A significant misconception within the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) supply chain is that safety training is only necessary for those directly handling dangerous goods. According to Krishnan Subramaniam, international vice chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, this misguided belief poses a serious threat to safety."Many believe that only personnel physically managing dangerous goods, such as drivers, loading staff and warehouse workers require safety training," he said. "However, office-based employees responsible for documentation and planning often assume that training is irrelevant to their roles. This is a dangerous misconception as errors in documentation can be far more catastrophic than mistakes made during the physical handling of goods. Incorrect paperwork or an inaccurate Dangerous Goods (DG) declaration can lead to serious incidents, such as fires or accidents during transportation, with potentially fatal consequences.”Subramaniam emphasised the need for greater awareness around training. "Companies must ensure that everyone involved in the IMDG supply chain, including office staff, is trained. It’s not just about physical handling, but the administrative aspects are just as crucial," he said.According to Subramaniam, regular, mandatory refresher training for all staff to reinforce the importance of safety and compliance is just as necessary. "Companies should take responsibility for implementing and enforcing mandatory training programmes," he told Freight News. "Even those not directly handling dangerous goods must be aware of their responsibilities and understand the potentially dire consequences of documentation errors."He said while the training needs for individuals working with dangerous goods depended on their position within the supply chain, the importance of training across the supply chain was critical, requiring ongoing investment in upskilling of staff. “From producers and warehousing staff to transportation providers, each role has distinct safety and compliance requirements to ensure the safe handling and movement of hazardous materials.”Asked about guidelines for training, he said the IMDG Code was a critical regulatory framework for the safe transportation of dangerous goods by sea. It is updated every two years and personnel managing dangerous goods must be trained accordingly. However, the training and enforcement of the IMDG Code face significant challenges when compared to other dangerous goods regulations, such as the International Air Transport Association (Iata) Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR) for air transport.“The challenge is around enforcement,” said Subramaniam. “Iata’s DGR is highly regimented and strictly enforced. Personnel involved in the transport of dangerous goods by air must undergo mandatory training and recertification every two years. This recertification is strictly monitored, and only authorised training companies can provide the necessary education. In contrast, IMDG training is largely optional. While the IMDG Code is an international standard, the enforcement of training and recertification is not as rigorous as Iata’s. As a result, many companies do not adhere to a structured training regimen for their employees handling dangerous goods by sea.”Despite the lack of enforcement, companies were increasingly recognising the importance of the training, said Subramaniam. “There has also been a growing number of IMDG experts and training providers offering both on site and online training. This trend is helping to improve compliance and safety standards within the maritime industry.” LV
