Part VLoading and Unloading

Loading, stowage, unloading and cleaning of containers, tank containers, tank wagons and wagons

18.—(1) The operator of a container, tank container, tank wagon or wagon which is being used for the carriage of dangerous goods and any other person engaged in such carriage shall take such steps as it is reasonable for them respectively to take to ensure that nothing in the manner in which dangerous goods are loaded, stowed or unloaded from the container, tank container, tank wagon or wagon concerned is liable to create a significant risk or significantly increase any existing risk to the health or safety of any person.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), a person shall not cause or permit to be carried in any container or wagon—

(a)any package containing dangerous goods unless any requirements specified in Part I of Schedule 7 relating to those goods have been complied with;

(b)any empty, uncleaned packagings, unless any requirements specified in Part II of Schedule 7 relating to the residues therein have been complied with.

(3) The operator of any container, tank container, tank wagon or wagon which is to be loaded with dangerous goods shall ensure that those goods will not, in conjunction with any product remaining in the container, tank container, tank wagon or wagon concerned, create a significant risk or significantly increase any existing risk to the health or safety of any person which arises out of the presence of that remaining product.

(4) A person shall not cause or permit any food to be carried in any container, tank container, tank wagon or wagon which is being used for the carriage of toxic goods unless that food is effectively separated from those goods or is otherwise adequately protected from the risk of contamination by those goods.