Dangerous goods laws will be strictly enforced

Anna Cox THE DEPARTMENT of Transport has warned that new legislation introduced on August 1 regulating the transport of dangerous goods will be strictly enforced. Major changes have been made to the Hazardous Substances Act 1973. The present legislation lists only about 700 substances which are classified as dangerous. The new legislation covers in excess of 2 500 classified goods and substances, affecting far more players. Both heavy and light vehicles transporting dangerous goods in bulk or packaged form must be marked with the appropriate placardings and carry necessary documentation. The new legislation is structured around SABS Standards Specifications and Codes of Practice which are incorporated in Chapter VIII of the Act. From now on drivers of heavy vehicles will have to obtain professional driving permits specifically for dangerous goods. They will have to be trained in terms of a specific syllabus at an approved training body in terms of minimum requirements. They will also be required to carry specific documentation in the vehicles which will include a transport emergency card for each substance transported, a dangerous goods declaration listing the substances being transported and a clear indication of the routes to be followed by the driver. Every vehicle transporting dangerous goods will be required to have fixed permanently in the cab, a 'container' for the documentation to assist emergency workers in identifying the goods or substances being transported in case of accident or emergency.