Safe Transport

1. Safe transport of gases

Safety Hazards

Gas can leak in the vehicle
• Leaks of gas in an enclosed vehicle are dangerous and can cause fire, explosion, poisoning or asphyxiation.
• Leaks can occur from cylinder valves leaking, or being knocked open, or from pressure relief devices.

Liquefied gases have extra hazards
• Liquefied gases (e.g. liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen) leaking from relief valves or toppled containers quickly evaporate creating a lot of gas.
• Spills of cryogenic liquids onto metal, such as other cylinders, can make it brittle and shatter.

Cylinders can be heavy and difficult to handle
• Most full cylinders of gas weigh over 25kg and can weigh over 100kg.
• During loading or unloading, injuries can occur from falling cylinders and from incorrect manual handling.
• Additional hazards from overloading the vehicle or unbalanced loading are poor handling and reduced vehicle braking.

Cylinders can move in the vehicle
• Cylinders can cause injury and damage if they can move while the vehicle is cornering or braking.
• Any unrestrained cylinder is a hazard.

Gas Hazards
• Labels show the hazards from the gas and are the only way to positively identify the contents of a cylinder or container.
Transport regulations
• If you are transporting cylinders “at work” check how the Dangerous Goods Transport Regulations (ADR) apply to you.
• If you are transporting cylinders only for domestic use by a private individual the regulations do not apply, but you have a “duty of care” to transport gases safely.

Transport regulations
• If you are transporting cylinders “at work” check how the Dangerous Goods Transport Regulations (ADR) apply to you.
• If you are transporting cylinders only for domestic use by a private individual the regulations do not apply, but you have a “duty of care” to transport gases safely.

How to stay safe

Prevent Gas Leaks
• When loading the vehicle ensure the valve is closed and there is no leak of gas.
• Do not rely on regulators or other equipment to shut off the gas – always use the cylinder valve.
• Ensure the valve protection cap or guard is in place, if the cylinder is designed to have one.
• Never carry toxic gases in unventilated vehicles.

Provide good ventilation
• Use a well-ventilated vehicle – ideally an open or flatbed truck, or a vehicle with a gas area sealed from the driver’s compartment and vented to the outside.
• It is recommended not to use passenger cars and vans, but if used turn on the fan and keep windows partly open to provide good ventilation.
• Never leave cylinders in an unventilated vehicle

Ensure all cylinders are well secured
• Ensure cylinders are evenly loaded and secured enough to prevent movement during cornering, acceleration and emergency braking.
• Ensure vehicle is not overloaded
• Cryogenic liquid containers must be secured in an upright vertical position, and ideally cylinders with relief devices too.

Loading and unloading
• For heavy cylinders, use mechanical aids or get help to load and unload the vehicle.
• Use safety shoes, gloves and eye protection to help prevent injury.
• Unload the vehicle as soon as possible. Never store gases in an unventilated vehicle - especially flammable gases, because even small leaks can build up to make an explosive atmosphere.
• Read the label to understand the hazards of the gases you are handling.

Emergency actions for leaking gas
For all gases:
• Stop the vehicle as soon as possible, turn off the engine and get out.
• As you leave the vehicle leave your door open, to let the gas escape.
• Keep away from the vehicle and try to keep members of the public away.
• Leave gas to safely vent to atmosphere.
• If you suspect a leak in a parked vehicle, do not get in it.

In addition, for:
Flammable gases:
• Minimise potential ignition sources and do not smoke.
• Call the emergency services – tell them your location and the number and type of cylinders involved.
• If you suspect a leak in a parked vehicle, do not try to enter the vehicle or activate remote locking.

2. Safety transport of dry ice

Safety Hazards
Carbon dioxide gas can build up in vehicles
• Dry Ice will generate carbon dioxide gas and in an enclosed vehicle can lead to a dangerous atmosphere causing intoxication and death by asphyxiation.
• Higher temperatures in the vehicle and poor ventilation will increase the speed of carbon dioxide gas build up.

Dry Ice can move in vehicles
• Containers or packages of dry ice can cause injury and damage if they can move when the vehicle is cornering or braking.
• Any unrestrained dry ice container or package is a hazard.

Dry Ice can be heavy and difficult to handle
• Containers and packages of Dry Ice can weigh over 25kg and can weigh up to 200kg.
• During loading or unloading, injuries can occur from falling containers and packages, and from incorrect manual handling.
• Additional hazards from overloading the vehicle or unbalanced loading are poor vehicle braking and handling.

Dry Ice cold & pressure hazards
• Dry ice is very cold -78 °C, if it touches bare skin or eyes it will cause cold burns.
• Exposure of plastics and other hard materials to Dry Ice may lead to them becoming brittle and shattering.
• If Dry Ice is put in a sealed container, pressure will build up to dangerous levels.

Product Hazards
Labels show the hazards and weight from packages containing Dry Ice and are the only way to positively identify the contents of a container.

Transport regulations
• Dry Ice is exempt from the ADR transport regulations.
• If carrying Dry Ice on commercial aircraft or other forms of passenger transport check how the relevant Transport Regulations apply to you.

How to stay safe

Prevent gas build-up
• Minimise the time Dry Ice is in the vehicle. A dangerous level of carbon dioxide can build up in less than 20 minutes.
• Minimise the quantity of Dry Ice carried in non-dedicated vehicles.
• Carrying Dry Ice in passenger cars is not recommended.
• Unload the vehicle as soon as possible – never store Dry Ice in an unventilated vehicle.

Ensure all containers are well secured
• Ensure containers and packages are evenly loaded and secured to prevent movement during cornering, acceleration and emergency braking.
• Ensure vehicle is not overloaded.

Loading and unloading
• For heavy containers use mechanical aids or get help to load and unload the vehicle.
• Wear safety shoes.
• Read the product Safety Data Sheet and labels to understand the hazards of the substance you are handling.

Avoid other Dry Ice hazards
• Always wear gloves that provide thermal protection when handling Dry Ice.
• Handle Dry Ice for the minimum amount of time possible.
• Individuals with poor blood circulation should not handle Dry Ice.
• Never put Dry Ice in a sealed container, to avoid pressure build up.


Emergency actions
If you feel unwell or suspect a build-up of carbon dioxide:
• Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and get out.
• Ventilate the vehicle – open all the doors.
• If you suspect a gas build up in a parked vehicle, do not get in it.