DGSA RID Rail key terms

Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail: Appendix C to COTIF, containing the binding technical rules on classification, packing, documentation, marking and carriage of dangerous goods by rail between contracting states.

Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail, the intergovernmental treaty (as amended by the 1999 Vilnius Protocol) under which RID is adopted as Appendix C and given binding force among its contracting states.

European Union directive on the inland transport of dangerous goods which applies RID, as its Annex II, to rail movements inside the EU and sets the framework for national derogations and their notification.

Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser: a person holding a valid certificate after passing the prescribed examination, appointed by an undertaking whose activities involve dangerous goods to monitor and improve compliance with the applicable rules.

The yearly report the DGSA sends to the management of the undertaking, describing its dangerous goods activities and the measures taken to ensure compliance; the undertaking must keep it for at least five years.

An agreement between RID contracting states permitting temporary derogations from particular RID provisions for carriage between them; it applies only to those states and must be published by the competent authority.

The national law giving RID legal effect in a state and adding provisions on competent authorities, training, supervision and penalties, which must be read together with RID and EU Directive 2008/68/EC.

Any party named in RID 1.4, such as consignor, carrier, loader, unloader, filler or tank operator, each responsible for ensuring that the requirements relevant to its own role are met.

One of the nine RID classes that group dangerous goods by their predominant hazard, ranging from class 1 explosives to class 9 miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles.

A grouping assigned to dangerous goods of classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 to express the degree of danger: I for high, II for medium and III for low danger.

A secondary hazard of a substance, shown in the Dangerous Goods List by an additional class number and requiring a further danger label when the substance also presents a significant other hazard.

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture near its surface; used to classify flammable liquids and to assign packing groups.

A letter (A to H, J, K, L, N or S) which, combined with a class 1 division, defines how an explosive substance or article may be packed, loaded and carried together with others.

The four-digit identification number assigned to each dangerous good in the UN Model Regulations and in the RID Dangerous Goods List, used in the transport document and on orange-coloured plates.

The name shown in uppercase letters in the RID Dangerous Goods List for a particular UN number, which must be used to describe the goods in the transport document.

The table in RID 3.2 listing, for every UN number, the name, class, packing group, labels, special provisions, packing instructions, tank codes and carriage provisions applicable to that substance or article.

A numbered condition in RID 3.3, referenced in column 6 of the Dangerous Goods List, that adds to or relaxes the general requirements for a particular substance or article.

A simplified regime in RID 3.4 for small inner packagings of certain goods, allowing reduced requirements provided the quantities per package stay within the fixed limits and the limited quantity mark is displayed.

The regime of RID chapter 3.5 for very small quantities, coded E0 to E5 for the maximum inner and outer packaging contents, marked with the excepted quantity symbol and largely exempt from other requirements.

A code in the Dangerous Goods List, such as P001, IBC03 or LP02, that specifies which packagings, IBCs or large packagings may be used for a substance and the conditions for their use.

The marking on packaging such as 4G or 1A1, giving the packaging type, material, performance level (X, Y or Z) and the year and country of manufacture, alongside the UN symbol.

Intermediate bulk container: a movable packaging with a capacity above 450 litres and not more than 3 000 litres, designed for mechanical handling and built and tested according to RID chapter 6.5.

An outer packaging, containing articles or inner packagings, with a capacity above 450 litres and up to 3 000 litres, designed to be handled mechanically and tested under RID chapter 6.6.

A rail wagon with a permanently fixed tank shell and fittings, constructed and approved under RID chapter 6.8, used to carry liquid, liquefied gas or powdery dangerous goods in bulk.

The alphanumeric code in the Dangerous Goods List, for example L4BH or L10BH, setting the minimum requirements for the tank used: test pressure, openings, bottom discharge arrangements and lining.

The recurrent thorough examination and hydraulic pressure test required by RID chapter 6.8 for tanks and tank-wagons at fixed intervals, recorded on the tank plate and in the inspection certificate.

The dangerous goods consignment note accompanying the wagon, stating consignor, consignee, UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, quantity, packaging type and, where relevant, tank and wagon details.

A reflective plate showing the hazard identification number above and the UN number below, fixed to tank-wagons and, where RID requires it, to wagons carrying packaged dangerous goods.

An enlarged danger label, generally 250 mm by 250 mm, fixed to wagons and containers to show the hazard of the load, in addition to the labels on the individual packages.

An enclosure such as a box, crate or shrink-wrapped pallet used to consolidate several packages into one handling unit; it must carry the marks and labels required for the packages inside.

RID rules preventing specified dangerous goods from being loaded together in the same wagon or container, unless the prescribed separation or protective measures are applied.

Keeping incompatible consignments apart within a train or on a loading area by using separate wagons, intermediate wagons or distance, so that a leak or fire cannot cause a dangerous reaction.

Rules on where a wagon may be placed in a train or how it may be shunted, for example keeping certain goods away from the locomotive or banning hump and fly shunting.

The inspection before departure confirming that the wagon is fit for the intended load: clean, leak-free, closures and hatches secured, brakes working, and markings and placards correct.

A written plan required for consignments of high consequence dangerous goods, setting out responsibilities, access controls, training and procedures to reduce the risk of theft or misuse.

Dangerous goods listed in RID 1.10.3.2 that could be misused to cause mass casualties or major disruption and which therefore attract additional security requirements during carriage and temporary storage.

The emergency information sheet carried with each dangerous goods consignment, in a language the train crew can read, describing the hazards and the immediate actions after a spill, fire or leak.

The duty to report accidents and serious incidents involving dangerous goods to the competent authority and, where required, to the consignor, giving details of the goods, the damage and the measures taken.