Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA)

The DGSA is the company official responsible for the handling of dangerous goods in the company, in particular for eliminating and/or minimizing the risks of injury to employees, property damage and environmental damage arising from the nature of the dangerous goods. The presence of DGSA in a company whose activities are related to dangerous goods is a mandatory requirement of the international rules for the transport of dangerous goods RID/ADR/ADN.

According to global and national statistics, of the total volume of cargo transportation carried out by various modes of transport, the transportation of dangerous goods accounts for more than 20%. At all stages of their life cycle dangerous goods create significant risks to the health of enterprise personnel and the local population, the environment, as well as risks of causing material damage to both transport infrastructure and objects located in potential areas of influence of dangerous goods. As a result, personnel of enterprises involved in the circulation of dangerous goods, regardless of the type of transport or the specifics of these enterprises, are required to undergo special training, the volume and content of which depend on specific job responsibilities.

The coordinating role in ensuring the safety of the transportation of dangerous goods and all types of work with them, based on the high professionalism of employees, lies on the DGSA. This company official must have a basic higher or secondary specialized education, at least 3 years of experience working with dangerous goods, and also have a “Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser” certificate valid for 5 years.

The training of advisers at the ISTC has been carried out for more than 20 years. The basic training program for advisers, which during this time has been constantly improved in accordance with the latest editions of the international regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by various modes of transport, reissued every 2 years, is based on documents such as UN Model Regulations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, Guidelines on UN Tests and Criteria, International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), Regulations to the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), Regulations to the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods on Inland Waterways (ADN), ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, Annex 2 “Transport of Dangerous Goods” to the Agreement on International Goods Transport by Rail, Regulations Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID), International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972 (CSC), IMO Recommendations on the safe transport of dangerous goods in port areas and related activities and etc.

International ISO standards applicable in this area are also studied. A trained and certified adviser has sufficient knowledge and practical skills to work on any type of transport carrying dangerous goods, and at any enterprise related to the production, storage and disposal of dangerous goods. In addition, such a specialist is indispensable when planning and implementing multimodal transportation of dangerous goods.

Training sessions are conducted by experienced teachers and experts who have extensive personal experience working with dangerous goods. Before the start of classes, training programs can be adjusted and agreed upon with customers depending on the characteristics of specific enterprises.

Based on the results of certification by the International Dangerous Goods and Containers Association (IDGCA), graduates receive advanced training certificates and “Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser” certificates of international standard. Certificates issued by IDGCA are protected by patent.