Companies that pack, load, fill, unload or transport dangerous goods must have a dangerous goods transportation safety advisor. In this article you will read exactly what the role of a dangerous goods safety advisor is, what their duties are and what legislation is involved. We will also tell you more about the safety consultant training.
Safety consultants play a crucial role in companies and industries that handle dangerous goods and goods. When loading, unloading and transporting dangerous goods by road, rail or water, companies are required to appoint at least one safety advisor.
This obligation is included in the international regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by road (ADR), rail (RID) and inland waterways (ADN).
Safety advisor duties
The specific duties of the safety advisor include:
- Verify compliance with regulations governing the transportation of dangerous goods
- Advise the company on activities related to the transportation of dangerous goods
- prepare an annual report on the company’s activities related to the transportation of dangerous goods.
Are you interested in the security consultant position? Then check out our basic ADR/RID Safety Advisor course and find out if it’s for you.
What does a safety consultant do?
A safety advisor has various duties and responsibilities to ensure the safety of people, property and the environment when transporting dangerous goods. However, related activities such as packaging, loading, filling and unloading of dangerous goods also fall within the scope of duties.
These duties and responsibilities are described in Article 1.8.3 of ADR, RID and ADN. The main work of a safety consultant is to control:
- the method of ensuring compliance with regulations for identifying transported dangerous goods
- How the company considers specific requirements for transporting dangerous goods when purchasing vehicles
- the procedures for inspecting the equipment used to transport dangerous goods or for packaging, filling, loading or unloading
- That the company’s employees have received appropriate training, including regulatory updates, and that this training is documented in their records
- Developing proper emergency procedures for potential accidents or incidents that could compromise safety during transportation or in packing, filling, loading or unloading operations
- analyzing and, if necessary, reporting serious violations, accidents or incidents during the transport of dangerous goods or during packaging, filling, loading or unloading operations
- taking measures to prevent the recurrence of accidents, incidents or serious violations
- That the laws and special requirements for hiring subcontractors and intermediaries in the transportation of dangerous goods are taken into account
- verifying that personnel charged with shipping, transporting, packing, filling, loading or unloading dangerous goods have detailed implementation procedures and instructions
- taking measures to make people aware of the dangers of transporting and packaging, filling, loading or unloading dangerous goods
- establishing checks to ensure that the required documents and safety equipment are on board the vehicles and that they comply with regulations
- implementing control measures to ensure that packing, filling, loading and unloading rules are followed
- Having a security plan according to section 1.10.3.2.
Who fills the role of safety advisor?
A security consultant is often employed full-time in that position by a logistics company. Often this position is filled internally after an employee retrains. The duties of a safety advisor can be combined with another role within the organization, as long as that person can still properly perform their duties as an advisor.
It is also common for a company to appoint an outside security consultant. We’ll tell you more about that at the bottom of this article.
Safety consultant training and certification
You may only work as a safety consultant within a company with the proper certification. For this, you must have successfully passed an exam at the CBR. The certificate is valid for five years. To take the exam, you must first take a safety advisor course from an approved training provider.
Special Cargo College is an accredited training provider in the field of storage and transportation of dangerous goods. We have a wide range of training, (refresher) courses and education for anyone working with dangerous goods or in the aviation industry. In addition, with us it is possible to take online courses with our e-learnings, or receive customized or in-company training.
Basic Safety Advisor Course
At Special Cargo College, you can take both the basic safety advisor course and the refresher course:
Extra practice for your exam?
Is the exam coming up and you want to be extra prepared? Then use our online CBR exam training by mode of transport (ADR, RID or ADN). This allows you to test your knowledge for three months on your own time and at your own pace. Curious? Then read more on our website.
Exemption for businesses
Companies in some cases are not required to appoint a safety advisor. For example, as a company, you qualify for an exemption if you transport small quantities of dangerous goods. This is described in Chapter 1.8.3.2 of the ADR:
Security advisor also mandatory for freight forwarders
Since Jan. 1, 2023, senders of dangerous goods are also required by ADR to appoint a safety advisor. A consignor then means a company that does not itself transport, unload, load, fill or pack. Forwarders often have this role, also called “paper sender.
Prefer to hire an outside security consultant?
As a company, you may also prefer to hire an outside security consultant. For example, because you only need a security consultant occasionally. For that, you can also turn to Special Cargo.
In addition to providing courses on safety consulting, Special Cargo’s consultants also act as external safety consultants. So together we ensure that your company meets its legal environmental and safety obligations. To do so, contact us at training@specialcargo.nl.
