2019 has proven to be an eventful year thus far for the world of supply chains, and particularly pivotal for the proper classification of goods. With several vessel fire incidents, one which led to the sinking of an entire ship just last week, and two airline explosions in the past several months, there is a major need for increased scrutiny and review of materials in transit.
Alarmingly, a recent IATA shipper survey revealed that nearly 40% of shippers are unaware of the strict regulations around dangerous goods, yet many are overseeing and coordinating the logistics and distribution of products that would be classified as such.
With the rise of many smaller e-commerce businesses, there can be a lack of general knowledge and education about DG regulations, which presents a great risk to the supply chain and people’s lives.
Take for instance, are lithium batteries considered a dangerous good? These devices are found in everything from our laptops, to cell phones, tablets, smart watches, etc. While these devices are not considered freight, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has a provision in their Dangerous Goods regulation that addresses lithium batteries carried on by passengers in their Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs). Items are allowed as carry-on, however there are limits surrounding the quantity that each passenger is allowed. So the answer presents a gray area, but an uneducated shipper may circumvent regulations out of sheer ignorance, opening the door to a potentially catastrophic outcome.
