Introduction
If you transport dangerous goods by road, you must comply with international regulations, namely the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Chapter 1.10 of ADR establishes security provisions to prevent terrorist incidents and protect the general population.
In Northern Ireland, these security provisions are applied through The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (As Amended) and enforced by The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Details
The aim of this guidance is to explain the regulations on how to ensure that dangerous goods are moved and stored securely within the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. It is directed at businesses involved in the carriage of dangerous goods, including consignors, freight carriers or those offering carriage, manufacturing sites, terminals, multi-modal sites, or any other qualifying location.
Anyone involved in the carriage of dangerous goods must take all reasonable steps to ensure that unauthorised access to those goods is prevented and take appropriate steps to ensure the security of the dangerous goods in the event of an accident or emergency. In order to reduce the possibility of dangerous goods being seized by criminals or terrorists on the road. The security requirements are split into two levels:
- a general level of requirements applicable to all dangerous goods
- additional provisions for ‘high consequence dangerous goods’ (HCDG)
HCDG are defined in ADR 1.10.3.1 as those with the potential for misuse in a terrorist incident and which may, as a result, produce serious consequences such as mass casualties or mass destruction. For HCDG, businesses need to create and implement a transport security plan which covers the entire journey taken by the dangerous goods by road, from consignor to consignee.
Chapter 1.10 does not apply to the carriage of limited quantities and of loads below certain levels, depending on the substance being carried. Please note that businesses that handle, process or transport dangerous goods on a regular basis must appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser (DGSA). You should always refer to your DGSA to confirm whether ADR 1.10 is applicable.
Guidance
Detailed guidance can be found at the following link:
Within this guidance, businesses can find the following useful information:
- Security plan template
- Security risk assessment template
- Driver security advice sheet