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MOPP (Hazardous Cargo Handling) Course
More than 2 million students worldwide

MOPP (Hazardous Cargo Handling) Course

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Master every stage of hazardous cargo handling — from classification and documentation to emergency response and advanced compliance. This course covers IATA, IMDG, ADR, and RID frameworks, giving logistics and cargo professionals the regulatory confidence to move dangerous goods safely and legally across all transport modes.

Dedika for businesses

What you will learn:

  • Classify hazardous materials using the nine UN hazard classes and packing group criteria.

  • Prepare legally compliant shipper's declarations, manifests, and multimodal transport documents.

  • Apply warehouse segregation, storage controls, and quantity limits to real operational scenarios.

  • Identify misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods through visual inspection and document screening.

  • Manage emergency incidents involving spills, fires, and hazardous exposures using established protocols.

  • Navigate exemptions, special provisions, and advanced categories including lithium batteries and radioactive materials.

How you study in practice MOPP (Hazardous Cargo Handling) Course

How you practise MOPP (Hazardous Cargo Handling) Course

For companies looking to train their teams

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your company and its specific needs.

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Course content

8 Chapters • 39 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Hazardous Cargo Handling

  • Lesson 1 • Hazard Classification System

    Teaches the nine UN hazard classes and their subdivisions using physical and chemical criteria. Classification accuracy underpins correct labeling, packaging, and documentation.

  • Lesson 2 • Risk Awareness and Safety Culture

    Introduces risk perception, human factors, and the behaviours that drive safety culture. Establishes the mindset required for safe hazardous cargo handling throughout the course.

  • Lesson 3 • Introduction to Hazardous Materials

    Defines hazardous materials, their properties, and why they require special handling. Provides the conceptual baseline for all subsequent classification and safety work.

  • Lesson 4 • International Regulatory Frameworks

    Surveys the major international bodies and modal regulations governing hazardous cargo transport. Connects regulatory intent to practical compliance duties.

  • Lesson 5 • Roles and Responsibilities in the Supply Chain

    Maps shipper, carrier, freight forwarder, and handler duties within hazardous cargo operations. Clarifies accountability boundaries to prevent compliance gaps.

Chapter 2See details

Identification, Labeling, and Marking

  • Lesson 1 • UN Numbers and Proper Shipping Names

    Explains how UN numbers and proper shipping names uniquely identify hazardous substances. Accurate identification is the first step in every downstream handling decision.

  • Lesson 2 • Package Marking Requirements

    Details compulsory markings including UN number, net quantity, orientation arrows, and special marks. Proper marking ensures traceability and informs safe handling throughout transit.

  • Lesson 3 • Hazard Labels and Placards

    Covers the design, colour coding, and placement requirements for hazard labels and vehicle placards. Correct labelling communicates risk to handlers and emergency responders.

  • Lesson 4 • Identification of Undeclared Hazardous Cargo

    Trains recognition of concealed or misdeclared hazardous shipments using visual and documentary cues. Early detection prevents accidents caused by undeclared dangerous goods.

Chapter 3See details

Packaging, Containment, and Compatibility

  • Lesson 1 • Chemical Compatibility and Segregation

    Teaches how incompatible substances react and how segregation rules prevent dangerous combinations. Compatibility assessment is essential before co-packing or co-loading any hazardous cargo.

  • Lesson 2 • Packaging Groups and Performance Standards

    Explains packing groups I, II, and III and the performance tests that qualify each package type. Packing group selection directly determines the level of containment protection required.

  • Lesson 3 • Intermediate Bulk Containers and Large Packagings

    Covers IBC types, design codes, and inspection requirements for bulk hazardous cargo. IBCs require specific filling, closure, and periodic testing protocols distinct from small packages.

  • Lesson 4 • Packaging Inspection and Rejection Criteria

    Establishes visual and physical inspection standards for accepting or rejecting hazardous cargo packages. Rejection criteria protect handlers and prevent in-transit containment failures.

  • Lesson 5 • Inner and Outer Packaging Selection

    Guides selection of compatible inner and outer packaging combinations for various hazard classes. Correct combinations prevent chemical attack, breakage, and leakage during transit.

Chapter 4See details

Hazardous Cargo Documentation

  • Lesson 1 • Air Waybills and Cargo Manifests

    Explains how hazardous cargo entries appear on air waybills and consolidated manifests. Correct manifest entries enable ramp agents and crew to make informed handling decisions.

  • Lesson 2 • Emergency Response Information

    Teaches the preparation and placement of emergency response information accompanying every hazardous shipment. Responders rely on this data to take safe and effective action during incidents.

  • Lesson 3 • Shipper's Declaration and Transport Documents

    Covers the structure, compulsory data fields, and certification statements of the shipper's declaration. Accurate declarations are the legal foundation of every hazardous cargo shipment.

  • Lesson 4 • Document Verification and Audit Trails

    Establishes procedures for cross-checking documents against physical cargo before acceptance. Audit trails support regulatory inspections and post-incident investigations.

  • Lesson 5 • Sea and Multimodal Transport Documents

    Addresses dangerous goods declarations, bills of lading, and container packing certificates for sea and multimodal shipments. Each document type carries distinct legal and operational significance.

Chapter 5See details

Acceptance, Storage, and Segregation

  • Lesson 1 • Quantity Limits and Accumulation Rules

    Explains net explosive quantity limits, aggregate quantity thresholds, and accumulation restrictions. Exceeding limits escalates risk and triggers additional regulatory requirements.

