Your expert for hazardous goods,
hazardous substances, pyrotechnics & waste

As soon as your business takes part in transporting dangerous goods, meaning you pack, ship, load, carry or unload them, the German GbV requires you to appoint at least one dangerous goods safety adviser. There are exemptions, for instance for pure consignees or for transports below the thresholds in ADR 1.1.3.6. A short call is usually enough to find out whether you are covered.

The same tasks as an internal one, without a permanent position in the company. I monitor compliance, advise on classification, packaging and documentation, train your staff, write the annual report for management and investigate incidents involving dangerous goods. The appointment is made in writing and shown to the authority on request.

Drivers carrying quantities that require placarding need an ADR training certificate, made up of the basic course plus specialisation courses for tanks, class 1 or class 7 depending on the load. Everyone else involved, in shipping, warehousing, loading and administration, must be instructed under ADR chapter 1.3. That instruction has to be documented and repeated regularly.

Five years. To extend it, attend a refresher course and pass the examination during the final year of validity. The same five-year period applies to dangerous goods safety advisers. Book early, because places get scarce towards the end of the year.

Category F4 fireworks may only be fired by someone holding a competence certificate under section 20 of the German Explosives Act. On top of that comes timely notification of the responsible public order office and agreement on safety distances and cordons on site. I hold the certificate and handle the dealings with the authority.

My office is in Bruchköbel in the Main-Kinzig district. The focus is on Hanau, Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region. For safety adviser appointments and in-house training I travel to other regions too, so just ask.