Governing Bodies and Regulations

Please note that in the phrase, "state of origin," the word "state" may refer to a state within a country or the country itself.

United States Department of Transportation

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for developing and issuing the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), which are found in Parts 171 through 180 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), hereafter referred to as 49 CFR §171 through §180, as applicable. The regulations govern the transportation of hazardous materials in interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce. DOT carries out this responsibility through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

PHMSA is divided into two offices, the Office of Pipeline Safety and the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS). The OHMS evaluates safety risks, develops and enforces hazardous materials regulations, issues special permits and approvals, educates shippers and carriers, investigates incidents, and conducts research. PHMSA also represents the DOT when working with international regulatory agencies.

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), an agency of the United Nations (UN), provides key regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods by sea, referred to as the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The IMDG Code contains the Dangerous Goods List. The IMDG Code's overall objective is to provide a clear set of rules designed to assure safe practices for transporting hazardous substances and potential marine pollutants. The IMDG Code provides personnel involved in all aspects of maritime shipping with a single detailed reference for the procedures required to ensure safe packaging, carrying, and handling of hazardous materials and articles by sea.

International Air Transport Association

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which includes the List of Dangerous Goods (not to be confused with the IMDG Code's Dangerous Goods List.). The DGR provides procedures to safely transport articles and substances with hazardous properties by air.

Many dangerous goods can be transported safely by air if the articles or substances are packed properly and quantities are limited. However, if they are not controlled, the hazardous properties of these dangerous goods could adversely affect the safety of the crew, passengers, or aircraft on which they are transported. Depending on the severity of the hazard, any incidents caused by dangerous goods during air transport could also affect nearby communities and the environment.

United Nations

The United Nations (UN) adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in 2003. The GHS provides the criteria for classifying health, physical, and environmental hazards. It also identifies the information that hazardous chemicals labels and Safety Data Sheets should include. The United States participated in developing the GHS and is one of the UN members that pledged to implement this new system.

As you probably know, a diamond-shaped pictogram is required by the GHS to indicate the presence of dangerous goods. Your familiarity with these labels helps minimize risks and create a safer workplace.

The "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods" are contained in the UN Model Regulations prepared by the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The "UN Manual of Tests and Criteria" contains criteria, test methods and procedures to be used for classification of dangerous goods according to the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods," Model Regulations, as well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). As a consequence, it supplements the national or international regulations which are derived from the "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods" or the GHS.

To learn more about Multimodal Shipping visit our Multimodal DOT, IATA & IMDG HAZMAT Shipping Online Training web page.