‘Flout dangerous goods compliance at your peril’ Advice on Tremcards

THE CRUCIAL importance of dangerous goods compliance cannot be stressed enough, says Eddie Crane of Gauteng-based EC Logistics. Forwarding agents whose vehicle fleet does not comply will not only receive a spot fine and an additional fine in the case of an accident, but insurance claims will be repudiated, enough to sink even the soundest of companies.
An essential element for all involved is the Transport Emergency Card, or Tremcard as it is better known.
“It provides information on the nature of the load transported and it gives recommendations on what actions should be taken in case of an incident,” says Crane. “Spillage of hazardous substances can have grave consequences for the people involved as well as the environment if the right reaction is not implemented.”
And the right reaction depends on the nature of each individual chemical substance or mixture, which is why each substance classified as dangerous goods must have its own Tremcard, if the Emergency Response Guide (ERG) is different.
According to a recent media report, at least one serious road accident involving vehicles carrying hazardous substances occurs in KwaZulu-Natal every month, placing the lives of hundreds of emergency workers and others in danger. On average, five tanker drivers and owners a week have been prosecuted for offences relating to the transportation of dangerous goods in KwaZulu-Natal in the past year.
A recent incident in which a truck carrying acetone overturned on the airport highway in Gauteng, killing the driver, further illustrates the point.
The South African government not only has an obligation to make the roads safe for users, but it has committed itself to the protection of the environment.
The Department of Transport has therefore made it compulsory for a Tremcard to be carried in the cab for each dangerous goods substance being transported in the vehicle, says Crane.
“Police forces and inspectors are empowered to fine and prosecute companies who do not comply with this legislation and insurance companies are unlikely to cover the costs of incidents if the proper documents are not carried by the vehicle.
“Also important is the type of Tremcard,” says Crane. “It must be an original of a Cefic Tremcard in English, fully completed, less than three years old and specific to the load.”
Cefic is the European Chemical Industry Council and the Cefic tremcard is an industry-accepted set of instructions in writing used throughout Europe and recognised as a leading standard.
Crane is one of the appointed distributors of Cefic Tremcards in South Africa. With 25 years experience in the dangerous goods field, he offers consultancy services, client workshops and staff training in all areas of compliance.