‘Compliance costs but its worth it’
LEONARD NEILL
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS carried on public roadways in South Africa are now governed by regulations that clearly safeguard both the individual and the environment, and should be stringently enforced, says Malcolm Drysdale, managing director of M&S Shipping.
“When we consider these regulations, we must realise that a pretty good job has been done in getting them in place,” he says.
“Remember, a good deal of hard work in terms of basic premise and categorising chemicals, substances, packing groups and other items, has been done for us by the United Nations. Very sensibly there has been no effort by the local authorities to re-invent the international code.
“What the regulations have now achieved is to highlight responsibility across the transport chain. The supplier now has responsibility. The carrier has responsibility, and so do the agent, the receiver and the driver, right down the line to the operator driving the forklift or connecting the hoses.
“Separately and collectively they have specific and joint responsibilities that protect each of them as well as the cargo being moved. More importantly the regulations protect the private individual who uses the country’s highways and byways and, of course, the environment. If all parties in the chain accept their responsibilities then safety, which is the ultimate goal, has to be enhanced in the most meaningful way.
“I always used to feel apprehensive about sharing the highway in close proximity to a vehicle which was clearly filled with some unidentified liquid. Yes, there will be costs involved with compliance, but money in this case will be well spent.”
Drysdale heads a group of internationally recognised tank container companies, all of which, he says, comply with ‘literally dozens of international rules, regulations and recommendations.’
“Our tanks are regularly checked by competent authorities to ensure they comply on all counts,” he says.
