Companies that need to transport dangerous goods or carry out packing, filling, loading or unloading are faced with a great responsibility, given the level of risk associated with this particular type of shipment.
To manage the processes with the necessary preparation and peace of mind, it is essential to know in depth the associated dangers and to comply with the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the various modes of transport.
When goods are to be transported by road, the international ADR agreement comes into play, involving all substances, goods, chemical products and materials, as well as waste presenting hazardous transport characteristics.
The size of the subject, even with detailed guidelines, can create anxiety in those having the task of organizing the transport operation, and indecisions on the solutions to be adopted.
Fortunately, the regulatory bodies introduced the support figure of the ADR advisor or "Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor ".
The role of the ADR Advisor was established by Legislative Decree no. 40 on February 4th, 2000, subsequently updated with Legislative Decree no. 35 on January 27th, 2010 (published in the Official Gazette No. 58 of 11 March 2010).
This is a mandatory position - except for some specific circumstances - for companies that carry out activities related to dangerous goods, on their
shipping
transport
packaging
loading, filling or unloading
The advisor can be the legal representative of the company, a person taken from among the internal staff or an external individual.
The necessary preparation to carry out this task is attested by obtaining a specific qualification "Certificate of Professional Training", issued after a training course with a final exam.
The certificate, which is valid for all EU countries, (except in specific cases), is issued in Italy by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport after passing a written exam consisting of a multiple choice questionnaire in the required specialization and also includes the analysis of a specific case. The qualification must be renewed every five years by passing a further exam.
The high level of competence that an ADR Advisor has thanks to the training programme, and, in particular, his/her strong administration skills, makes the advisor’s contribution valuable and tangible for companies.
The main responsibilities assigned to the Safety Advisor are the following:
verify compliance with current regulations;
provide support and advice in operations involving the transport of dangerous goods;
produce an annual report on the company's activities regarding the transport of dangerous goods;
reduce the accident report, should it occur.
Let’s consider the consultants which are imposed by law - especially when the choice falls on a specialized external person - like an "enemy" that prowls the corridors of the company, and to which one unwillingly discloses insider information - this would diminish the importance of the role. In fact, only a positive predisposition towards the figure allows us to take full advantage of his/her support.
Consultants favour the optimization processes. They also have the skills and tools to identify a priori the potential risk of accidents, and evaluate the seriousness of the resulting consequences. Furthermore, they are able to provide the ideal solutions to mitigate risk through precise and targeted actions, from both a technical and a managerial point of view. The consultant’s work in the company also favours the logistical management aspect of road transport, as well as helping prevent any fines in the event of non-compliance.
The consultant's contribution is made explicit not only on an operational level, but also from a formal and bureaucratic point of view, in regards to complying with all the obligations and maintaining good relations with the public authorities.
For these reasons, it is essential that these representatives be truly integrated into all business processes connected with the transportation, loading and unloading of dangerous goods done by the company, and so examine, analyse and improve them together, in compliance with regulations.
Appointing a consultant takes place through an internal company deed. The appointing and the relative acceptance must be communicated formally in writing, and must be sent to the local Driver and Licensing Agency to which the company is registered. Not appointing one (as well as the non notification of such), may mean receiving a fine. Considering that appointing one is mandatory (and the many benefits stemming from the having an ADR advisor managing the transport of dangerous goods), companies in the sector willingly rely on their expert consultant and are happy for him or her to take on many significant aspects of the business.