Dangerous goods

What you must do

If you transport animal by-products, hazardous/special waste, ozone-depleting substances or pest control products, check what legal requirements apply to you.

If you transport dangerous goods, you must comply with certain legal requirements regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Ensure that your drivers keep their vehicles as secure as possible. You can still be prosecuted even if vandals cause pollution from your vehicles.

Good practice

Ensure your drivers have had adequate instruction and training to understand the hazards of the goods they are transporting and what to do in an emergency. If an incident occurs, call the Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

  • Ensure all your goods are transported in a suitable container and that they are correctly labelled. They should be contained securely to prevent damage or spillages during transportation.
  • Avoid valve and container door leaks or releases, as these can be sources of spills, odour, dust or vapour emissions.
  • Carry out routine inspection and maintenance of your containers.
  • You should not store oil for any length of time. Tankers are not designed for oil storage.
  • When carrying dangerous or polluting materials, avoid environmentally sensitive areas where possible.
  • Make sure that drivers responsible for carrying goods supervise the loading of their vehicles. Before any loading is carried out, the driver should check containers to ensure they are not leaking and that caps and lids are secure.
  • Ensure that manufacturers' labels are clear and intact.
  • Prevent material escaping from open-topped vehicles by netting the load.
  • Make sure that your vehicles do not have projections in the load-carrying area that could damage containers or packages. The load-carrying area should have impervious surfaces free from pockets or seams. This will make it easier to clean.
  • Carry absorbent materials, impermeable sealable containers and other pollution control equipment (eg grab packs and spill kits) suitable for the type of substance you are transporting. Absorbent materials used to contain spills may require separate recycling or disposal as hazardous/special waste. Check before you recycle or dispose of them.

Further information

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has a number of groups that provide specialist guidance, eg car transporters, milk carriers and livestock transporters.
  • The UK environmental regulators have produced guidance on controlling pollution from spills on the highway.
  • The Chemical Industries Association runs the ChemSafe scheme, which provides assistance in the event of a transport incident involving chemicals.