Dangerous Goods Transport and the IMDG Code: Classification, Documentation and Segregation – Paris, 23–27 Nov 2026

Programme overview

Introduction:

Dangerous goods transport breaks down when a consignment is declared under the wrong UN number, packed in an unapproved packaging, labelled inconsistently or loaded next to an incompatible cargo, and the result is rejected bookings, held containers, fines and fires at sea. This Core Concept course trains shippers, freight forwarders, terminal and warehouse staff to apply the IMDG Code from classification through packing, marking, documentation, segregation and stowage. Working on real consignment files, each participant builds a Dangerous Goods Consignment Control File for a hazardous product their organisation ships.

Course Objectives:

• Classify a substance or article into the correct UN hazard class, division and packing group and select its UN number and proper shipping name from the Dangerous Goods List
• Navigate the seven parts of the IMDG Code and read the Dangerous Goods List columns, special provisions and packing instructions for a given entry
• Select UN-specification packagings, IBCs and portable tanks and apply the required marks, labels and placards to packages and cargo transport units
• Prepare a dangerous goods transport document and a container or vehicle packing certificate that pass carrier and terminal acceptance checks
• Apply segregation and stowage requirements, limited and excepted quantity provisions, and safe handling and storage practice in terminals and warehouses
• Compare sea requirements with road carriage under ADR and air carriage under the IATA DGR and assign duties across consignor, forwarder, carrier and terminal

Target Audience:

• Staff responsible for classifying hazardous products and issuing dangerous goods declarations at manufacturers, traders and distributors
• Staff responsible for booking, checking and routing dangerous goods shipments at freight forwarders and shipping agents
• Staff responsible for accepting, gating and positioning dangerous goods containers in marine terminals and inland depots
• Staff responsible for packing, loading and securing dangerous goods into containers and vehicles
• Staff responsible for receiving, segregating and storing hazardous materials in logistics warehouses
• Staff responsible for emergency preparedness and incident reporting for hazardous cargo operations

Course Outline:

Day 1: Dangerous Goods Principles, UN Classification and Duty Holders

• UN Model Regulations as the Basis for Sea, Road, Air and Rail Dangerous Goods Rules
• Nine UN Hazard Classes and Their Divisions from Explosives to Miscellaneous Articles
• Packing Group I, II and III Assignment by Degree of Danger and Flash Point Criteria
• Consignor, Forwarder, Carrier, Terminal and Packer Responsibilities in the Transport Chain
• Current-State Review of an Organisation's Hazardous Product Portfolio and Shipping Lanes

Day 2: IMDG Code Structure, the Dangerous Goods List and Packaging Rules

• IMDG Code Seven-Part Structure and Its Mandatory Basis under SOLAS and MARPOL
• Dangerous Goods List Columns: UN Number, Proper Shipping Name, Subsidiary Hazard and Special Provisions
• Marine Pollutant Identification and Multiple-Hazard Precedence Decisions
• Packing Instructions and UN-Specification Packagings, IBCs, Large Packagings and Portable Tanks
• UN Packaging Mark Decoding and Performance Test Level Checks against Packing Group

Day 3: Marking, Labelling, Placarding and Transport Documentation

• Package Marking with UN Number, Proper Shipping Name and Orientation Arrows
• Hazard Labels, Handling Labels and Marine Pollutant Marks on Packages
• Placarding and Marking of Containers, Vehicles and Portable Tanks
• Multimodal Dangerous Goods Form and Required Transport Document Entries
• Container and Vehicle Packing Certificate Preparation and Signature Accountability

Day 4: Segregation, Stowage, Quantity Exceptions and Emergency Response

• Segregation Table Application for Incompatible Classes in Packages and Cargo Transport Units
• Stowage Categories, On-Deck and Under-Deck Requirements and Hold Restrictions
• Limited Quantity and Excepted Quantity Provisions, Marks and Documentation Relief
• Terminal and Warehouse Handling, Segregated Storage Areas and Leakage Inspection Routines
• Emergency Response and Fire Precaution Information for Spills, Fires and Damaged Packages

Day 5: Multimodal Comparison, Consignment Case Work and Control File

• ADR Annex A and Annex B Requirements Compared with IMDG Code Provisions
• IATA DGR and ICAO Technical Instructions: Forbidden Items and Air-Specific Limits at Overview
• Case Study: Diagnosing a Rejected Dangerous Goods Booking from Its Declaration and Labels
• Case Study: Planning a Mixed-Class Container Load with Segregation and Stowage Checks
• Dangerous Goods Consignment Control File Build and Peer Review

Skills You Will Gain:

• Hazard Class Assignment
• Dangerous Goods List Interpretation
• UN Packaging Selection
• Hazard Communication Marking
• Dangerous Goods Declaration Preparation
• Cargo Segregation Planning
• Hazardous Materials Storage Control
• Multimodal Dangerous Goods Comparison

Why Attend This Course:

• Return with a Dangerous Goods Consignment Control File covering classification, packaging, marks, documents and segregation for a product your organisation ships
• Reduce rejected bookings and held containers caused by wrong UN entries, missing labels or incomplete declarations
• Handle mixed-class loads and hazardous storage with clear segregation decisions rather than guesswork
• Compare dangerous goods practice with shippers, forwarders, terminal and warehouse staff from chemicals, energy, retail and manufacturing sectors

Conclusion:

A dangerous goods consignment moves safely only when classification, packaging, hazard communication, documents and segregation all agree. The week moves from UN classification and duty holders, through the IMDG Code structure, the Dangerous Goods List and packaging rules, to marking, labelling, placarding and transport documents. It then covers segregation, stowage, limited and excepted quantities, terminal and warehouse handling and emergency response, and closes with ADR and IATA DGR comparison, consignment case work and a Dangerous Goods Consignment Control File for each participant.