Truck and Track Winter 2024/25 www.truckandtrack.com 62 DANGEROUS GOODS In this issue, our Dangerous Goods Columnist, Ali Karim FRSC CChem advises Road Haulage organisations of the main changes in the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 2025 which came into effect on January 1st 2025. We include updated commentary from his longstanding colleague John Newsome (of Len Hall Chemical Consultants) on what the role of a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor broadly entails. Firstly, a reminder: ADR is an Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. ADR regulations are intended to reduce the risk of accidents and environmental damage when transporting dangerous goods. Compliance with these regulations can help companies avoid legal penalties and improve their reputation for safety and reliability. ADR regulations states in 1.8.3.1: Each undertaking, the activities of which include the consigning or the carriage of dangerous goods by road, or the related packing, loading, filling or unloading, shall appoint one or more safety advisers for the carriage of dangerous goods. These safety advisers are responsible for helping to prevent the risks inherent in such activities with regard to persons, property and the environment. Who needs to appoint a DGSA? Each Operator - whose activities include the carriage or the related packing, filling, loading or unloading of dangerous goods (including the ‘office-only’ consignor) by road - is required to appoint one or more dangerous goods safety advisers (DGSAs), responsible for helping prevent the risks inherent in such activities with regards to persons, property and the environment. There are similar requirements for Operators who are involved with the transport of dangerous goods via rail and inland waterways. For road, the exact details can be found in ADR sections 1.8.3.1 and also 1.8.3.2 where it allows certain exemptions from the requirement to appoint a DGSA, such as goods packed as limited quantities (LQ) or excepted quantities (EX), AND goods exempted via special provisions. This is where we have a Catch-22 situation because, if you don’t have a DGSA, how do you know if the exemptions apply or are relevant to you? And hence why the ADR regulations have been augmented to those businesses who consign goods from an ‘office-only’ environment (such as freight forwarding operations). What duties does the DGSA perform? A DGSA interprets the carriage regulations (including the two year changes), to ensure systems are in place (by the Operator) to manage the safe transport of dangerous goods, and to monitor those activities. The role of the DGSA can be an internal or an external appointment. Many Operators use third party qualified DGSA consultants as this is often a more cost-effective route particularly for smaller organisations. Upcoming Changes in ADR 2025 by Ali Karim Ali Karim TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TOALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk
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