‘Cutting corners is not an option for dangerous goods’

In the transporting of dangerous goods, cutting corners is not an option, according to Hazel Briggs, managing director of HB Services, a Johannesburgbased local and crossborder freight consolidator that specialises in the transportation of hazardous chemicals. Most transporters felt the effects of the downturn in the economy during 2009, she told FTW – with the result that everyone has become increasingly aware of costs. “Some industries may be able to cut corners,” she added, “but not the transportation of chemicals – be they hazardous or otherwise. “There are so many checks and balances to consider when transporting chemicals, that even a small deviation could be a recipe for disaster.” Briggs also suggested that the temptation maybe to try “a cheaper haulier”. But, she questioned, “does this person’s vehicles comply with the rigorous checks that they will experience at HB Services’ warehouse when loading?” The company monitors all vehicles arriving to deliver and collect cargo from the warehouse and has a detailed check-list with which all trucks must comply. “Suppliers delivering to our premises are turned away if the necessary Trem cards and safety data sheets are not available,” Briggs added. HB Services also has a further monitoring procedure in place when it is consolidating a load. This, Briggs told FTW, to ensure product compatibility. An uninformed transporter may fail to check. And certain products may be loaded on the same truck – that should be a metre apart from other chemicals belonging to a different category. Briggs also stressed that transportation cross-border on less-than-perfect roads was very challenging – and she felt that suppliers needed to be assured that their load would arrive at destination on-time and in perfect condition. “Permits are required to carry chemicals in other countries,” she said, and arriving at a border without these in place can cause costly delays – and even expose the cargo to other hazards, such as pilfering. “I would strongly recommend that suppliers always consider what could go wrong and then ensure that they are making use of professionals who will try their utmost to ensure that it doesn’t.”