Businesses whose activities include the consignment, carriage or the related packing, loading, filling or unloading, of dangerous goods must appoint one or more safety advisers. There are exemptions provided for businesses with limited exposure to these activities so that they are not required to appoint formally a DGSA. However, they may still require support from a DGSA from time to time.

A formally appointed DGSA may be an employee, the head of the business or an external consultant. The DGSA must be suitably qualified and have access to all relevant aspects of the business to carry out this function.If you are operating several sites or large complex organisation, you may need to appoint more than one DGSA. If this is the case, you must ensure that the activities of these advisers are adequately integrated and co-ordinated. You must also ensure that the responsibilities to prepare documents such as annual reports, accident records or safety plans are clearly defined so as to ensure compliance with the ADR. It is recommended to clarify such roles in writing.

There are instances where you may not be required to appoint a DGSA, for example:

• Where the amounts of dangerous goods handled by your undertaking are so small or are so infrequently consigned, that the appointment of a DGSA would be unreasonable.

•  Where you structure your operation so as to avail of the exemptions permitted in the ADR, such as the exemption under ADR 1.1.3.6 known colloquially as the ‘load limit exemption’ or the ‘carrier exemption’.

The assessment of whether or not you are required to legally appoint a DGSA should be carried out by a competent person and should be documented. Your particular circumstances should be reviewed periodically to ensure that the initial assumptions and criteria are still valid and applicable. However, where you do determine that you are not required to appoint a DGSA, if your enterprise carries out any activities involving the carriage of dangerous goods, it is highly recommended that you seek advice or guidance from a qualified DGSA from time to time as required.

The ADR specifies the responsibilities of a Safety Adviser in Chapter 1.8.3
The core responsibilities of a Safety Adviser are as follows:

• Advising undertakings on the safe transport of dangerous goods by road.

• Monitoring the undertakings compliance with dangerous goods regulations.

•  Preparing an annual report about the activities of the undertaking related to the transport dangerous goods.

•  Investigating any accidents or infringements of regulations and preparing reports.

• Monitoring the provision of training and advice to any staff involved in the transport of dangerous goods.

If you want more details, read this HSA guide. Guidance on the duties of a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser

Each of our DGSA packages is individually tailored to suit your requirements, both regulatory and financially.

The first step is to figure out whether you need a DGSA service or not. In most of the cases difficult to give the answer on the phone. So the second step is to visit your site(s) for an initial survey. The cost of the consultancy depends on the amount of work involved which can only be truly assessed at this initial survey. It could be three different outcomes:

1. You may not require appointing a DGSA. Nothing to do.

2. Your business needs time to time visit and advice. However, where you do determine that you are not required to appoint a DGSA if your enterprise carries out any activities involving the carriage of dangerous goods, it is highly recommended that you seek advice or guidance from a qualified DGSA from time to time as required

3. Your enterprise deeply involved in activities includes the consignment, carriage or the related packing, loading, filling or unloading, of dangerous goods. You need one or more DGSA.

After all, we provide our no obligation quotation.

If you decide to cooperate with us, a contract will be prepared about our agreement.

Our DGSA consultancy contents the following services:

-Monitoring compliance with the law.

-Advising the employer with regards Dangerous Goods.

-Access to a QUALIFIED DANGEROUS GOODS SAFETY ADVISER to answer any questions or queries.

-Operating Sheet suits your individual requirements such as:

• – Emergency procedures
• – Vehicle and PPE checking procedures
• – How to calculate load thresholds
• – How to check compatibility of mixed loads
• – How to label goods correctly
• – How to complete dangerous goods documentation
• – and much more

-Preparing an annual report of the employer’s activities.

-Preparation of the security plan in accordance with ADR 1.10.3.2 for those dangerous goods designated as “high consequence dangerous goods.”

-Monitoring of a range of procedures and safety measures.

-Investigating and compiling reports on any accidents or emergencies.

–Newsletter detailing forthcoming legislation changes, articles, and other relevant information.

-Advising on the potential security aspects of transport.

Good News

Ask our free initial survey for free.

-If you are not sure whether you need DGSA or not.

-If you are not sure, your business is 100% compliant.

-If you are not sure, your company currently use the cheapest but still legal solutions such as packaging, labelling, means of transport, etc.

-You don’t know how to set up a “Training, Applying, Checking” system to avoid any legal proceedings or penalties.

We provide these answers for FREE now.

All you have to do is contact us, and we will visit you at a prearranged time.

The main legislation relating to the carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road in Ireland is as follows:
A.  The European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 to 2015. These regulations implement the ADR in Ireland and provide for the administration and enforcement of ADR.

ADR (European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) 2015. This document is reviewed and amended every two years. DGSAs are required to inform themselves of the changes and advise their clients accordingly.

For more information visit the competent authority’s website. Health & Safety Authority.