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Dangerous Goods Regulations amendments

Be prepared for the changes – by Elliot Molemi, Professional Aviation Services

There are new and overdue proposals to amend Part 92 Regulation of the Civil Aviation Regulations (Dangerous Goods regulations). In summary the proposals seek to give effect to ICAO’s requirement of competency-based training (CBTA) of which all member states must comply with by December 2022, we will discuss this in our next article in due time.

The other proposals which are the purpose of this article, is to strengthen the existing regulations on the conveyance of dangerous good by air. Some of the most significant amendment proposals are discussed below.

Applicability

The new regulations will see the introduction of measures now applying to other industry players other than operators and shippers. The affected industry players will now be:

      • operators (including foreign operators),
      • courier companies,
      • freight forwarders,
      • consolidators,
      • shippers,
      • mail companies,
      • packers of dangerous goods,
      • ground handlers of both passenger and cargo,
      • Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS),
      • ATOs, airports or aerodromes
      • and companies involved in testing packages to be used for transportation of dangerous goods by air.

Approval/Authorisation

All operators, packing companies and companies involved in testing of packages will now have to be approved by the SACAA to operate their business. The approval is subject to an application which must include the Dangerous Goods procedures manual (as directed by the Technical Instructions) and the Dangerous Goods training programme. It is not yet clear if a list of entities approved will be published, but logic dictates that this will be the case as it is practice with the publication of ATOs, ASTOs, Screener Organisations and Regulated Agents.

Responsible Person

All entities are now required to appoint a Dangerous Goods Responsible Person who will ensure compliance with the regulations, conduct risk assessments, quality control, reporting of accidents and incidents to the SACAA and maintaining the records. The appointed person must have a minimum of DG Cat 6, Risk Management and/or Safety Management qualification and must understand the regulatory and operational requirements.

Operational Requirements

In addition to the appointment of the responsible person, all entities including freight forwarders and courier companies must comply with the following:

      • Draft a Dangerous Goods operations manual and training programme to be approved by the SACAA.
      • Report accidents and incidents to the SACAA.
      • Conduct quality control.
      • Create security plans for High Consequence Dangerous Goods.

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)

Another notable amendment is the regulation that allows the usage of the current version of the IATA DGR as an operational document in place of the ICAO Technical Instructions (TI), this has long been an industry practice but was not in the regulations.

Instructor Certification

All Dangerous Goods instructors will now be certified by the CAA, the certification will be valid for 24 months. The requirements are like those of Part 109. A competent instructor will be certified if they meet the following requirements:

      • Train the trainer qualification
      • Assessor qualification
      • Dangerous Cat 6 certificate
      • A CV indicating experience in Dangerous Goods operations/training
      • Proof of affiliation with an approved ATO

The candidate instructors will undergo a theoretical and practical exam before being approved.

The date of promulgation of the new regulation is not known, I advise the industry to start implementing these new requirements as early as they can.

CBTA (Competency Based Training and Assessment) and changes to the DG regulations

 

Competency Based Training and Assessment is with us for all Dangerous Goods by Air training effective 1st January 2023 with the introduction of the 64th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. 

This presentation from the SACAA provides details: 

Dangerous Goods Training and CBTA 

This change in approach is excellent news for industry as it allows us to train our people in what they need to know about Dangerous Goods to do their job properly and keep us all safe in the air. It also avoids training people on things that they will never ever use. 

A lot of preparation and education, preparing new training programs for submission to the SACAA for approval and getting us all used to a new way of working, the good news is that the highly experienced team from Professional is here to assist, every step of the way! 

We recommend strongly that you commence with CBTA compliance by latest October 2022.

Contact Nicole Alexander at 076 723 4862 or on  nicole@professional.aero for more information.

 

In other news …

Dangerous Goods CAT 6 and Infectious Substance training

Professional is the preferred provider of Dangerous Goods CAT 6 and Infectious Substances training to a number of air carriers, ground handlers, freight forwarders and other role players in the air cargo industry.  

As an IATA Accredited Training School our IATA recognised qualifications are accepted worldwide. 

Our new home in Centurion

Professional had operated for many years from our Head Office at Lanseria International Airport and from offices in Wingfield Park in Boksburg. 

 

We have now consolidated and combined these operations at a new Head Office complex in Centurion to be able to better serve our clients. 

Visit our new Training Centre

We have created a new Training Centre in the Isando Business Park. This training centre will continue to serve our many clients on the East Rand. This centre opened on the 1st October 2021, please feel free to stop by for a visit should you be in the area. 

Professional at the SAAFF Congress 

Professional was represented at the recent SAAFF Virtual Congress, it was a great pleasure to meet old friends and make new ones at this excellent event. SAAFF did a sterling job in presenting a very high-quality virtual event, definitely the way of the future. 

