www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2025 Truck and Track 55 DANGEROUS GOODS documented drills and emergency exercises are crucial. Product knowledge and segregation is also critical, such as keeping Oxidising Agents including the Nitrates of Potassium, Sodium and Ammonium away from flammable chemicals. I have a simple rule “red and yellow do not mix”, ie one must keep Class 3 (flammable liquids) and Class 4 (flammable/reactive solids) – which are characterised by red ADR diamonds away from Class 5.1 (Oxidising Agents) and 5.2 (Organic Peroxides) – which are characterised by yellow ADR diamonds. Even with basic warehousing guidelines (below COMAH thresholds) issued by the Health and Safety Executive, there are restrictions on what can be warehoused with what, for instance class 5.2 Organic peroxides are not permitted to be stored in the same warehousing building as class 3 (flammable liquids) and class 4 (flammable solids), as well as other restrictions. Method Statement The method statement is a clearly defined series of actions that encompass the work instruction(s) with the desired goal(s)/ objective(s). From this method statement, the risks and hazards can be identified so that counter measures are created. Risk Assessment The risk assessment examines the Hazards posed, and then the associated risks from which countermeasures need to be put into place to manage the risk. When working with dangerous goods you must formally document risk, in a written and periodically reviewed assessment. In order to produce a robust risk assessment, it should be carried out by a qualified and experienced team, understanding the product’s chemical and physical properties to begin with, and relate to quantities, managing leakage, spillage, training, environmental issues, personal protective equipment (PPE), managing an incident, and many other factors – input from your Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor/Consultant (DGSA) is essential. Change Control Many people do not understand the concept of the ‘law of unintended consequences’. When you work in Chemical/ Pharma/Nuclear industries, robust management of change control is vital; but what is change control? All industries make changes, in process, and in operation for many reasons – but when you do make a change, you have to be mindful of ‘unintended consequences’, so all people and departments need to be consulted, so in highly regulated industries, there is a formal and documented process to manage change. Before any change in an approved process or operation is sanctioned, it needs consultation and ‘sign off’ by all involved (the “stakeholders”), so collectively the whole team can have input, to effectively reduce the ‘law of unintended consequences’ when the changes are implemented. Aerosol and Cylinder Gas Storage With recent incidents of warehouse fires where pressurised gas cylinders and aerosols have posed severe hazards; Gas Cylinders and Aerosols must be stored outside for ventilation and caged for security. If Aerosols are stored within a warehouse, they must be kept in a cage, so that in the event of a fire, and they explode, they do so within the confines of the cage. Liquefied Petroleum Gases such as Propane must be securely stored outside in a ventilated cage, and away from site perimeters and combustible materials. TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TOALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk
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