While smaller operations may only store and sell limited quantities of dangerous goods that might simply be picked up by the customer, the scale of dangerous goods being transported from resellers shifts up from this point to larger quantities on customer’s vehicles, continuing upward to premises that deliver large quantities on company-owned vehicles.

Legislation specifies that ALL personnel involved in the transport of dangerous goods must be trained, or directly supervised so they can perform their tasks safely.

Agsafe offers training for the transport of dangerous goods in three forms:

The first, and most limited in the information and detail presented is section seven of the Agvet Chemical Supplier’s Course. This course is an overview of many elements relevant to your business and does not provide a detailed analysis of transporting dangerous goods. This section of the course may be suitable for office staff that are not directly involved in the dispatch or transport of dangerous goods but should still have an awareness of the key issues.

The second option for Agsafe members is the Transport Dangerous Goods AgByte. AgBytes are short online modules presented as a video with a professional voice over and a short quiz to complete after each section. AgBytes take approximately 30 minutes to complete and are ideal for Agsafe members to keep their professional development up to date at a time that is convenient for them and their employer.

The Transport Dangerous Goods Agbyte expands on the information in the Agvet Chemical Supplier course by providing more detail on the procedures and processes involved. It has many practical examples and explores key issues in further detail.

This module targets personnel who handle dangerous goods regularly in small to medium quantities. It is intended as an expansion of the supplier course (which should be a pre-requisite) and is a suitable refresher to earlier training.

The AgByte is also aimed at personnel in larger premises who work in a supervised capacity, as their supervisor will have more comprehensive training in this area. In other words, personnel who need to follow the established processes and would benefit from an understanding of the purpose behind these processes.

The third training option for members is the Transport Dangerous Goods webinar.

The Transport Dangerous Goods webinar is targeted at personnel who are involved with the transport of more significant volumes of dangerous goods such as placard load quantities. Training for these personnel is mandatory.

It provides specific details on common scenarios and products found in the Agvet Chemical industry.

Participants will learn key requirements, including how and when to placard a load, specific document requirements, segregation, as well as the marking and labelling of packages. It also clarifies the application of these requirements to both company vehicles and customers’ vehicles.

Personnel from premises that dispatch larger quantities of dangerous goods should complete this course if they are involved in the packing, loading or driving of vehicles that transport the dangerous goods (unless they are directly supervised by a suitably trained person).

Licensing

There is some confusion about the requirements for licensing. The need for a driver to be licensed to carry dangerous goods and for a premises to have a dangerous goods licensed vehicle only applies if the vehicle is transporting tanks or placardable units (IBC’s).

In the Agvet Chemical industry very few premises would transport tanks of dangerous goods – so the main reason for licensing would be where premises are transporting IBC’s. A license is required when more than 3000 litres of dangerous goods are being transported in IBC’s. (Licensing may be required for lesser quantities in some circumstances).

Personnel who have a dangerous goods license are not required to do the webinar. Other personnel in that premises will very likely need to do the Transport Dangerous Goods webinar as it is unlikely a licensed driver will be directly supervising them.

In summary, the Transport Dangerous Goods webinar targets all warehouse staff and drivers in premises that dispatch larger volumes of dangerous goods (in excess of placard load quantities), whether it be loaded on a premises vehicle, a customer’s vehicle or a commercial transport vehicle. The one exclusion is personnel with a current dangerous goods license.