  • Lesson 2 • Warehouse Segregation Requirements

    Applies segregation rules to warehouse layouts, ensuring incompatible hazard classes are kept apart. Correct segregation prevents reactive incidents and limits fire spread in storage areas.

  • Lesson 3 • Cargo Tracking and Inventory Management

    Covers systems and procedures for tracking hazardous cargo location, dwell time, and status in storage. Accurate inventory data supports both operational efficiency and emergency response.

  • Lesson 4 • Acceptance Procedures and Checklists

    Walks through the step-by-step acceptance process from document review to physical inspection. Systematic acceptance prevents non-compliant cargo from entering the handling chain.

  • Lesson 5 • Storage Conditions and Environmental Controls

    Specifies temperature, ventilation, humidity, and lighting requirements for hazardous cargo storage. Environmental control failures are a leading cause of in-storage incidents.

Chapter 6See details

Loading, Unloading, and Transport Operations

  • Lesson 1 • Aircraft Loading Restrictions and Positions

    Details forbidden, cargo-aircraft-only, and passenger-aircraft quantity limits and position restrictions. Aircraft loading rules are stricter than surface modes due to altitude and accessibility constraints.

  • Lesson 2 • Unloading Procedures and Post-Transit Inspection

    Establishes safe unloading sequences, post-transit inspection steps, and contamination checks. Post-transit inspection closes the handling loop and identifies damage before cargo is released.

  • Lesson 3 • Sea Container and Vehicle Loading

    Applies container packing rules, ventilation requirements, and vehicle loading procedures for sea and road transport. Container integrity and proper packing prevent cargo loss and port incidents.

  • Lesson 4 • Stowage and Load Planning Principles

    Covers stowage position rules, weight distribution, and compatibility checks during load planning. Proper stowage prevents shifting, damage, and dangerous interactions during transit.

  • Lesson 5 • Cargo Securing and Restraint Methods

    Teaches lashing, blocking, bracing, and unitisation techniques for hazardous cargo in vehicles and aircraft. Inadequate restraint is a primary cause of in-transit spills and package damage.

Chapter 7See details

Emergency Response and Incident Management

  • Lesson 1 • Personal Protective Equipment for Emergencies

    Covers selection, donning, doffing, and limitations of PPE used during hazardous cargo incidents. Correct PPE selection is the primary barrier between responders and chemical harm.

  • Lesson 2 • Spill Containment and Leak Control

    Teaches containment techniques for liquid spills, gas releases, and solid dispersions of hazardous materials. Effective containment limits environmental impact and reduces secondary exposure risk.

  • Lesson 3 • Incident Reporting and Investigation

    Establishes compulsory reporting timelines, authority notification procedures, and root cause investigation methods. Thorough reporting fulfils regulatory obligations and drives systemic safety improvements.

  • Lesson 4 • Incident Recognition and Initial Assessment

    Trains rapid identification of spills, leaks, fires, and exposure events involving hazardous cargo. Early and accurate assessment determines the appropriate level of emergency response.

  • Lesson 5 • Fire Response Involving Hazardous Cargo

    Addresses fire behaviour with hazardous cargo, extinguishing agent selection, and evacuation triggers. Hazardous cargo fires require class-specific tactics and early escalation to fire services.

Chapter 8See details

Special Categories and Advanced Compliance

  • Lesson 1 • Exemptions, Exceptions, and Special Provisions

    Navigates limited quantity, excepted quantity, and special provision exemptions that reduce compliance burden. Misapplying exemptions is a frequent source of regulatory violations and enforcement action.

  • Lesson 2 • Compliance Auditing and Continuous Improvement

    Builds internal audit programmes, key performance indicators, and corrective action systems for hazardous cargo compliance. Continuous improvement transforms reactive compliance into proactive risk management.

  • Lesson 3 • Infectious Substances and Biological Materials

    Distinguishes Category A and B infectious substances, patient specimens, and biological products. Correct classification and triple packaging prevent pathogen release during transport.

  • Lesson 4 • Lithium Battery Transport Regulations

    Explains state-of-charge limits, watt-hour thresholds, and packaging requirements for lithium cells and batteries. Lithium battery fires are a leading cause of in-flight and in-transit emergencies.

  • Lesson 5 • Radioactive Materials Handling

    Covers transport index, criticality safety index, category labels, and exclusive use shipment rules for radioactive cargo. Radioactive materials carry unique dose-rate and criticality risks requiring specialised controls.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

  • Freight forwarder: needs full multimodal dangerous goods regulatory knowledge.

  • Warehouse supervisor: responsible for storing and segregating hazardous materials daily.

  • Cargo acceptance agent: screens shipments and must catch undeclared dangerous goods.

  • Logistics coordinator: manages dangerous goods shipments across air, sea, and road.

  • Supply chain professional: transitioning into a compliance-focused dangerous goods role.

  • Safety officer: building or auditing a company-wide hazardous cargo handling programme.

What our students say

Your lessons are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of interest without needing to change platforms... I'm grateful for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...
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Giulio CarloDigital Marketing Student
I like how the lessons are straight to the point and how I can change chapters and skip content I don't need.
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Mariana FerresPhotography Student
I like the content and the way videos are presented and transcribed, which speeds up the process!
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Luciana AlvarengaNail Design Student
The platform is fast, simple to use. The diversity of content and complementary videos really help with learning.
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