Accessibility statement

Transport in road vehicles

Transport of liquid nitrogen in vehicles is a hazardous activity because of the evaporation of liquid nitrogen (which cannot be held in tightly sealed containers because of the likelihood of pressure build up) into the passenger compartment of the vehicle which could cause asphyxiation. The following practices must therefore be followed when transporting liquid nitrogen in vehicles to minimise risk:

  • The liquid nitrogen container must not be in the same compartment as the driver and passengers (i.e. hatchbacks, minibuses and most vans are not normally suitable unless small volumes are used for preservation of biological specimens which presents a low risk that can be safely managed)
  • There must always be two members of staff in the vehicle, one of whom should be a member of technical staff
  • The container must be secured to prevent movement during travel
  • There must be a constant airflow into the passenger compartment of the vehicle
  • All occupants of the vehicle must be made aware of the hazards associated with liquid nitrogen.  They must also be given written information containing details of:
    • what to do in the event of an incident (e.g. spillage) and who to contact