Training
If your organisation consigns, packs, loads, unloads, handles or transports Dangerous Goods, more employees may require training than you might expect.
The requirement does not apply only to qualified Dangerous Goods drivers or employees who sign transport documents. Anyone whose work can affect the safe transport of dangerous goods must receive training appropriate to their responsibilities.
This is usually described as dangerous goods awareness training.
What is dangerous goods awareness training?
Awareness training introduces employees to the regulations, hazards and working practices relevant to transporting Dangerous Goods.
It helps employees understand:
The course should reflect the employee’s actual duties. Someone preparing transport documents needs different knowledge from a warehouse employee loading packages onto a vehicle.
Who needs awareness training?
Training may be required for employees involved directly or indirectly in dangerous goods transport, including:
What training does each employee need?
The required content depends on the employee’s responsibilities, the goods involved and the modes of transport being used.
Training will normally contain three elements.
General awareness training
Employees need a basic understanding of the dangerous goods regulations and the purpose of the rules.
This can include hazard classes, UN numbers, packaging, marks, labels and transport documentation.
Function specific training
Employees need more detailed training in the requirements that apply to their own work.
For example:
The training should be based on what the employee does rather than their job title alone.
Safety training
Employees must understand the risks they may encounter and the precautions needed to protect themselves and others.
This can include:
Is security awareness required?
Dangerous goods can present a security risk as well as a safety risk. Relevant training should therefore cover security awareness.
Employees may need to understand:
More detailed training may be needed where an organisation handles high-consequence dangerous goods.
Do the requirements change between road, sea, rail and air?
Yes. Each mode of transport has its own regulations:
- ADR applies to transport by road.
- RID applies to transport by rail.
- The IMDG Code applies to transport by sea.
- The ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations apply to transport by air.
Many consignments use more than one mode. A package may travel by road before being loaded onto an aircraft or vessel, so employees may need to understand the requirements of more than one set of regulations.
Completing road awareness training does not automatically qualify someone to prepare dangerous goods for air transport. Employers must consider every mode used during the journey.
Is awareness training the same as an ADR driver qualification?
No.
ADR awareness training does not provide an ADR Driver Training Certificate or ADR card. Drivers carrying dangerous goods above the relevant thresholds, or in tanks where the qualification is required, must attend approved ADR driver training and pass the appropriate examinations.
Drivers carrying dangerous goods under an exemption may not require an ADR card, but they can still require general, function-specific, safety and security training.
Does everyone need a formal qualification?
Not necessarily.
Many employees require documented training appropriate to their duties rather than a formal vocational qualification. However, particular responsibilities may require approved training, an examination or a recognised certificate.
Examples include:
An awareness course should not be used in place of a qualification or approved course where one is required.
How long should awareness training take?
There is no single course length suitable for every organisation.
A short course may be sufficient for employees with limited responsibilities. Packers, loaders, document preparers and supervisors may require longer or more detailed training.
The appropriate duration will depend on:
RoadSafe Europe’s awareness courses usually last between half a day and one day. Course content can be adjusted for different groups of employees.
When should training take place?
Employees should receive the required training before taking on Dangerous Goods responsibilities.
Where training has not yet been completed, an employee should perform the relevant functions only under the direct supervision of a trained person.
Training should also be reviewed when:
Does awareness training expire?
The regulations do not apply one universal expiry date to every form of awareness training. Instead, training must be periodically supplemented so that employees remain familiar with current requirements.
Employers should set a suitable refresher interval based on regulatory changes, employee responsibilities and operational risk. Additional training should be provided sooner when a material change affects the employee’s work.
What training records should we keep?
Employers should retain clear records showing:
A certificate can support the training record, but the employer should also be able to demonstrate that the content was appropriate to the employee’s duties.
How do we decide what our staff need?
Start by identifying every employee whose work can affect a Dangerous Goods consignment.
For each person or role, consider:
This process creates a training-needs assessment that can be matched to suitable course content.
RoadSafe Europe provides Dangerous Goods awareness training for road, rail, sea and air transport.
Courses can be tailored around your employees’ duties, the Dangerous Goods you handle and your company procedures. Training is normally delivered at your premises and can cover one or several transport modes.
Each delegate receives a traceable certificate of attendance for inclusion in your training records.
If you are unsure what training your staff require, contact us for an initial discussion.
Telephone: 02380 702576
Email: info@roadsafeeurope.com
What's "Awareness Training"? And what does our staff need?
What’s Awareness Training? And What Does Our Staff Need?
If your organisation consigns, packs, loads, unloads, handles or transports Dangerous Goods, more employees may require training than you might expect.
The requirement does not apply only to qualified Dangerous Goods drivers or employees who sign transport documents. Anyone whose work can affect the safe transport of dangerous goods must receive training appropriate to their responsibilities.
This is usually described as dangerous goods awareness training.
What is dangerous goods awareness training?
Awareness training introduces employees to the regulations, hazards and working practices relevant to transporting Dangerous Goods.
It helps employees understand:
- What Dangerous Goods are
- How they can recognise them
- Why transport regulations apply
- What responsibilities relate to their work
- Which company procedures they must follow
- What to do if something is damaged, leaking or incorrectly prepared
- When to stop and ask for specialist advice
The course should reflect the employee’s actual duties. Someone preparing transport documents needs different knowledge from a warehouse employee loading packages onto a vehicle.
Who needs awareness training?
Training may be required for employees involved directly or indirectly in dangerous goods transport, including:
- Consignors and consignees
- Packers and fillers
- Warehouse and stores personnel
- Loaders and unloaders
- Forklift truck operators
- Drivers
- Transport planners
- Freight-forwarding personnel
- Shipping and administration staff
- Supervisors and operational managers
- Security and access-control personnel
- Employees responsible for purchasing packaging or arranging collections
- Office-based employees can require training if their decisions or paperwork affect how dangerous goods are classified, described, packaged or transported.
