Always seek professional advice if in doubt. Ignorance is not a valid excuse in the eyes of the law. If you have any concerns about transporting dangerous goods — especially if you are asked to move something by a customer for the first time — seek qualified advice first.

Understand "Limited Quantities" exemptions. Specific exemptions exist for transporting small quantities of dangerous goods, known as "Limited Quantities". Depending on the precise nature of the substance, these may be transported without UN-approved packaging, an ADR-qualified driver or a vehicle carrying safety equipment and paperwork. Do not guess — seek advice.

Each transport mode has its own regulations. Compliance with road regulations (ADR) does not automatically mean compliance with sea (IMDG) or air (IATA) regulations. The rules vary between modes — always verify for each leg of the journey.

Consider multimodal journeys. Moving dangerous goods from Point A to Point B may involve multiple transport modes. A consignment travelling from Birmingham to San Francisco, for example, will involve road, sea and rail — each with its own regulatory requirements, which also vary between countries.

Check packaging working life before use. Many types of packaging have a working life indicated by markings, certificates or date plates. IBCs, gas cylinders, plastic drums and steel drums must be checked to confirm they are permitted for the specific journey before being used.

Overpacks must be correctly labelled. If multiple packages are placed on a single pallet and wrapped in shrink film, individual marks and labels may become obscured. The pallet then becomes an overpack, and all relevant labels, orientation marks and the word "OVERPACK" must be applied to the outer wrapping.

Display classification placards on all four sides. If the CTU is carrying dangerous goods by sea, the correct classification placards must be visible on all four external sides. Failure to do so will result in rejection at the port of departure.

Placards must survive sea transport. Placards and marks on the outside of the CTU must be capable of withstanding 3 months' immersion in sea water — i.e. they must not wash off or disintegrate when wet. Once the CTU has been discharged of its dangerous goods cargo, all placards and marks must be removed.

Retain documentation for at least 3 months. Documentation and any other relevant information relating to the transport of dangerous goods must be retained by the Consignor (sender) and Carrier (transport organisation) for a minimum of 3 months after the date of transit.

Ensure staff receive proper training. All DG regulations require employees to receive "general awareness" and "function specific" training (where applicable) — covering office staff, drivers, warehouse staff, management and packers. Training should be conducted by a qualified, competent person on a regular basis and recorded by the organisation, and should include accident prevention, emergency response and the correct use of PPE.

Obtain the CTU Code of Practice. Anyone using shipping containers for the movement of products should obtain a copy of the IMO's CTU Code of Practice — the global reference for maritime transport, containing a wealth of practical information on every aspect of container loading and securing.

Load hazardous goods closest to the doors. If loading a mix of hazardous and non-hazardous goods in a single container, always position the dangerous goods nearest to the container doors.

Avoid the "X" strap method. Using two ratchet straps in an X-shape between cargo and container doors offers very limited benefit in preventing cargo movement. In most cases it is completely inadequate for preventing cargo sliding towards the doors.

Balance the load for centre of gravity. When loading a CTU, aim for the centre of gravity of the entire load to sit as close to the mid-point of the container as possible. Avoid concentrating heavy items at one end and light items at the other.

Choose securing equipment carefully. Options include timber battens, ratchet straps, adhesive film and one-way lashings — each with its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, ease of application and regulatory compliance. Contact HTS for impartial advice specific to your cargo type.

Fill void spaces when shipping dangerous goods. The IMDG Code requires the CTU Code to be applied as a mandatory condition. A common issue is leaving void spaces of 150mm or more between cargo and container walls, which can allow sideways movement in heavy seas. Dunnage bags (inflatable pillows) offer a quick, cost-effective solution.

Inspect the CTU before loading. Always check for structural damage to walls, floor, doors (including locking mechanisms), lashing rings, corrosion, missing or damaged door seals, and any contamination from previous cargo.

Dunnage bags do not secure cargo. These "inflatable pillows" are designed to fill void spaces between the cargo and the walls of the CTU — they do not secure the cargo. Void spaces allow the cargo to move in multiple directions, which can damage the cargo itself, damage the metal structure of the CTU, or in extreme cases cause the cargo to break through the CTU wall and damage a neighbouring CTU.

Protect flat rack cargo from metal-on-metal contact. Avoid metal cargo loaded onto a flat rack having direct contact with the metal frame of the flat rack — metal-on-metal contact gives a very poor friction coefficient. Use timber or rubber friction mats between the two surfaces instead; increasing friction contributes to the securing process and is recommended for road and sea transport, in addition to other securing methods.

Understand the different "securing means". Anything used to secure cargo falls under the umbrella term "securing means", including ropes, ratchet straps, single-use lashings, adhesive plastic film, steel wire/chains and timber. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, ease of use, time to apply and regulatory compliance — traditional methods (such as ratchet straps and timber) have many disadvantages compared with more modern systems, so understanding each one can save time, money and inconvenience.