Hidden Dangerous Goods

Some dangerous goods are not easy to identify. Sometimes cargo declared under a general description contains unapparent dangerous goods. Or, passengers may attempt to carry such goods in their baggage, either knowingly or unknowingly. In these circumstances the hazardous articles are not apparent and are referred to as hidden dangerous goods. They are covered in DGR 2.2.

Cargo acceptance personnel must be adequately trained to identify and detect dangerous goods presented as general cargo or hidden in passenger baggage. Staff may be alerted by fumes, odors, smoke, noises, stained or wet packages, or information written on the package. If cargo acceptance personnel suspect that cargo or baggage might contain dangerous goods, they should seek confirmation from shippers or passengers regarding the contents of any item. If undeclared dangerous goods are found, they must be reported as an undeclared or mis-declared item through the operator's standard reporting procedures.

Operators must also be familiar with diamond-shaped GHS pictograms because their presence on packages may indicate the presence of dangerous goods. While some GHS pictograms identify substances that only pose a hazard for supply and use, other pictograms include symbols that are equivalent to the symbols used in hazard labels for transport and, therefore, may be classified as dangerous goods. Consult Table B.4.A in the 62nd edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for more information.

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