CDG 2009: HSE Carriage of Dangerous Goods Rules

Regulatory citation: The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1348)

What Are the CDG Regulations?

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) govern the carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail in Great Britain. Rather than writing out detailed rules, CDG applies the international agreements ADR (road) and RID (rail). These are defined as revised or reissued from time to time, so each new edition applies automatically. HSE states that CDG currently implements ADR 2025, with some exceptions.

Under regulation 5, no one may carry dangerous goods, or cause or permit them to be carried, where ADR or RID prohibits it or where the carriage does not meet the applicable requirements. This single duty reaches everyone in the chain, including consignors, carriers, packers, fillers, loaders, unloaders and consignees, whose specific obligations are set out in ADR Chapter 1.4.

Why CDG Matters

Fuel, gases, corrosives, toxic substances and lithium batteries are moved every day. Wrong packaging, missing labels or untrained drivers can turn a minor road accident into a fire, toxic release or explosion, and make the emergency response much harder.

Core Requirements

1. Classify, Package and Mark Goods Correctly

Consignors must classify dangerous goods under ADR, use approved packaging, and mark and label packages. Vehicles carrying goods above the small load thresholds must display orange plates and, for tankers and bulk loads, the required placards. CDG Schedule 1 allows UK placarding with Emergency Action Codes for national tanker and bulk carriage.

2. Appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (ADR 1.8.3)

Most businesses that consign, carry, pack, fill, load or unload dangerous goods must appoint a qualified dangerous goods safety adviser (DGSA). Exemptions include businesses that only handle small loads within the ADR 1.1.3.6 thresholds, limited and excepted quantities, and businesses whose main or secondary activity is not carriage and which only carry dangerous goods occasionally. HSE treats occasionally as around one or two journeys a month. Final consignees do not need a DGSA.

3. Train Staff and Drivers (ADR 1.3 and 8.2)

Everyone whose duties involve dangerous goods must be trained for their role under ADR Chapter 1.3, with training records kept. Drivers of vehicles above the small load thresholds need an ADR training certificate, which lasts 5 years and is renewed through refresher training and a test.

4. Apply the Small Load Exemption Correctly (ADR 1.1.3.6)

Small loads carried in packages can be exempt from many ADR requirements. Each transport category has a limit: 20 kg or litres for category 1, 333 kg or litres for category 2, 1,000 kg or litres for category 3 and no limit for category 4. For mixed loads, quantities are multiplied by 50, 3 or 1 according to category, and the total must not exceed 1,000 points. Some rules still apply, including basic driver awareness training, a 2 kg dry powder fire extinguisher and safe stowage. Transport category 0 goods get no small load exemption.

5. Secure High Consequence Dangerous Goods (ADR 1.10)

Everyone involved in carriage must consider security. For high consequence dangerous goods, which could be misused in a terrorist incident, security plans and extra measures are required. The Secretary of State for Transport enforces the security provisions.

6. Use UK Derogations Where They Apply (Regulation 11)

Great Britain has approved derogations, set out in the Department for Transport's derogations document. One allows local retail distribution of small quantities under simpler rules, with no single item over 30 kg or litres and no more than 333 kg or litres in total, excluding certain classes.

Who Enforces CDG?

On the road, HSE, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, and the police enforce CDG. HSE focuses on duty holders' premises, while DVSA and the police carry out most roadside checks and can issue prohibition notices. The Office of Rail and Road enforces on the railways. Civil carriage of radioactive material (Class 7) has separate enforcement arrangements.

Common Compliance Approaches

Keep a Dangerous Goods Register

List each product shipped with its UN number, class, packing group and transport category, so loads can be checked against the 1,000-point rule.

Use Your DGSA

Ask your DGSA to audit loading, documentation and training, and to prepare the required annual report.

Example: CDG in Practice

A chemical distributor sends mixed pallets of corrosive cleaners and flammable solvents to customers. Its DGSA builds a loading calculator using transport categories, so dispatch staff can see when a load exceeds 1,000 points. Loads above the threshold go on vehicles with orange plates and ADR-trained drivers carrying instructions in writing and the required equipment. Smaller loads go on vans whose drivers have awareness training and a 2 kg extinguisher.

Related regulations: HSE DSEAR, HSE COSHH, HSE Management Regulations 1999.

Note: This summary reflects the regulations as they apply in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate legislation. ADR is revised every two years, so check which edition applies and any transitional period. Always check the current legislation, the Department for Transport's derogations and HSE guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ADR?

ADR is the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. CDG 2009 applies it to domestic and international road carriage in Great Britain.

Do I need a DGSA?

Usually yes, if your business consigns, carries, packs, fills, loads or unloads dangerous goods. Exemptions cover small loads, limited and excepted quantities, and occasional carriage that is not a main or secondary activity of the business.

How long does an ADR driver certificate last?

Five years. Drivers renew it with refresher training and a test before it expires.