What training does each employee need?
The required content depends on the employee’s responsibilities, the goods involved and the modes of transport being used.
Training will normally contain three elements.
General awareness training
Employees need a basic understanding of the dangerous goods regulations and the purpose of the rules.
This can include hazard classes, UN numbers, packaging, marks, labels and transport documentation.
Function specific training
Employees need more detailed training in the requirements that apply to their own work.
For example:
- A packer may need to understand approved packaging, closures, marks and labels.
- A loader may need to recognise damaged packages, apply segregation rules and secure the load.
- An administrator may need to prepare or check transport documents.
- A driver may need to understand load thresholds, vehicle equipment and emergency procedures.
- A manager may need to understand responsibilities, training records and compliance controls.
The training should be based on what the employee does rather than their job title alone.
Safety training
Employees must understand the risks they may encounter and the precautions needed to protect themselves and others.
This can include:
- Safe handling
- Personal protective equipment
- Preventing spills and releases
- Fire and reactivity risks
- Emergency actions
- Reporting damaged or non-compliant packages
- Following written company procedures
Is security awareness required?
Dangerous goods can present a security risk as well as a safety risk. Relevant training should therefore cover security awareness.
Employees may need to understand:
- Potential threats involving dangerous goods
- Vulnerable points during storage and transport
- Access-control arrangements
- Recognising suspicious behaviour
- Protecting documents and shipment information
- Reporting a suspected security breach
- Their responsibilities under the organisation’s security procedures
More detailed training may be needed where an organisation handles high-consequence dangerous goods.
Do the requirements change between road, sea, rail and air?
Yes. Each mode of transport has its own regulations:
- ADR applies to transport by road.
- RID applies to transport by rail.
- The IMDG Code applies to transport by sea.
- The ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations apply to transport by air.
Many consignments use more than one mode. A package may travel by road before being loaded onto an aircraft or vessel, so employees may need to understand the requirements of more than one set of regulations.
Completing road awareness training does not automatically qualify someone to prepare dangerous goods for air transport. Employers must consider every mode used during the journey.
Is awareness training the same as an ADR driver qualification?
No.
ADR awareness training does not provide an ADR Driver Training Certificate or ADR card. Drivers carrying dangerous goods above the relevant thresholds, or in tanks where the qualification is required, must attend approved ADR driver training and pass the appropriate examinations.
Drivers carrying dangerous goods under an exemption may not require an ADR card, but they can still require general, function-specific, safety and security training.
Does everyone need a formal qualification?
Not necessarily.
Many employees require documented training appropriate to their duties rather than a formal vocational qualification. However, particular responsibilities may require approved training, an examination or a recognised certificate.
Examples include:
- Drivers who require an ADR Driver Training Certificate
- Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers
- Personnel performing regulated dangerous goods functions in air transport
An awareness course should not be used in place of a qualification or approved course where one is required.
How long should awareness training take?
There is no single course length suitable for every organisation.
A short course may be sufficient for employees with limited responsibilities. Packers, loaders, document preparers and supervisors may require longer or more detailed training.
The appropriate duration will depend on:
- The employee’s duties
- The Dangerous Goods being handled
- The transport modes involved
- The complexity of the operation
- Applicable exemptions
- Emergency and security responsibilities
- The employee’s previous knowledge
RoadSafe Europe’s awareness courses usually last between half a day and one day. Course content can be adjusted for different groups of employees.
When should training take place?
Employees should receive the required training before taking on Dangerous Goods responsibilities.
Where training has not yet been completed, an employee should perform the relevant functions only under the direct supervision of a trained person.
Training should also be reviewed when:
- Regulations change
- An employee’s responsibilities change
- New Dangerous Goods are introduced
- The organisation begins using another transport mode
- Procedures or equipment change
- An incident or audit identifies a knowledge gap
Does awareness training expire?
The regulations do not apply one universal expiry date to every form of awareness training. Instead, training must be periodically supplemented so that employees remain familiar with current requirements.
Employers should set a suitable refresher interval based on regulatory changes, employee responsibilities and operational risk. Additional training should be provided sooner when a material change affects the employee’s work.
What training records should we keep?
Employers should retain clear records showing:
- The employee’s name
- The training date
- The subjects covered
- The employee’s responsibilities or job function
- The transport modes included
- The trainer or training provider
- The outcome of any assessment
- When refresher training should be considered
A certificate can support the training record, but the employer should also be able to demonstrate that the content was appropriate to the employee’s duties.
How do we decide what our staff need?
Start by identifying every employee whose work can affect a Dangerous Goods consignment.
For each person or role, consider:
- What Dangerous Goods tasks do they perform?
- Which transport modes are used?
- What types of dangerous goods do they encounter?
- Are they working under any exemption or load threshold?
- Do they prepare or check packaging, labels or documentation?
- Could they encounter a damaged package, spill or emergency?
- Do they have security responsibilities?
- Is awareness training sufficient, or is an approved qualification required?
This process creates a training-needs assessment that can be matched to suitable course content.
How RoadSafe Europe can help
RoadSafe Europe provides Dangerous Goods awareness training for road, rail, sea and air transport.
Courses can be tailored around your employees’ duties, the Dangerous Goods you handle and your company procedures. Training is normally delivered at your premises and can cover one or several transport modes.
Each delegate receives a traceable certificate of attendance for inclusion in your training records.
If you are unsure what training your staff require, contact us for an initial discussion.
Telephone: 02380 702576
Email: info@roadsafeeurope.com