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COVID 19 – UK Department for Transport Response

Division 6.2 Infectious substances

The UK Department for Transport continue to support the UK dangerous goods supply chain through the COVID-19 pandemic. Their actions are helping to alleviate some of the challenges industry are currently facing in this crisis and their actions should be commended.

Today they provided the following update:

  • Multilateral Agreements Signed

The UK has countersigned a multilateral agreement with other ADR States, extending the validity of all existing ADR Driver Training and Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) certificates due to expire between 1 March 2020 and 1 November 2020, until 30 November 2020. The UK has also countersigned a multilateral agreement which mirrors this extension for rail DGSA certificates. Both multilateral agreements have now been published online:

 Copies of all RID/ADR multilateral agreements and further information may be found online via the UN and OTIF websites: UNECE – Multilateral Agreements | OTIF – Latest Documents.

The UK has today countersigned two further multilateral agreements on extending the periodic inspection and test expiry date for pressure receptacles and closed cryogenic receptacles carrying certain class 2 gases:

  • Authorisations Issued

DfT has granted a new authorisation which provides a temporary exemption from the ADR vehicle certification test for EX, FL and AT vehicles and MEMUs. This authorisation has been published online: Authorisation number 945: annual inspection waiver.

DfT has granted a new authorisation which permits newly qualified or requalified ADR Drivers to be able to carry dangerous goods loads without being in physical possession of their ADR licence. This is because at the current time SQA are unable to produce them. Such drivers must instead be in possession of Authorisation number 946 which can be obtained directly from the SQA upon passing the ADR driver examination. Drivers already in possession of a valid ADR licence must continue to carry it when transporting dangerous goods.

  • Guidance Published

DfT has issued guidance to support laboratories and hospitals to comply with packaging and transport requirements of patient specimens suspected of containing COVID-19. This guidance has been published online: Packaging and transport requirements for patient samples – UN3373.

  • Petroleum Driver Passport (PDP) Scheme Amendments

The Downstream Oil Distribution Forum (DODF) has announced changes to the PDP Scheme and published details about this new policy online: PDP Scheme Changes. These changes include:

  • An extension of the validity of Petroleum Driver Passports. All driver PDP cards, which expire between 1 March 2020 and 1 November 2020, will now remain valid until 30 November 2020. These cards will be renewed for five years if a driver has passed their written and practical assessments before 1 December 2020. This is in line with the MLA on ADR certificates countersigned by the UK.
  • A relaxation of the annual training requirements. The rule that annual refresher practical assessments must be taken no more than four months prior to a driver’s annual anniversary date have been relaxed – drivers can now complete their annual classroom and practical assessments at any point in the current calendar year up to 31 December 2020. Arrangements have been made to avoid cost penalties. Annual classroom training is unchanged and must take place within the same calendar year as the annual practical assessment.

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Flores

Paul made a potentially stupefying subject engaging and, more importantly, tailored it to be immediately relevant to our specific business needs and method of operation. Our processes are already being amended to incorporate what we learned yesterday!

Chatterbox

The guys are so, so pleased they passed! Thank you for your help, we appreciate it!

White Label Cosmetics

Training received. Fantastic feedback and it was a pleasure to work with you on this.

LM Techbuyer

It was a pleasure to work with you on this.

GB

Amazing results, 12 New DG consignors across the UK, this will have a direct impact on Ops and Exercises.

Military personnel.

Wonderful news on the successful results, thanks again to all for your contribution.

OVARRO

Thank you again for yesterday. Obviously we wanted to do the course for practical reasons so that we can receive approval, but I think it will also help shape our internal procedures and will ensure we are doing things appropriately and safely going forward. I thought it was a really helpful session.

AJ. Oncimmune

Where do I start? I think this was a great success and I am extremely pleased with the outcome. I believe that we will organise this again. Thank you for a great effort. Everybody was very pleased with the outcome.

NEFAB

Thanks again guys. I have enjoyed working/learning from you. As a company we will be using you again in the future when the needs arise.

Muehlhan

Thanks for the course Paul, some really interesting stuff there. The lads were happy.

MK Couriers

I just want to say thank you for the past couple of days 😊

MB Parfum

It was lovely to meet you both and thank you very much for agreeing to the training of our staff in particular coming all the way over to the Islands. The course you delivered was very well received by all who really enjoyed it and felt that they had gained a better understanding than in the past.

RS Scilly Islands

Thank you for the training yesterday and it was good to meet you ….I think I can speak for Rebecca and myself in saying that it was very beneficial for both us and the business.

TH Howetec

Many thanks for your time this week, we have had really good feedback from the team post course regarding content and presentation, which was good to hear.

SP. DHL

A very successful and helpful training session.

NHS Trust Hospital London

Many thanks Paul for the thought provoking and valuable training.

NHS Foundation Trust hospital – London

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Dangerous Goods Safety Group provides a wealth of experience and knowledge gained from working in education, IATA, fast parcel, and airline operations. We offer a unique and personalized approach to dangerous goods compliance for the complete supply chain. We continually adjust to regulatory changes and have an innovative approach for the benefit of our customers. Our mission is to make dangerous goods compliance simple, effective, and efficient.