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WHAT IS ADR COMPLIANCE?

ADR Compliance revolves around the transporting dangerous and hazardous goods within the UK and internationally by road. The treaty, most recently amended in 2019, sets out the requirements you need to follow to transport dangerous materials. The full ADR Compliance document details what materials you can transport. It also details what packaging and labelling requirement your cargo will need.

WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT ADR COMPLIANCE?

Any business that transports dangerous materials in vehicles must be conscious of ADR compliance. Drivers transporting those materials must also be trained in ADR. Business owners that deal in hazardous materials have a Duty of Care to store and transport these materials safely.

Breaching these requirements can lead to prohibitions and criminal prosecution. The impact of these punishments for you and your business can be devastating, but there's also a risk to life. ADR compliance makes sure you minimise the chance of risk and injury, should there be an incident with your cargo. This is why ADR Compliance is so important.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE AWARE OF TO REMAIN ADR COMPLIANT?

This guide is not a replacement for consulting the ADR document yourself. However, you can start considering your ADR compliance by asking the following questions:

1. ARE YOUR STAFF PROPERLY TRAINED?

ADR requires your operators to be properly trained in handling and transporting dangerous goods. Operators in this instance does not mean the drivers, but any employee that works in the environment of hazardous material. Think about it - an incident can happen in the warehouse as easily as it can do on the road.

2. ARE YOUR DRIVERS CARRYING THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS?

Drivers that carry ADR loads should have the right documents with them. Inspections can and do happen by enforcement authorities, so it's vital your drivers have everything they need. Make sure your documents have important information such as the UN number, the shipping name and hazard class. Your driver should also have a process to follow in case of accident in the form of written instructions.

3. ARE YOUR DRIVERS CARRYING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT?

To be ADR compliant, there is equipment your driver needs on board their vehicles. This ranges from fire extinguishers and high-visibility clothing to chemical spill control equipment. Any equipment that is missing, damaged, our out of date can see your driver receive a notice or written warning. Poorly-kept or out-of-date equipment might cause more risk if there an incident. Keep your driver safe, and your business out of trouble, with regular equipment checks.

4. WHO IS YOUR DANGEROUS GOODS SAFETY ADVISOR?

Every organisation that operates under ADR needs an appointed Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. The DGSA's responsibilities are to monitor and oversee compliance with the law and that your staff are fully trained. They check the suitability of both your subcontractors and your loading and unloading procedures. The best DGSA is an active one - they should be taking active ownership of your business's compliance.

5. ARE YOUR ADR MARKINGS CORRECT?

Ensuring your vehicles have the right ADR compliant signage on them is vital. These markings must be clear, unobstructed and of an appropriate standard.

While we can't advise on which markings you need for your vehicles, we pride ourselves in stocking a vast range of ADR complaint equipment at a reasonable price. All of our products comply with the British Standard BS5609 and meet the compliance of numerous safety registrations. You can be certain that, when you buy with us, your ADR compliance for equipment and labelling is as adherent as possible.

If you want to know more, get in touch today through our contact form, by email or call us on 0330 1330 534 . We will be in touch as soon as possible to help you out.