SAA courses ensure dangerous goods compliance

Robbie Lombard . . . ‘airlines are making progress in spreading the message.’ TIGHTER INDUSTRY regulations have cast an even stronger spotlight on dangerous goods compliance. It’s an area in which South African Airways Cargo has played a crucial role, and continues to do so, offering a comprehensive range of training courses to its own staff and the wider airfreight industry. A full course, run over six days, covers identification of dangerous goods and how to apply the regulations to an airfreight consignment. It’s mandatory for staff involved in acceptance of dangerous goods, or warehouse staff involved in the loading of these goods, to be fully conversant with the regulations. Classification, identification, packing, marking, labelling and documentation are some of the areas covered. The course fee is R1700. A refresher course must be completed every 24 months to keep abreast of the latest developments and changes in IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. This course, which runs over four days, costs R970. Robert Lombard, manager: quality assurance & standards at SAA Cargo, believes that staff within the airline and freight agent community are generally well versed in the rules and procedures. “Our concern is more with the public and the originators of the goods.” And even here he is confident that the airlines are making progress in spreading the message. A Dangerous Goods Awareness programme is part of SAA Cargo’s training mix. Catering for staff who are not directly involved in the acceptance of dangerous goods, it provides a broad overview of the provisions of the Act from general information, classes and divisions of dangerous goods to packing, labelling and emergency procedures. The 4-day course costs R850 and also requires a refresher every 24 months. All courses are subject to accreditation by the