Develop policies and follow international regulations regarding the safe transportation of hazardous chemicals
Governments should establish criteria for the safe transportation of hazardous chemicals. Hazardous chemicals should be transported in accordance with criteria established by the competent authority for the safety of the workers involved. These criteria should be consistent with national or international transport regulations and cover, as applicable:
- The properties and quantities of chemicals being transported
- The nature, integrity and protection of the packaging and containers used in transport, including pipelines
- The specification of the vehicles used in transport
- The routes to be taken
- The training and qualifications of transport workers
- Labelling requirements
- Loading and unloading
- Emergency procedures
For the safe transport of chemicals across international borders, governments should sign and ratify the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- ILO: Code of practice - Safety in the use of chemicals at work (1993)
- ILO: Code of practice - Safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (2022)
- ILO: Safety and health in the use of agrochemicals - A guide (2011)
- United Nations: Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (2019)
- UNEP: The Basel Convention on controlling transboundary movements of hazardous wastes (1989)
- UNEP: The Rotterdam Convention (1998)
- ILO: The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (2022)
- ILO/WHO: International Chemical Safety Cards (2010)