During 2007 police officers and VOSA carried out four national "CDG Check days". A coordinated effort is made to carry out roadside checks in many parts of GB specifically targeting vehicles carrying dangerous goods or suspected of doing so. This is in addition to any ad hoc or individual area activity.Overall 2492 vehicles were checked during these exercises. Of those, 47% exhibited some breach of the regulations and 7 % (about 1 in 14) were found to have breaches sufficiently serious to warrant the issue of a Prohibition Notice (either immediate or deferred).
Dec 19 2008
Revised dangerous goods regulations (ADR 2009) come into effect on 1st January 2009.
As usual there are numerous changes, but the two that are most relevant to transport operations will be the changes to the Instructions In Writing (Trem Cards) & Equipment to be carried by the driver.
INSTRUCTIONS IN WRITING (Trem Cards)
Where currently it is the consignors responsibility to provide these to the driver, from 1/1/09 it will become the responsibility of the Carrier.
At present a 'Trem Card' is issued for each hazardous Class or substance carried. From 1/1/09 the driver will only need to carry one 'Trem Card' as shown in chapter 5.4.3 of ADR 2009. This covers all Classes, and the driver should familiarize himself with the actions to be taken by for the Classes he is carrying.
As you will see these Instructions cover 4 pages. I would suggest these are laminated so that the driver carries two double sided sheets in his cab at all times. I would also suggest a copy is held at each depot.
EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED
ADR 2009 shows the following additional items to be carried in the vehicle:
a drain seal: As you can imagine the wording could mean a multitude of items. However after consulting both the FTA
and VOSA the consensus of opinion is that current 'spill kits' issued will suffice.
a collecting container made of plastic: i.e. a bucket. No mention of size is made, so one that is early stowable
on the vehicle is fine.