The handling and transport of dangerous goods (DGs) remains a key area of focus, with workshop participants raising the following concerns:
- Ground handling operators are heavily reliant on customer declarations and self-reporting to manage DG risks
- Dangerous goods incidents have occurred without the support of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) services
- Challenges persist in ensuring DG training reflects emerging risks from new technologies.
What can operators do?
If you handle air freight, you should:
- identify whether we have classified the items you are transporting as dangerous goods
- ensure that regulations permit the goods for air transport
- prepare the goods for transport in line with regulatory requirements.
Incorrect declaration, packaging or shipping of dangerous goods can lead to significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Passengers also have a responsibility to understand what items they can carry in checked or cabin baggage.
If your work involves the handling or transport of dangerous goods by air, or supervise staff whose work does, you must:
- complete appropriate DG training to understand the associated risks and regulatory requirements
- do an approved dangerous goods course if you:
- accept general or dangerous goods cargo
- are a member of the cabin or flight crew
- work in load planning or control
- are a shipper, packer, ground handler, or freight forwarder
- supervise acceptance, handling or packing of dangerous goods
We list approved training courses on our website and are available in various formats, including face-to-face, online, or written correspondence.
Shippers must declare all dangerous goods. Most operators will need a Shipper’s Declaration and an acceptance checklist completed by the receiving operator.
Airlines must also complete a Notification to Captain (NOTOC), which ensures the pilot is aware of:
- the nature and location of the dangerous goods on board
- proper emergency response procedures
What is CASA doing or has already delivered?
CASA follows the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. These outline the standards for DG declaration and transport.
Operators must use approved packaging and documents when consigning dangerous goods. The rules strictly prohibits some items on aircraft due to their hazardous nature. The rules may only permit others through an approval or exemption process under the ICAO Technical Instructions.
We may issue such permissions in special circumstances, including:
- humanitarian or environmental relief
- national security
- life-saving missions
- where the destination has limited product availability
- national security.
Where feasible, shippers should consider alternative modes of transport such as road, rail, or sea for high-risk dangerous goods.
Further information is available on our Dangerous Goods and air freight webpage. These include our Pack Right Safe Flight webpage for guidance specifically related to travelling passengers.