Training for the Transport of Dangerous Goods: A Guide

If you are planning to start a business which transports dangerous or hazardous material, it is important that your staff and drivers are fully trained on how to handle, store and safely transport dangerous goods and substances. A government-approved organisation must provide this training. Before you send your staff on this training course, you may be wondering exactly what they will learn. Below is an introduction to what will be covered on a dangerous goods course.

Shipping categories

The first thing your staff will learn is how to identify and label the different categories of dangerous goods which they may need to transport. Dangerous goods courses cover a wide range of different categories such as:

  • Chemicals
  • Flammable liquids and gases
  • Explosives
  • Toxic or Radioactive substance

Your staff will learn about the various forms which need to be completed before dangerous goods can be loaded and transported from one location to another. If the vehicle being used to transport dangerous goods is pulled over by the police, they have the right to demand the documentation relating to the land. If this documentation is not completed your company and the individual driving the vehicle could face legal action.

How to prepare each class of dangerous goods for transportation

Once the learners can identify the different classes of dangerous goods, they will then learn about how to prepare each type before shipping. This will involve learning how to check their vehicle before loading and how to assess the mode of transport to ensure that it is a suitable choice for the intended load.

What to do in an emergency

Because dangerous goods potentially pose a serious risk to life and health, it is vital that your team know what to do if an emergency occurs. The training course will educate your staff about the possible dangers which could place their load at risk and the actions they need to take during an emergency. These actions will include understanding the different emergency codes which will be used to alert the emergency services to the presence of a dangerous or hazardous substance. The training course will also teach your staff how to assess when it is safe to tackle an emergency and when the driver should evacuate the area, and how to use protective clothing such as HazMat suits or respirators.

If you would like to find out more, you should contact a training provider today.

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