WELCOME TO
DG Advice
Providing DGSA consultancy services to an extensive portfolio of clients since the implementation of the regulations in 2000.
Services
DGSA Consultancy
We provide simple professional solutions or are able to provide more in-depth specialised help for just about any situation you are challenged with. Each client is unique, if you would like to discuss your requirements please contact us so we can obtain as much information as possible and provide you with a bespoke, no obligation solution and free quote.
Short Term Retainers
If you choose to have an in-house DGSA, you are inevitably going to be left exposed at some stage as staff come and go, why not have DG Advice as your consultant on a short term retainer to step in with just in time cover to quickly fill the gaps as they appear. Please contact us for a quote.
Awareness Training
Our delivered interactive, instructor led, Dangerous Goods Awareness and Security Training is available for up to 6 delegates per session via your platform of choice e.g. Zoom, Teams etc (restricted numbers to maintain interaction). The training sessions include all key aspects of the regulations including classification of dangerous goods, special provisions and exemptions, documentation and marking, labelling etc.
What Are Dangerous Goods?
Dangerous goods may be pure chemicals, mixtures of substances, manufactured products or articles which can pose a risk to people, animals or the environment if not properly handled in use or in transport.
Under EC Directive 96/35, Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers (DGSA) have been required by law since 1 January 2000. Any company undertaking consignment, carriage, packing, loading, filling or unloading as a main activity and are doing so with goods that are greater than the limited quantity provisions must appoint a DGSA.
Dangerous Goods Legislation
You can train a member of staff to act as an in-house DGSA or use a company that specialises in providing dangerous goods safety advice. A DGSA must hold a vocational training certificate (VTC) and pass the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) examination which must be revalidated every 5 years.
A DGSA has specific duties laid down in Chapter 1.8.3.3 of the ADR Regulations. It is an individual who holds the DGSA qualification, not a Company. Companies can be left exposed if an employee holding a DGSA certificate leaves the business. DGSA exams are costly and held every 3 months or so and there is an 8 week period after exams before a result is available. This leads to lengthy delays before another member of staff can be re-qualified and in position. For this reason, many companies appoint a consultant DGSA.
In addition to DGSA which falls under the ADR Regulations, we include IMDG (Sea) and ICAO/IATA (Air) advice as part of our DGSA consultancy service. Based on an island, it goes without saying we have to consider the other modes of transport in a dangerous goods journey!
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (section 33, as amended) for failing to implement a service improvement notice or observe a prohibition notice there is a maximum penalty of a £20,000 fine and/or 12 months imprisonment in the lower courts, with an unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment for the higher courts.
There are a few instances where a DGSA is not required…
- If you are involved in dangerous goods movements occasionally.
- They’re in limited quantities (check with a DGSA).
- You’re moving them a very short distance (check with a DGSA).
- You’re using a private vehicle (check with a DGSA).
3000+
UN NUMBERS
Beginning UN0004 and ending UN3550. Not all numbers are allocated in the sequence. The number bears no resemblance to severity of hazard or danger.
53
MILLION TONNeS
Dangerous goods moved annually in the UK the majority of which are flammable liquids.
Source: DfT Dangerous goods lifted and dangerous goods moved by dangerous goods class
30+
YEARS EXPERIENCE
All classes by road, sea and air transport.
We Can Offer Training
Our delivered interactive, instructor led, Dangerous Goods Awareness and Security Training is available for up to 6 delegates per session via your platform of choice e.g. Zoom, Teams etc (restricted numbers to maintain interaction). The training sessions include all the key aspects of the regulations including the following:
Classification of dangerous goods
Classification of your product is the precursor to everything else that follows in the various dangerous goods regulations.
This must be carried out accurately to ensure every other aspect of the product’s journey is done safely.
DOCUMENTATION
Without the correct documentation the consignment will not move. The documentation must be accurate, it provides all the necessary information for hauliers to provide appropriately trained drivers and the route they can take; freight forwarders to book appropriate space and type of vessel; and for emergency services, to deal with any incident involving the goods safely.
Special provisions & exemptions
Special provisions are something supplemental to the general provisions of the regulations. They can be a further requirement such as the addition of a technical name to the Proper Shipping Name; or they can be a get out clause such as non toxic aerosols up to 50ml not being subject to ADR or IMDG. Awareness of these is imperative to enable the simplest and most accurate consignment of your product.
Exemptions are different to Special Provisions and should be checked to assess if you need to comply with the regulations at all.
MARKING & LABELLING
This is the first thing a haulier, consignee or emergency service may see, so it’s important to get the correct information across in the form of appropriate marks and labels. It is the initial warning to handlers of the products contained in the consignment.
