Page 60 - Jamaica Post Office Guide 1977

POST OFFICE GUIDE 59

CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS ARTICLES:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND EXAMPLES

1. Explosives: Comprising all compounds, mixtures, or appliances which
might provoke an explosion or an explosive effect. This covers all deto­
nators, explosive or otherwise, ammunition, fireworks or similar articles
which could explode following a collision, from friction or because of a
rise in temperature e.g. cartridges, detonators, ammonium nitrate, fire­
works, fuses, gun cotton, gun powder, explosives however weak the effect,
lighter fuel, etc.
1. Inflammable Liquids: These consists of liquids having a flash point below
150°F. Exceptions are made for liquids such as paints, varnishes, etc.,
having flashpoints between 90CF. and 150°F., subject to certain restric­
tions on quantity and packing.

3. Inflammable Solids: These consist of substances not classed as explosive
and which under certain conditions might in transit involve the risk of
causing or encouraging fires either by friction, absorption of moisture or by
spontaneous chemical changes (e.g. celluloid (raw unseasoned or liquid),
matches, metallic potassium, certain metallic powders, metallic sodium)
oiled tissues not having been properly dried, phosphorous, pyroxylin,
plastics, etc.)
4. Compressed Gases: Comprising all inflammable, non-inflammable, lique­
fied, dissolved and poisonous gases under pressure (e.g. acetylene, carbonic
acid, chlorine, fluorine, hydrogen, e.g. liquid petrol, oxygen, etc.)

5. Corrosive Liquids: All substances, such as acids, caustic liquids, alkaline
and other corrosive liquids which when they come into contact with living
tissues, gravely endanger those tissues by chemical action: or which in case
of leakage would bleach ordinary writing ink and entail the risk of damage
or destruction of other mail (e.g. solution with a bromine base, potassium
lye, caustic soda, calcium chloride, chromic acid, hydrochloric, hydro­
fluoric, nitric and sulphuric acids).
6. Oxydizing substances: Substances such as bichromates, chlorates, nitrates
perchlorates, permanganates, peroxides which easily releases oxygen and
stimulate the combustion of other materials.
7. Poisons: These consist of liquids orsolids giving off poisonous or irritating
vapour or gases, or of substances which could be dangerous when they
come into contact with the skin or if they were absorbed (e.g. alkaloids,
aniline, arsenical compounds, powdered metallic beryllium, cyanides,
mercury compounds, weedkillers, etc.). Certain exceptions are made, but
they have to be specially authorized.

8. Radioactive materials: Items containing radioactive materials, whose con­
tents and make-up comply with the regulations of the International Atomic
Energy Agency providing special exemptions for certain categories of
items, may be accepted subject to prior consent of the competent autho­
rities. The sender must affix a special white label bearing the words “Mat-
ieres radioactive” (Radioactive materials), which label shall be officially
crossed out should the packing be returned to the place of origin. These
items must also bear in addition to the name and address of the sender, a
request in bold letters for the return of the parcels in the event of non­
delivery. The sender must give his name and address and the contents of
the parcel on the inner wrapping. Examples: Luminous dials, radioactive
isotopes.