Truck and Track Spring 2025 www.truckandtrack.com 66 DANGEROUS GOODS In this issue, our Dangerous Goods Columnist Ali Karim FRSC CChem, assists Road Haulage Operators on how to manage inherent risks in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods on public highways ensuring compliance to *ADR. *ADR is an Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (published by the United Nations Economic Commission) and the United Kingdom is a signatory, which brings this into UK transport law. In our last issue we outlined the main changes in ADR 2025, in line with its two yearly cycle. In this issue, we augment our technical advice with an interview with one of the UK’s leading Dangerous Goods Safety Advisors involved in supporting Road Haulage Operations and the Pallet Network Sector. More information and Help is available from the links provided in the footnotes. The Risk Assessment is the first step in providing a ‘safe system of work’ (‘Method Statement’) aka ‘RAMS’ for any work-related activity including within the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (on a Public Highway) - be it in bulk or in pallets / packages. In order to produce a robust (and efficacious) risk assessment, it MUST be carried out by an appropriately (and competently) qualified and experienced person and/or team, understanding the product’s chemical and physical properties to the activities related to quantities, machinery/motive and human factors in order to safely manage leakage, spillage, training, environmental issues, personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid provision and managing an incident, as well as many other factors. General tenets to address when consigning Dangerous Goods on a public highway – ■ Ensuring loads are adequately secured to the vehicle. ■ Understanding axle loadings and centre of gravity in terms of the load and its effect on vehicle stability (and drivability) – especially critical in the deployment of double deck vehicles. ■ Ensuring administration, driving and loading staff are qualified and trained for their jobs. ■ Ensuring vehicle is equipped with correct documentation, front and rear Orange Plates, abatement equipment, absorbent materials and PPE in the event of Spillage or RTI (for use by driver and emergency responders). ■ Vehicle and on-board equipment is serviced and in a fit state for deployment. ■ No curtain bulging, product leakage or release evident on post-loading checks. ■ Your organisation (and driving staff) have access to a 24 /7 manned emergency response contact in the event of an incident while in transit. ■ An understanding of your responsibilities under ‘Duty of Care’ (including environmental impact) and the prevailing road / weather conditions to the journey. These are only general points - input from your designated Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) and Operational Management is vital to ensure any (and all) issues specific to your operation has been robustly addressed. Interview with Bill Atkinson DGSA and Chief Scientific Officer at Adler and Allan Truck and Track: Bill could you let our readers know where your professional interest in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods originated from? B Atkinson: My interest started when I was at the National Chemical Emergency Centre – where I first met Ali Karim Mitigation of Risk in Road Haulage of Dangerous Goods by Ali Karim Ali Karim TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TOALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk Bill Atkinson DGSA Inspecting Tanker
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