Booking of Dangerous and Explosive Goods

Booking of Dangerous and Explosive Goods:-

Definition - Goods likely to endanger the life and damage property and against which ‘d’ is written in ‘General Classification Book, are known as dangerous Goods. Rules mentioned in IRCA Red tariff no. 20 should be followed at the time of acceptance, booking, carriage, stacking, and handling of dangerous goods. There are eight chapters in this book.

Section 67 of Railway Act - According to this section, No person can bring dangerous or offensive goods to Railway premises without permission. For booking of dangerous goods, advance intimation should be given to Station Manager and type of dangerous goods should be also mentioned.

Section 164 of railway Act - According to this section, If any person contravenes the provisions of section 67 i.e. carries with him dangerous goods without permission to Railway premises, he shall be punishable with fine upto ₹. 1000 or imprisonment upto 3 years or both. He shall also be responsible for any loss or damage caused due to above act.

Dangerous goods have been classified into 8 groups as under:-

1. Explosives

2. Petroleum and other inflammable goods.

3. Gases compressed liquefied or dissolved under pressure.

4. Inflammable solids

5. Oxidizing substance

6. Acids and other corrosives

7. Poisonous substances

8. Radio Active material

General Rules for booking of Dangerous Goods:-

1. Dangerous goods will be accepted on nominated days.

2. Forwarding Note No. Com 628 F should be executed.

3. Mixed consignment will not be accepted.

4. Pictorial label should be pasted on packages / wagons containing dangerous goods.

5. Red pencil should be used for writing on seal cards and pocket labels.

6. Rivets and nut bolts should not be used on wagons containing dangerous goods. Private locks can be used.

7. Packages should be handled carefully.

8. Lead wire seal should be used.

Explosive goods - Explosive goods are classified into 7 classes:-

1. Gun powder

2. Nitrate mixture*

3. Nitro compound

4. Chlorate mixture

5. Fulminate*

6. Ammunition

7. Fireworks* (*= these commodities shall not be booked.

Acceptance / Booking of Explosive good:-

1. For booking of explosive goods advance intimation of 48 hours should be given.

2. Following information should be furnished on forwarding note.

a. Correct name of explosive goods

b. Class and division of explosive goods

c. Actual weight

3. At the time of booking these goods ‘H Certificate” issued by Inspector of Explosives, should be produced in two copies.

4. For explosives coming under Nitro compound class. “A Form” should be produced.

5. One copy of certificate will be kept as record and other will be sent to destination station.

6. These goods will be accepted daily, but at small goods shed/station these goods will be accepted only on nominated days.

7. Weight of one package containing explosive goods should not exceed 50 kg.

8. When weight of one package exceeds 35 kilograms, handles should be provided.

9. Explosive goods should be stacked in locked rooms away from station.

10. Tarpaulins should be used for to protect the explosives from sun & water.

11. Explosive goods will not be booked by longer route normally, but to prevent transshipment, they can be booked by a longer route.

Handling of Explosive Goods:-

Following precautions should be taken while handling explosive goods:-

1. Handling should be done in presence of authorized Railway employee.

2. Handling will be done during day time, exception being packages loaded in brake van.

3. Heavy packages should be handled by two or more persons.

4. Packages with explosive goods should not be thrown, dropped down, & dragged along the ground.

5. Trolleys should not be used for carriage.

6. No open fire should be ignited within 15 meter.

7. Handling persons should not wear shoes with iron soles.

8. Handling persons should not be in a state of intoxication.

9. Handling persons are prohibited from smoking.

10. Handling persons should not be below the age of 18 yr.

11. Handling persons should not possess match boxes, lighters, knives.

12. Entry of unauthorized persons in handling area is prohibited.

13. Explosives should not be loaded in Open wagons.

14. Explosives should be loaded up to 50% of carrying capacity of the wagon.

15. At a time at one station maximum 10 wagons can be loaded.

16. Only one layer of packages should be loaded in a wagon, but if the packages are of same size and weight, they can be loaded up to 5 layers.

17. Separate summary should be prepared for explosive goods.

18. Loose, Fly, Rough, Hump shunting should not be done of wagons loaded with explosive goods.

19. Shunting of wagons loaded with explosives should be done in presence of authorized employees and speed should not exceed 8 KMPH.

20. After opening the wagon door nobody should enter immediately.

21. If such consignment does not reach destination station within reasonable time, tracing should be initiated and message should be sent to intermediate junction stations.

22. Responsibility of Railway in case of explosive goods will be up to termination of transit time. After termination of transit time, Railway will not be responsible.

Delivery of explosive goods: - Delivery of explosive goods should be granted immediately at destination station. If such consignments remain unclaimed, legal notice will be given as per Section 84 and will be disposed off as per orders of DCM. Explosive goods will not be auctioned and instead will be handed over to concerned department.

Following explosive goods can be loaded in brake van of ordinary trains, parcel trains or mixed trains:-

1. Nobel safety electric fuse

2. Railway fog signal

3. Safety fuse

4. Detonators (Maximum - 200 nos.) (226.79 Kgs.)

5. Fine works (10 kgs.)

6. Gun power (37.5 kgs.)

7. Nitro compound (705 kg.).

8. Amorces (0.45 kg.).