‘Safety and security training sadly neglected’

Employers and employees
often disregard the
importance of safety training
when nothing could be more
important across the supply chain.
Dries Viljoen, divisional chief
executive of the Aviation Academy
for Southern Africa (AAFSA), says
not enough emphasis is placed on
safety and security training in South
Africa.
He believes that training around
dangerous goods transported by air
should also not just be kept to those
regulated by the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (Icao) and the
Civil Aviation Authorities but should
include the entire spectrum of the
supply chain.
“Regulations by Icao and the
South African Civil Aviation
Authority as far as South Africa is
concerned determines who should
be trained and at what level, but
it is preferable that more people
be aware of safety and security
regulations. One should never
underestimate the importance of
training,” says Viljoen. “Often an
awareness course will suffice as
very few in the supply chain need
to be trained at the highest level
of expertise. Training is necessary
for every individual involved in
the preparation or transport of
dangerous goods intended for air
travel.”
This process, says Viljoen,
already starts at the packaging stage,
an essential component in the safe
transport of dangerous goods by air.
“The packer, the shipper, the
freight forwarder, the ground
handler, the flight crew – everyone
in the transportation chain should
know what dangerous goods they
are transporting, how to properly
load and handle them and what
to do if an incident or accident
occurs.”
Viljoen says it is important that
everyone knows where they fit in
the process and what training is
needed at their level.
“Training staff is possibly one of
the best investments a company can
make – people create the wealth. An
investment in the training of staff
will positively impact on a business
and on the bottom line eventually.
One can never train too much.”