The law and transporting dangerous goods
Quality and safety standards must be adhered to when transporting dangerous goods and practices must comply with international law
The requirements for an effective quality management system for the manufacture and measurement of dangerous goods packaging is outlined in the new ISO 16106: 2020 Transport Packages for Dangerous Goods – Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001. This standard covers dangerous goods packaging, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and large packaging.
Developed to be used with ISO 9001 – ISO’s best-known standard for quality management – it is designed to meet the requirements of the United Nations (UN) Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
The standard was recently revised to align with the most recent versions of both the ISO 9001 and ISO 16495, Packaging – Transport packaging for dangerous goods – Test methods. It also includes more information about large packaging.
Stephen Wilkins, chair of the ISO technical committee that developed the standard, said, “The transport industry is complex and changes rapidly and often, and anticipating future needs for legislation and customer expectations is challenging for those involved in the design or manufacture of packaging for dangerous goods.
“The quality management system approach taken in ISO 16106 and ISO 9001, used together, ensures harmony with international requirements, the reduction of risks, and continual improvement at every step.”
Implementing a quality management system based on ISO 16106 ensures peace of mind that regulations are met consistently, and that customer expectations are satisfied.
ISO 16106 covers everything from how to establish a quality policy, to the actions involved in achieving it, documenting it and communicating about it, as well as the importance of leadership involvement and monitoring.
The new ISO 16106 can be purchased from your national ISO member or through the ISO Store.