If your business consigns, packs, loads, unloads, handles or transports dangerous goods, you probably already know that training is a legal requirement.
But here’s the uncomfortable question:
Are you absolutely certain that everyone involved in those activities is appropriately trained?
Not just your Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA), shippers or transport manager.
What about the people in supporting roles? Have your support staff received dangerous goods awareness training?
Under ADR 1.3, the obligation is clear:
Any person whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods must receive training commensurate with their responsibilities.
There is similar wording to this effect under IMDG 1.3 and IATA 1.5.
Training requirements often apply more broadly than many organisations assume.
The question is not simply whether you provide dangerous goods training to staff, but does your dangerous goods training programme cover everyone it should?
What ADR, IMDG 1.3 and IATA 1.5 Requires – and Why It Matters
All of the dangerous good’s regulations set out mandatory training requirements for anyone involved in their carriage. This includes; general awareness training, function-specific training and safety training. At its core, dangerous goods awareness training ensures that staff:
- Understand the hazards of the substances they are involved with shipping
- Recognise the risks of improper handling
- Know their responsibilities
- Understand emergency procedures relevant to their role
Importantly, the regulations require that training is “commensurate with…responsibilities and duties.”
Are Supporting Roles Being Overlooked?
When organisations think about dangerous goods training, they typically focus on teams directly handling and shipping dangerous goods. However, those involved in the movement of dangerous goods can go beyond operational specialists. Several supporting roles are also involved in goods movements and may require dangerous goods awareness training, including:
- Warehouse staff
- Delivery drivers
- Packers
- Sales teams selling dangerous products
- Customer service teams
- Administration staff
- Leadership
If someone’s work affects the safe carriage of dangerous goods by any mode of transport, they will fall within the scope of the regulations.
What Does “Commensurate” with Their Role Look Like?
“Commensurate” does not mean identical training for all staff. It means proportionate and relevant. For example:
- A warehouse operative should understand hazard labels and the consequences of package damage.
- Sales personnel advising on a fast delivery should understand the volume of dangerous goods that can move by air.
Effective dangerous goods awareness training equips staff with practical understanding — not just theoretical knowledge.
Being unable to demonstrate adequate dangerous goods awareness training can expose a business to enforcement action, along with financial and reputational damage.
The Compliance Risk Many Businesses Don’t See
In our experience, non-compliance with training requirements is rarely deliberate.
More often, it results from role changes not triggering updated training, assumptions that someone doesn’t directly handle dangerous goods, or is simply put off for a prolonged period of time.
Beyond regulatory compliance, dangerous goods awareness training strengthens operational resilience.
Properly trained staff will understand the hazards they and colleagues are working with to better identify issues before they escalate, improving safety whilst reducing reputational and financial risk.
In addition, trained and competent staff mean that your dangerous goods shipments flow through the transport chain without costly and time consuming delays, so potentially leading to more sales and new customers.
Supporting Compliance with Peter East eLearning
To help organisations meet their training obligations for supporting staff, Peter East has launched new course, designed to provide dangerous goods awareness training for support staff.
Designed specifically for supporting and operational roles, the course covers air, road and sea transport and:
- Provides clear, practical dangerous goods awareness training
- Explains the requirements under the dangerous goods regulations in straightforward terms
- Focuses on understanding hazards and responsibilities
- Offers a flexible, cost-effective training solution
Whether you need to train new starters, refresh existing staff, or ensure supporting roles are covered, eLearning can provide a scalable way to strengthen compliance. Find out more at the link below, or get in touch with any questions.
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