UNITED

NATIONS	ST

Secretariat	Distr.

GENERAL

ST/SG/AC.10/1998/27

24 September 1998

Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE

TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

(Twentieth session,

Geneva, 7-16 December l998,

agenda item 2 (d))

WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS

ON THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

New proposals

Colour coding for drums

Transmitted by the Expert from South Africa

Background

The prevalent socio-economic circumstances in South Africa contribute to a high value placed on used chemical containers for the storage of water, cooking and use for building materials. As a result of this, incidents of accidental poisoning frequently occur. We believe that this problem is not unique to South Africa and that it is probably also experienced in other developing countries.

The importance of educating the public at large on existing means of hazard communication, e.g. UN number and hazard symbols, is recognized. However, colour coding and marking of labels with hazard symbols is not sufficient, as labels are removed when drums are traded. The remaining residue then becomes an unknown hazard to an unsuspecting public.

The implementation of a colour coding system for drums, intended for the transportation of dangerous chemicals, could be an additional aid for easy identification of specific types of substances, through all stages of storage, distribution and disposal.

GE.98-

Proposals

1.	It is proposed that drums, intended for the transportation of chemicals, be colour coded.

2.	If the principle of the colour coding of drums is adopted by the Committee, colours that can be used are:

Red or orange	−	Toxic substances

Blue	−	Corrosive and flammable substances

Yellow	−	Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides

Green	−	Non-hazardous materials.

Other colours would be acceptable as long as it is globally implemented.

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