'No short cuts'
CAUTION ISN'T enough when dealing with
hazardous cargo.
Precaution is essential and you have to be aware of the fact that few of the customers know the whole range of dangerous goods
regulations, says Megafreight Services' Peter Henning.
It's one operation where you have to work 100% by the book, he says. In our case it's
simply one customer but two people to handle him. You have to be that careful and remember we can only declare what is told to us by the client.
There is no way that we want to be caught through inefficiency, so when we are uncertain we go back to the
customer to verify what he has packed. Otherwise it is too risky. And when we are
uncertain we call in the experts, people like Dangerous Goods Management.
The laws are precise and the customs and the airlines and ship owners are very strict. When you have five to 10 tons of what is clearly dangerous goods being packed into an ocean freighter, we get the experts to call on the clients. They go there on our behalf and explain what has to be done in the packing process and what has to be declared.
That's the only way you can go when dealing with this type of
consignment if you want to see a satisfied client and a perfect delivery of goods. There are no short routes, not in the handling of these goods.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
