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Dear Peter,
I believe as part of the new Regulations that came into effect
on 16th July 2005, all companies who produce over a certain
amount of hazardous waste per year must register with the
Environment Agency. Our company only produces a small
amount of hazardous waste, will we need to register?
Andy, Birmingham
 PETER
SAYS:
Yes, you are correct about the new Regulations. They
state that if you produce over 200 kg per year of hazardous
waste, you must register, by law. Keep a close eye on
the amount of hazardous waste you do produce, as 200 kg adds
up very quickly, particularly over a year. And don’t
forget, even if you don’t have to register, any hazardous
waste you do produce has to be disposed of as hazardous waste,
not just put in with your normal waste. |
Dear Peter,
I work for a company who, like most production
based companies, produce waste materials during the production
process. Most of the waste that we do produce is classified
as hazardous, but at present, we don’t have a Dangerous
Goods Safety Advisor. How much hazardous waste are
we allowed to move before we are legally required to have
a D.G.S.A.?
Richard, Surrey
PETER
SAYS: The answer to your question is the
quantity of hazardous goods you can move without requiring
a D.G.S.A. is entirely dependant on the Packing Group of the
materials you are moving. To be able to give you an exact
quantity, I would need to know exactly what you are moving. Call
my helpline on 01244 680 700. |
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Dear Peter,
In my company, I already
have a Health and Safety Officer, so would I need a D.G.S.A.
as well? Surely my
H&S Officer’s qualifications would cover the requirements
for a D.G.S.A.?
Dave, Aberystwyth
PETER
SAYS: Unfortunately Dave, if you fall over
the thresholds for hazardous materials that you do transport, you
will need a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. This is a trap many businesses fall into,
as the D.G.S.A. qualification is a qualification in its own right,
and is not covered under any H&S qualifications. The
D.G.S.A. is a completely separate qualification, which can only
be gained by undertaking training and passing an exam set and regulated
by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Click on the link
below to see my D.G.S.A. Certificate. |
Dear Peter,
At our company, we have several lorries and other vehicles,
and it seems silly to have to get an external company to
carry our waste for us, when we have the facilities ourselves. Can
I carry waste on my own vehicles to a disposal site?
Alan, Liverpool
PETER
SAYS: Waste can be carried between your own sites for reworking
on your own vehicles, but if you are taking it to a disposal
site, you must have a Waste Carriers Licence, it must be
carried on a licensed vehicle and the driver must be ADR
trained. Also, certain wastes have specific requirements
as to how they should be packed, segregated and even on the
type of vehicle they can be carried on, for example some
may need to be carried on a temperature controlled vehicle. Call
my helpline on 01244 680 700 or e-mail me for further information. |
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Dear Peter,
“I work for a small insurance company,
and we have just moved premises. The new landlord has told
me that there may be asbestos in some parts of the building,
and I will need to get an asbestos survey carried out, what
does this involve?”
Susanne, Glasgow
PETER
SAYS: The MDHS100 is the Health and Safety Executive
requiring all commercial premises to undertake a survey to
identify and register any asbestos containing materials in
commercial premises. It will also advise of what action
should be taken if asbestos is found, dependant upon the
type of asbestos, where it is, and the condition of the material
it is in. This is a legal requirement, and must be
undertaken by the landlord, tenant or property owner, dependant
upon your type of lease.” |
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Dear
Peter,
How do I find out if I need
a D.G.S.A.? I’ve tried looking through numerous
sets of Regulations etc, but they all refer to Packing Groups,
ADR Classes and other terms which I don’t know about. If
I do need a D.G.S.A., where would I get one, and would I
have to employ somebody in this role full time?
Phil, Carlisle
PETER
SAYS: The Regulations can be very daunting,
particularly if you don’t work within that area. The
easiest way to establish if you do need a D.G.S.A. would
be call my helpline (01244 680 700) and arrange a suitable
time for me to come to your site. That way I can
audit the site, and let you know if you need a Dangerous
Goods Safety Advisor, and the level of cover you need – it
is very rare that you would need a full-time D.G.S.A. The
most cost-effective way of obtaining a D.G.S.A. is instead
of employing or training a staff member (the qualification
needs to be retaken every 5 years) is to hire a qualified
D.G.S.A. to provide you with the level of cover you need – this
is normally only a few day visits per year. This
way saves you a fortune compared to having a dedicated
staff member. This is
a service we offer here at Spirechem, but I would advise
you to check any D.G.S.A. Service Provider you use has
valid Indemnity Insurance before you take up their services.
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Dear Peter,
I have recently started a new
job in the Transport Department for a newly formed
chemical company. Do you need a Dangerous Goods
Safety Advisor for transporting any dangerous materials,
or is it only for waste?
Karen, Leeds
PETER
SAYS: Congratulations on your new job,
I hope you are enjoying it. The answer to your question
is yes, you do need a D.G.S.A. for transporting any
and all dangerous materials that are over the threshold
limits, whether they are products or waste. Also, your
drivers will need to be ADR Trained to carry any materials
that are classified as hazardous for transport. |
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