Transporting Hazardous Cargo – Oxygen Transport

The concept of hazardous cargo transportation involves moving materials that pose risks to health, safety, or the environment. This raises key questions such as: What does this entail? How is it carried out? How is transportation safety ensured? These questions are often asked by individuals tasked with managing such operations, particularly specialists or managers of medium and large industrial enterprises.

Each hazardous material is categorized according to UN classification standards, which define the specific handling and marking requirements. These categories ensure proper identification and risk management during transport. For example, oxygen is a chemical element that may seem straightforward to transport at first glance, but poses significant dangers due to its reactive properties.

Oxygen is commonly transported in cylinders and is frequently used in various industrial processes.

Ensuring Safety During Hazardous Cargo Transportation

Transporting hazardous materials, such as oxygen, requires strict adherence to safety measures and specific rules. This type of transportation differs significantly from the transportation of regular goods like bricks or potatoes. Below are the essential safety measures:

1. Avoid Contact with Oils:
   • Oxygen cylinders must not come into contact with oils of any kind.
   • Workers’ gloves must also be free of oil or grease to prevent accidents during handling.
2. Training:
   • Workers involved in transportation must be familiar with the Rules for Transporting Inert Gasses and Oxygen in Cylinders.
3. Handling Requirements:
   • Cylinders must be transported using appropriate tools, such as stretchers or trolleys.
   • The transport vehicle must be equipped with shock absorbers.
4. Loading and Unloading:
   • Loading and unloading sites must be equipped with specialized equipment to eliminate the risk of cylinders falling.
5. Containerless Transport Conditions:
   • If no transport containers are available, the following conditions must be met:
     • Safety caps on cylinders must be tightly secured.
     • Cylinders must be placed on wooden semi-circular supports padded with soft material.
     • Cylinders must be laid crosswise in the truck bed.
     • It is prohibited to place cylinders in dirty truck beds or in areas with oil stains.
6. Vertical Transport:
   • When cylinders are transported vertically, they must be separated with rubber gaskets and enclosed within protective frames.
7. Protection from Sunlight:
   • In hot weather, truck beds must be covered with protective tarps to shield the cylinders from direct sunlight.

Additional Rules for Oxygen Cylinder Transport:

1. The driver is automatically assigned responsibility for the safe transportation of oxygen cylinders.
2. The maximum permissible speed for hazardous cargo is 60 km/h (37 mph).
3. Transportation is prohibited in adverse weather conditions such as heavy fog, rain, or snowfall.
4. It is strictly forbidden to carry passengers in the truck bed with oxygen cylinders or any other hazardous materials.

By following these guidelines, the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials are minimized, ensuring the safety of both the cargo and those involved in its transportation.

This is not a complete list of parameters that must be adhered to when transporting hazardous cargo. If you are unable to meet even one of the above-mentioned requirements, it may be worthwhile to turn to a company experienced in hazardous cargo transportation.

Our company, European Transport Systems, is one of the leaders in this field. Neglecting the requirements for transporting hazardous materials can result in severe consequences, including the loss of human lives, significant material losses and the potential revocation of licenses necessary for future operations.