Personal experience from the late '70s.
TN had a contract for carrying core trays from the local acid plant that supplied mines to move their filter cores- large heavycast frames with fibregalss filters contained by cast mesh.
We asked if they were cleaned- loaded them in the Transit and off to the airport.
No probs - UNTIL _ whe upended them loading the F27-100 VH-TFC at WNY. As soon as they were upended they pissed acid all over us and the front hold of the aircraft.
We bumped them - called engineering and management - and the whole thing was kept very hush hush - despite the fact we had blistered hands and the M tar was turned white by the acid. Cleaned up Foxy Charlie as best we could and recalled engineering. She was to be thoroughly checked on arrival.
We were later told that TN did not report the incident and were suitably narked - also TFC went in for a D check 6 months later and was retired due to severe corrosion below the forward cargo bay. Later sold by AAS to an Indo operator SMAC Air I believe.
Such was the '70s culture. Was in the same position with EW at DPO years later - Airport Manager/Loco/Porter/Cleaner - drum arrived on night flight an porter called me over - drum was epoxy - cracked and part B leaking on top - was just starting to expand after the flight from SYD - dragged it out quick and nailed the turkey waiting for it.Didnt tell EW until AFTER the DOA incident report docs were lodged. There is no other way. Be sure - get the paperwork underway before some marketing ****** intervenes. Chrges were laid. The goods were declared - falsely. A diversion or hold of 20 minutes could have been catastrophic or at least disabled an aeroplane for weeks.
Be safe
Regards
EWL.