FLC OF A WDB CARGO ACFT WERE NOTIFIED BY DISPATCH THAT HAZMAT HAD BEEN LOADED IN THE MAIN CABIN AND NOT IN THE HAZMAT CONTAINER.

Narrative

ENRTE LAX-ORD ON A NIGHT CARGO FLT; WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE COMPANY VIA ACARS THAT SOME HAZMAT (EXPLOSIVES) HAD BEEN LOADED IN THE MAIN CARGO CABIN INSTEAD OF IN THE HAZMAT CONTAINER. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE PROVIDED TO US AT THAT TIME. EARLIER; PRIOR TO DEP FROM LAX; THE COMPANY'S HAZMAT SPECIALIST AT LAX TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NO HAZARDOUS CAN ON BOARD; THAT SOME NON HAZMAT WAS ON BOARD IN A CERTAIN LOCATION; AND SHOWED US THE PAPERWORK AS REQUIRED BY COMPANY PROCS. WE ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH THE COMPANY FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD LIKE US TO LAND IN DENVER (AS WE WERE OVER DEN AT THAT TIME) TO RELOAD THE GOODS AND AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS. THEY SAID TO CONTINUE ON FLT PLAN TO ORD WHILE THEY WORKED ON THE SIT. AS THE FLC; WE HAVE NO CTL OVER THE LOADING OF HAZMAT BY A COMPANY SPECIALIST OR OF ANY PARTICULAR SHIPPER. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT SHIPPERS ARE EXEMPT FROM NORMAL ROUTINE BECAUSE OF THEIR EXCELLENCE IN HANDLING AND PACKAGING. IN THIS SIT; OUR COMPANY HAD TO RESEARCH FURTHER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS SHIPPER HAD SUCH AN EXEMPTION. (THE MATERIAL IN QUESTION TURNED OUT TO BE AUTOMOBILE AIRBAG INITIATORS -- A CLASS 1.45 EXPLOSIVE.) WE CONTINUED ON TO ORD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT OR COMPANY COM.