Truck and Track Summer 2021

www.truckandtrack.com Summer 2021 Truck and Track 51 DANGEROUS GOODS Caroline then moved us into the next phase, so over to her… CR: We had grown and had more members who needed more from us, and as volunteers we were doing a fabulous job, but the admin was becoming overwhelming. So we decided that we needed some support to get us through. The volunteers had the great ideas and the appointment of Dave King to provide us with office and marketing support really helped to get things done. MS: All voluntary organisations are a composite of the skills those volunteers bring and those initial 12 did an incredible job to get things up and running. Both Andy and Caroline did a great job driving BADGP forward and encouraging everyone to contribute where they could. I have a technical mindset and they were more than happy for me to update the constitution to reflect the growth in theassociation. Theyalso supported the changes I recommended, like creating the Vice Chair role to support the Chair. The membership has grown every year and the challenge has always been to keep relevant and provide those members with ‘content’ while holding true to those original objectives. The disaster in Beirut last year clearly demonstrated the impact poor safety and compliance can have. RS: Does one of the roles of the association involve interaction with Government departments and/or other governing bodies to assist with the interpretations and the drafting of amendments to the regulations? AH: Yes, we have excellent links with DfT and other departments. For example, they regularly provide high-quality speakers at BADGP events. We are now a key player in the international association, IASA, which has good advisory links to the authors of the modal codes, like ADR. CR: We often get asked by these key stakeholders to offer advice, views and opinions, and we often send out surveys or consultations to our members. MS: The DfT has quite a good system for getting input from many stakeholders on the UK response to papers at the quarterly UN meetings discussing regulations. We now have monthly meetings with the DfT to discuss various subjects. They are unable to take the lead on some issues that need to be addressed but are very happy to support us if we take themon. As BADGP grows, we are becoming more visible in other areas of government and are often now seen as the ‘experts’ that they want to talk to and get views on plans they have. RS: BADGPhas aLinkedInGroupwhich is a sourceof assistance and guidance when faced with challenges in interpreting the DG regulations. At times, it can become a forum for debate and discussion. Is this resource only accessible to members and howdoes it benefit those who join it? CR: This forum is open to anyone who has an interest in the transport of dangerous goods. We have members, from across the globe. MS: The LinkedIn Forum is open to anyone with an interest in/ involvement with dangerous goods and you don’t have to be a member. There are almost 2200 members with more people applying to join every week. Members can ask questions on any subject linked to dangerous goods and someone (often numerous responders) will provide an answer, reference specific sections in the regs or give guidance on areas to explore. There are specialists in every mode of transport, Class of DG and individual sections in the regulations. RS: Dangerous Goods transport is global. As the British association, do youhavemembers fromoverseas? Also, do you interact with similar organisations in other countries? AH: We accept members from any country. As English is our first language, we feel we have a distinct advantage in international communications, andthebreadthofourmembershipdemonstrates this. BADGP has good links with many national dangerous goods associations across Europe, and in the US. Through IASA, the international association of national associations, we are a key player in a formal network with other, mainly European countries’ associations. MS: We are always looking to expand our international connections and have recently linked up with RPMASA (Responsible Packaging Management Association of South Africa). RS: Is membership aimed solely to recruit DGSA’s and those who aspire to have the qualification or are other roles and capabilities represented?” AH: By supporting all modes of transport, BADGP reaches beyond the DGSAs of road, rail and inland waterways. We support similarly qualified people in the air and maritime modes. BADGP does not ask for any formal qualifications, only that the person works professionally with dangerous goods. Anyone not so working would have little interest in membership. MS: Many consignors and carriers ‘handle’ dangerous goods under the ‘Small Load Exemption’, Limited Quantities & Excepted Quantities where having a DGSA is not required. They are all welcome to join and access the help, support, and information BADGP can provide. RS: Does the association serve the DG professionals in all modes of transport? AH: Yes. All countries have different emphasis with regard tomodes of transport. For Britain, inland waterways are not big business while air is very important, but in the Netherlands, for example, it is the reverse. If BADGP is to seek an international reputation, it must therefore support all modes. This has the added advantage of preventing BADGP from becoming a ‘DGSA club’. MS: Yes. We always try to get speakers on different modes at the AGM Industry Day and the webinars and seminars are specific subjects that have multi modal relevance, like the recent ones on LQ and Load Restraint. RS: What are the benefits of membership and howdoes BADGP assist those in the DG industry? CR: BADGP is a support network, it can often be a lonely place for a DGSA in a company, no one to turn to for that second opinion. BADGP offers that support and clarity. There is no standard DGSA report template and one of the first things BADGP did was hold a seminar on the report and what it should contain, and then providedmembers with a template. BADGP providesmembers with regulatory updates and is there to support those that are new to the world of DG. BADGP runs regular seminars and webinars. MS: Probably the biggest benefit is free attendance to the AGM Industry Day with at least five speakers on topical subjects covering most modes. There are many resources on the website including recording of previous webinars, presentations from seminars and useful documents. We publish a newsletter every two months with articles on a wide range of subjects and back copies are available on the website. There are also discounts offered by a number of companies that support us, free webinars and significant discounts on seminars (compared to non-members) which we hope to start running again in the autumn. RS: These events have proved popular over the years with over 100 attendees. How have you managed this through the pandemic? CR: Like everyone we adapted and quickly! Our AGM was held online, and we have run more webinars this year than any other year! Committee meetings have been held virtually but have remained focussed. MS: We were fortunate that our 2020 AGM Industry Day happened a couple of weeks before the first lockdown was implemented, but Mark Spence