft Only.

What are the risks of transporting dangerous goods by air? 

Caroline: The properties of dangerous goods are so hazardous that they can jeopardize the aircraft itself and even the safety of individuals on board an aircraft. Some goods may be unable to endure the effects of turbulence and high pressure, making it necessary to pack them in specially approved containers designed for dangerous goods.

Many everyday household items can be classified as dangerous goods for air transportation. What are some examples of these items, and how does JAS help ship them?

Christiana: Some examples of dangerous goods you may not know are nail polish, hair spray and dry shampoo, alcohol, matches/lighters, thermometers, backpacks with built-in chargers, and E-cigarettes…the list goes on.

We collaborate with partners such as DGM to provide guidance on how to ship small quantities of hazardous items as limited or excepted quantities instead of fully regulated dangerous goods. This allows for shipping with exceptions and reduces the labeling and packaging requirements, making it a more cost-effective option than shipping fully regulated dangerous goods.

Caroline: It's worth considering that our smartphones and tablets contain a built-in Lithium battery, which makes them sensitive items. Consequently, flight attendants typically instruct passengers to notify them if such items are dropped between the seats. Dropping a lithium battery on a hard surface may cause the particles to divide and potentially ignite a fire that is incredibly difficult to extinguish. In the end, though, it is the Pilot who ultimately decides which cargo is allowed on their flight.

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Thank you for sharing with us today! It has been very interesting and given us plenty to consider when sending dangerous goods by airfreight.

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For more information, or if you have questions on how to transport dangerous goods, please don’t hesitate to contact your local JAS representative.