There’s no getting around the fact that travel always involves a degree of risk. There’s also no getting around the fact that this risk increases dramatically when the transport of dangerous goods is involved.
This is not because the chances of an accident are much higher, but because the consequences of having an accident are inherently more serious. Industrial gases, for example, could ignite and explode if the tanker they were being transported in is involved in an accident, while waste batteries could cause serious environmental damage if allowed to leak. Similarly, a sewage spill could pose a public health risk.
Other examples of dangerous goods include:
- Asbestos waste
- Explosives
- Acids
- Pesticides
- Solvents
- Acetylene
- Clinical waste
More information about the control of hazardous substances can be found here.
Regulations and European agreements
Special precautions must be taken with the sorts of material listed above. The rules that determine these precautions are largely found in a set of regulations called The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG Regs) and a European Agreement called the ‘Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route’ (ADR).
The aim is to protect not only the drivers and the workers whose job it is to load and unload the dangerous cargo, but also anyone who might come into contact with the aftermath of an incident – including police and rescue services and members of the public.
Help claiming compensation following an accident
If you or someone close to you has sustained injury in an accident involving the transport of dangerous goods, you might be entitled to claim compensation. This is true whether the incident occurred in the workplace, on the roads or in some other setting and regardless of whether the probable defender is your employer or some other party.
To talk to an expert about making a claim, call 0800 0891331 or click here so that we can speak to you about arranging advice, guidance and representation from Thompsons’ personal injury lawyers.
