ChemRegs Newsletter – February 2021

IMDG 2020

The IMDG Code, 2020 Edition (inc. Amendment 40-20) has now been published and comes into force on 1 June 2022 but it may be applied voluntarily as from 1 January 2021. Publication was delayed as a result of the pandemic as it should have been published in the autumn of 2020.

The IMDG Code, 2018 Edition (inc. Amendment 39-18) came into force on 1 January 2020 for two years (could be applied voluntarily from 1 January 2019). Due to the delay in publication of Amendment 40-20, validity of the 2018 Edition has now been extended until 31 May 2022.

The IMDG Code Supplement, 2020 Edition has also been published and renders obsolete the previous 2018 edition.

The IMDG Code lays out the regulatory framework on the transport of dangerous goods by sea, but does not include all details of procedures for packing of dangerous goods or actions to take in the event of an emergency or accident involving personnel who handle goods at sea.

The IMDG Code Supplement includes the publications associated with the IMDG Code that cover these aspects of the transport of dangerous goods. The 2020 edition of the Supplement features:

• The Revised EmS Guide: Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods.
• The Medical First Aid Guide.
• Recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships.
• The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on board Ships (INF Code).
• Other appropriate resolutions and circulars pertaining to the transport of dangerous goods.

The IMDG Code, 2020 Edition includes revisions to various sections of the Code and to transport requirements for specific substances. Key changes include:

• The amendment is harmonized with the update to the 21st Edition of the UN Model regulations.
• Changes to the definitions in chapter 1.2. This includes, a new definition for ‘dose rate’ which replaces radiation level, the definition of which is now deleted; existing definitions for ‘GHS’, ‘Liquids’, ‘Manual of Tests and Criteria’, ‘Self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT)’, ‘Transport index”, and ‘Self-accelerating polymerization temperature (SAPT)’ have been amended.
• Modifications to the list of high consequence dangerous goods in 1.4.3.1.2. has been updated to reflect the addition of the new UN Numbers.
• In Part 2, there are various amendments in the class chapters, in particular for class 6.2 in 2.6.3 and class 7 in 2.7.2. For class 7 radioactive materials the new SCO-III classification criteria is included. Other editorial updates are provided for classes 1, 5.2, 8 and 9 in 2.1.3.5.2, 2.5.3.2.4, 2.8.3.2 and 2.9.2.2 respectively.
• In 3.1.2.9, the requirement if a N.O.S. or generic entry is a marine pollutant, the technical name of the pollutant must be given, now applies only to N.O.S. entries; other generic entries will not need it. The examples provided to illustrate these have been amended.
• There have been several amendments to entries in the segregation groups
• There are four new UN Numbers added to the DG List, 0511, 0512 and 0513 DETONATORS, ELECTRONIC programmable for blasting and 3549 MEDICAL WASTE, CATEGORY A, AFFECTING HUMANS, solid or MEDICAL WASTE, CATEGORY A, AFFECTING ANIMALS only, solid.
• Updates to various DG List entries.
• There are amendments to several Special Provisions, SP951 has been deleted and there are seven new provisions.
• SP274 now says that the technical name for 3077 and 3082 only can be a PSN, provided that this name does not include N.O.S. and that SP274 is not assigned. For example UN 3082 ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, N.O.S. (paint).
• There have been several updates and additions to the packing instructions.
• The minimum required dimensions of the lithium battery mark have been slightly reduced and can now be square in shape.
• The requirement to include flashpoint on the dangerous goods transport document is revised revised to specifically reference both primary and subsidiary hazards.
• There is a new requirement to note on the transport document when lithium cells or batteries are offered for transport under special provision 376 or special provision 377.
• There is a new 5.5.4 added for “Dangerous goods contained in equipment in use or intended for use during carriage, attached to or placed in packages, overpacks, containers or load compartments”.
• T75 tanks for refrigerated liquefied gases need to be marked END OF HOLDING TIME dd/mm/yyyy (DD/MM/YYYY).
• Part 6 has several minor changes.
• The stowage provisions included in 7.1.4.2 applicable to marine pollutants have now also been applied to infectious substances of UN 2814, 2900 and 3549.
• SW22 now applies to waste gas cartridges as well as waste aerosols.
• There is a new ‘H5’ handling code applicable to class 6.2 infectious substances.
• SG27, SG28 and SG34 applying to some explosives now say ‘separated from’ instead of ‘away from’.
• SG53 is revised and changes from ‘separated from’ liquid organic substances to ‘Shall not be stowed together with combustible material in the same cargo transport unit’.
• The Emergency Response Schedules have been updated to the latest changes.

The IMDG Code can be bought as a hard copy or electronically as an e-reader.

Other News

ISO/PAS 45005:2020

BSI published its first “Safe working during the COVID-19 pandemic – General guidelines for organizations” standard in May, and Versions 2 and 3 followed in July and August (see our August Newsletter).

The UK guidelines have now been updated and adopted into an international standard ISO/PAS 45005:2020 Occupational health and safety management — General guidelines for safe working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These guidelines help organizations adjust the way they work during the pandemic to protect workers and the people they come into contact with. They supplies practical recommendations to organizations and workers on how to manage the risks.

The standard:

• Provides a single source of internationally agreed good practice and accurate advice based on current knowledge and lessons learned.
• Provides practical examples and help with developing a rapid response plan.
• Is suitable for organizations resuming operations, those that have been operational throughout the pandemic, and those that are starting operations.

If you’re responsible for protecting workers during the pandemic, either as a business owner, manager, worker, or in an advisory capacity, you can download a free copy from the BSI website.