Improved industry awareness makes handling easier

Moving dangerous cargo is a serious business and specialists in the field are investing heavily in training to ensure compliance at all levels. FTW takes a closer look. Improved industry awareness makes handling easier PUBLIC AWARENESS of the issues surrounding dangerous cargo has increased to such an extent that the handling of these items has become a great deal easier, says Peter Henning, Bachmann-Megafreight Services export manager. "No doubt about it, the media coverage and the regular training that both our staff and those of major clients are receiving, has played a significant role in improving the situation," he says. "We have been talking to our clients on the subject for a long time now, and many of them have developed their own internal standards, keeping their eyes wide open and ensuring that items are correctly packaged and documented. "We still do a thorough check of every document that reaches us, and the moment we see something that suggests the cargo may be of a hazardous nature and has not been fully identified as such, we set the investigation wheels in motion. "It's a case of going back to the client and in some instances calling for the manufacturer's specifications. We then have it checked by Dangerous Goods Management which arranges the packing, crating and correct documentation. "One of our standard rules when we find errors in the early stages, is to ask our staff member or the customer concerned if they would willingly fly on the aircraft on which the goods are to be sent without declaring them to be dangerous. That gets their attention immediately."