The industry of dangerous goods transportation is far broader than many people realise, encompassing everything from explosive and radioactive products to corrosives, flammable substances, toxic substances, and miscellaneous products. 

Transporting these goods is a business all of its own, propped up not only by specialist organisations that undergo rigorous training, but also by the display of proper ADR equipment in the transportation vehicle. Designed to bridge safety with compliance and transparency, ADR equipment includes signage and PPE kits to allow drivers to transport goods safely from point A to point B. 

But with so many different products and signs to choose from, how can drivers and their fleet managers know what is a legal requirement and what isn’t?

What is ADR equipment?

For those transporting dangerous goods, ADR equipment is a legal obligation. It covers the protection of the driver and all those involved in the process of transporting the goods, and also includes signs to communicate the hazard warning to other drivers clearly and concisely. 

With various ADR kit packages available, drivers and fleet managers can browse by vehicle, considering the weight of the vehicle that is being used for transportation and ensuring they have the appropriate kit to match their load. 

Typical ADR equipment includes:

• Signage. Ensuring your vehicle is displaying the correct ADR signs, also sometimes referred to as hazardous vehicle signs, is both a legal and a safety requirement, with high penalties for those found to have incorrect or inadequate signage. 
• PPE. It’s essential that drivers are carrying the right gear on board to deal with multiple situations which may occur during transportation.
• Spill kits. These are designed to handle all manner of dangerous and hazardous spillages, including chemical and oil-based incidents.

Checklist of ADR must-haves

The exact kit required will depend on the size and weight of your vehicle, as well as the dangerous goods that you are transporting. At Novadata, we stock and sell ADR kits for smaller LGVs and HGVs, as well as those vehicles that are built to transport explosive substances and chemicals, infectious substances and corrosive products. 

These kits contain the ADR equipment that might be required to handle any spillages and incidents, and to keep drivers and handling teams safe. Signage for the vehicle is not included and must be purchased separately, although some larger kit bags do contain hazard warning triangles. All kit comes in a set of ADR equipment bags, and while some of the larger kits also include the Instructions in Writing, this documentation is not included in every kit. 

With that in mind, then, what makes up our checklist of ADR must-haves, and what do you need to consider when preparing to transport dangerous goods? 

• Adequate signage/hazard signs for your vehicle (purchased separately) 
• Spill equipment to handle unforeseen spillages 
• PPE for the driver and all those handling the dangerous goods 
• First aid kits, fire extinguishers, and other emergency items 
• The correct documentation stored in waterproof document pockets, to ensure full compliance with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 

One more thing that’s not included in the above checklist, but which forms an integral part of ADR transportation management, is training. And it’s this that ensures all of the above not only makes sense to drivers but is used and handled correctly.

What training is available to ADR drivers?

Any driver who is set to transport dangerous goods needs to undergo the relevant training. This isn’t just a matter of compliance but also safety, so they are able to handle unforeseen and unexpected circumstances and know how to protect themselves and those around them. 

As well as the provision of ADR kits, we also offer comprehensive training onsite and at your own premises, covering all the major ADR transportation sectors and classes. Training varies between 5-day courses, 3.5-day courses, and single-day courses, based on the topics being covered and the vocational training requirements of the driver. 

From a legal and regulatory standpoint, most drivers who transport dangerous goods must hold a Vocational Training Certificate issued by Qualifications Scotland. This is required by UK regulations implementing the relevant EU directive. Novadata's ADR training courses in Essex and beyond are approved by the Department for Transport and provide drivers with the knowledge they need to be aware of the hazards inherent in carrying dangerous goods and how to protect themselves and those around them.

Find out more about training, ADR kit packages, and our other courses by getting in touch with the Novadata team directly.