Have you ever wondered, " What is IMO ?" or "How can I identify potentially dangerous goods?" Well, you're in the right place. In this article, you'll find useful and detailed information about IMO and its classification.
IMO goods are those that are a risk to safety and health.
What is IMO?
IMO (International Maritime Organization) or Dangerous Goods, are those that are considered a danger to the health and safety of the human population.
They are classified into 9 different degrees, depending on the level of danger and characteristics. It is important to know that the numbering order of the classes has nothing to do with the magnitude of the risk. For example, a class 1 (Explosive) commodity could be just as (or more) dangerous than a class 7 (Radioactive) commodity; the level of danger depends on technical and chemical factors.
IMO classification
For the transport of dangerous goods (whether sea, air, land) the container must have labels on all four sides, which must indicate class and IMO number, according to the following classification:
Class 1: Explosives
In this category are all those goods that due to their particularities can explode, generate a fire or shoot out. Fireworks, detonators, ammunition, rockets, can be considered explosives. Within this category there are 6 subdivisions depending on the characteristics, these are:
- 1.1: Substances and Objects with risk of mass explosion.
- 1.2: Substances and objects with risk of explosion, but do not generate mass explosion.
- 1.3: Substances and articles with fire hazard but low probability of mass explosion.
- 1.4: Substances and objects that do not represent a significant risk.
- 1.5: Insensitive substances that can explode en masse.
- 1.6: They are extremely insensitive and there is no risk of mass explosion.
Class 2: Gases
In this category we can find different types: tablets, liquefied or refrigerated. In addition, due to their characteristics we can also separate them by toxic, flammable, oxidizing or suffocating. They are subdivided as follows:
- 2.1: Gases of a flammable nature: They can ignite when they come into contact with a heat source, such as propylene, ethane or butane. Its label has the symbol of a white or black flame and the number 2 at its bottom.
- 2.2: Non-flammable gases: These are those that can cause suffocation, since they displace oxygen. Its label contains a black or white gas bottle on a green background and a 2 at the bottom.
- 2.3: Toxic gases: They can be flammable or corrosive and cause serious effects or even death. Chlorine is one of them. Its label has a skull on some crossbones in black, the background is white and it has a number 2 at the bottom.
Class 3: Flammable Liquids
As their name indicates, they are characterized by being liquids that can catch fire easily. Some common substances, like paint or gasoline, are flammable liquids. His image contains a black or white flame on a red background and a number 3 at the bottom.
Class 4: Flammable Solids
In this category we mainly find products of an explosive nature or reactive to flammable substances, as well as products that release gases in contact with water. They are subdivided into:
- 4.1: Flammable solids: These are substances that can react spontaneously. His image contains a black flame on a white background, seven vertical red stripes and the number 4 at the bottom.
- 4.2: Substances prone to spontaneous combustion (e.g., metal and coal). Its image contains a black flame on a white background in the upper half and a red background in the lower half, with the number 4 below.
- 4.3: Goods that release gases when in contact with water (e.g., potassium, calcium carbide, sodium). The label contains a black or white flame on a blue background and a number 4 at the bottom.
Class 5: Oxidizing agents and organic peroxides
In this class are those substances that present combustion risks and could cause a fire. They are subdivided into:
- 5.1: Oxidizing agents: These are substances (liquid or solid) that cause or favor the combustion of others. One of them is ammonium nitrate. On your label you must have a flame on a black circle, on a yellow background, and the number 5.1 at the bottom.
- 5.2: Organic peroxides: They derive from hydrogen peroxide. They are substances that tend to burn easily, they are also sensitive to shock and even friction. They can only be transported in certain quantities, because it is extremely dangerous. On its label it must contain a flame symbol (white or black) on a red background in the upper half and yellow in the lower half, also a 5.2 in its lower half.
Class 6: Toxic
These substances, when in contact with humans, could seriously affect their health. They are subdivided into:
- 6.1: Toxic substances that can cause death by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. For example, methylene chloride or methanol. Their labels contain a black skull and crossbones symbol on a white background (identical to label 2.3 for toxic gases), but they differ in that they have the number 6 at the bottom.
- 6.2: Toxic substances containing pathogens (microorganisms) that can cause disease. Some examples are: blood samples, laboratory cultures, secretions, excrement, among others. The lower half of the label may include "Infectious Substances" or "In case of leak, alert health authorities." The symbol consists of three crescent moons superimposed on a circle, in color on a white background, and a number 6 at the bottom.
Before transporting goods, it is necessary to know their risks.
Class 7: Radioactive Material
Radioactive material is considered to be that which contains uranium, plutonium or thorium. These substances concentrate activity above the minimum values. They are classified in:
- Category I: For containers with a maximum surface radiation level (0.5 millirem/h), containers that do not contain packages with higher categories. The label must be white and have a black trefoil, with the label "Radioactive" underneath.
- Category II: For containers with a radiation level on the surface greater than 0.5 millirem/h but not exceeding 50 millirem/h.
- Category III: For packages with a maximum level of radiation on its surface of 200 millirem/h. The label must be yellow with a border, in the upper half and in the lower half, white. It must have a black clover and the legend "Radioactive".
- Category IV: Fissile materials, must necessarily have the legend "Fissile" in black. Underneath it should have a box that says “Critical Care Index” and a number 7.
Class 8: Corrosive material
They are all those substances that, when in contact with the skin, generate injuries and damage the tissue. It can not only affect the skin, but also the eyes and mucous membranes. Some of these substances can be: sulfuric acid or sodium hypochlorite. Its label contains the image of two test tubes pouring liquid onto a hand and metal. The bottom background must be black and the top white, with a number 8.
The social impact of dangerous goods is notorious.
Class 9: Various dangerous objects
These substances and objects pose a hazard not mentioned above and pose a risk in their transport. Some examples are dioxins, lithium batteries and dry ice. Its label is white with seven vertical black stripes in the upper half, and in the lower corner, an underlined number 9.
It is important to know that each and every one of the labels must be in the shape of a diamond, and with minimum dimensions of 100mm x 100mm. However, if the size of the packages requires it, then you can also change the size of the labels, reducing them (as long as they are visible).
The IMO classification of hazardous substances is vitally important for identifying these substances when transported in containers. This way, operators and shipping agents will be aware of the characteristics of the material being transported and will be able to apply the appropriate protocols based on the type of cargo.
If you found this article interesting, don't hesitate to check out our other articles on commerce and finance; for example: What is a PPA?
It is very important to know the impact of dangerous goods. Throughout history, countless accidents have been witnessed due to misinformation, but this has served to optimize and standardize global protocols, which differentiate and identify the way in which these goods should be treated. These protocols are subject to constant changes, where awareness on the part of the transporters will be the key point to achieve the minimum number of accidents with the handling of these goods.
However, at present there are still various direct and indirect factors that affect and violate safety in these activities. Accidents, for the most part, lie in the omission of previously established parameters and factors associated with the cost created by human beings in the port environment. Currently, approximately 200.000 products considered dangerous goods are marketed worldwide, these are transported by sea, land and air.
There are organizations that are responsible for the regulation of dangerous goods, based on mandatory guidelines that establish the proper way to handle packages for transport, along with proper documentation. These are: UN, IATA, IMO and SCT, also SOLAS and MARPOL respectively.
