Loading, unloading, segregation, and cargo securement
Loading, unloading, segregation, and cargo securement
This domain tests whether you can load hazmat without creating incompatible pairs, secure packages so they cannot move, and unload without releasing material.
Core rules
- Before loading, inspect packages for damage, leaks, and proper labels. Check the shipping paper and the segregation table in 49 CFR 177.848. Do not load materials marked as incompatible in the same vehicle; cyanides and acids, for example, must not be loaded together because mixing can release deadly gas.
- Load heavy packages low and against secure surfaces. Use dunnage, blocking, or bracing to fill gaps. Tiedowns must have enough aggregate working load limit for the cargo; check straps and binders for wear. Close valves and secure cylinders upright.
- During loading and unloading, set the parking brake, shut off the engine unless needed for the operation, and do not smoke or use open flame. Keep the vehicle attended when required. After loading, recheck placards, labels, and securement before moving.
Worked example
A shipper offers sodium cyanide drums (Division 6.1 poison) and hydrochloric acid drums (Class 8 corrosive) for one truck. The driver should refuse to load them together. The segregation rules and the cyanide-acid hazard make the pair incompatible; a leak could mix the materials and create hydrogen cyanide gas. Separating them by a few feet inside the same van is not a cure.
Traps
Do not treat segregation as a suggestion, rely on labels alone, or assume tight straps equal securement. Do not load food or feed with poisons. Do not leave a placarded vehicle unattended during loading in a way that lets unauthorized people tamper with it.