Customized training delivery

 

COVID has changed the way we do business and interact with our business partners and clients. Professional has adapted our training delivery options to provide complete flexibility to our clients in order for them to remain compliant and keep their operations safe and secure. 

We have the following options available: 

eLearning

Learners’ complete courses in their own time and at their own pace on our easy to use eLearning platform. This is particularly useful for people that need qualifications but who do not have the time to attend classroom training and who have access to a computer and an internet connection. 

 

Virtual Training

The ultimate hybrid learning experience with courses being presented via our custom Teams Virtual Classroom, this provides the very best mix of remote learning with interaction with an experienced Instructor and with other attendees. Ideal for people who want a classroom experience without possible exposure to COVID. 

 On demand client specific courses can be provided tailored to your specific needs. 

Classroom training 

Traditional, in person classroom training is available for all our courses. These can be offered at your premises (subject to SACAA approval) or at our Training Centre in Hulley Road Isando. This is the ideal option for warehouse personnel, drivers, security people as it allows for direct face-to-face interaction with our very experienced Instructors. 

e-Learning from Professional

We have enhanced and increased our eLearning offerings and we currently have the following courses available on our custom-built eLearning platform:

SACAA Approved Courses

      • Dangerous Goods (CAT 4,5,7,8,10)
      • General Aviation Security Awareness (ASAT) – suitable for Part 114 training requirements
      • Aviation Security Awareness (Cargo Mail Stores Supplies) (ASAT Cargo)
      • RPAS Aviation Security Awareness
      • Level 3 Aviation Security Manager – (Airports and Airlines) – suitable for Part 114 training requirements
      • Level 3 Aviation Security Manager – (Cargo)

General Courses

      • COVID-19 Awareness
      • Access Control
      • Digital Security Awareness
      • Lithium Batteries – The Safe Transport of Lithium Batteries by Air
      • Live Animal Regulations (AVI) Training

These courses can be completed in your own time and at your own pace on our easy to use eLearning platform.

Please visit Professional eLearning to make your booking.

SAEPA Newsletter October 2021

Insightful article by our CEO David Alexander

Changes are coming to DG Regulations ! Are you ready for these?

“October 2021- South Africa’s transport month – and
there is much to celebrate.
Investment of billions of rands is pouring into our
industry, improving service delivery and creating jobs.
Members are rising to the challenge of matching the
best in the world. Express logistics is experiencing
rapid expansion and wider reach to accommodate
mushrooming volumes of urgent, important deliveries.” Garry Marshall

SAEPA News Delivery_October2021

Undeclared, misdeclared or hidden Dangerous Goods are a catastrophe waiting to happen.

They put lives, equipment, and property at unnecessary risk. There has recently been a spate of incidents caused by undeclared, misdeclared or hidden Dangerous Goods which have caused a great deal of concern. These are clear and present risks.

Undeclared, misdeclared or hidden Dangerous Goods are difficult to detect once in the system.

Fortunately, in South Africa, we have a strong Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) determined to work with the industry to combat this scourge. The SACAA is uncompromising about compliance and firm about recording any breaches, yet at the same time it offers encouragement and provides guidance to industry. It works on a partnership basis, not master and servant and has a highly positive impact on the security of our business.

Misdeclarations may occur accidentally because of ignorance or confusion regarding the regulations. This clearly indicates the need for education and training, more intensively or more frequently.

Less commonly, there may be an irresponsible attempt to circumvent Dangerous Goods regulations, procedures, and costs.  Such unethical activity puts lives and property at risk and has no place in a responsible operation or in the air cargo industry.

Every one of our people must be alert, aware of the rules and authorised to call out any behaviour inconsistent with security and safety standards.

What about hidden Dangerous Goods? Paints, aerosols containing various products, glues, and adhesives, bleaching powders, cleaners – many common household items contain Dangerous Goods. The public may be unaware of this when handing them over for transport and it is the responsibility of our people to recognise and neutralise such unintended exposure at every stage of the express supply chain.

For the last several years the SACAA, and industry have been laying great stress on the need to put watertight measures in place to deal with hidden, misdeclared and undeclared Dangerous Goods. All of us must take seriously this danger presented by Dangerous Goods by remaining alert to the risks and up to date in our knowledge and procedures for mitigating them.

A version of this article was previously published in the South African Express Parcels Association newsletter.

Challenges with Lithium Ion Batteries

The recent incident of fire at HKIA initiated many discussions among air cargo industry safety professionals. Developing a work culture where individuals feel free to report incidents without the fear of punishments, avoiding blame and taking responsibility was at its core.

The following article provides insights from industry on this critical subject

Continue reading “Challenges with Lithium Ion Batteries”

Aviation cyber incidents: Experiences from the front line

Until you’ve experienced a cyber attack, you have little concept of how devastating it can be.

So make a diary note for 25 March at 16H00. The event is timed to avoid interference with the work day and attendance is free. The goal is to help you understand your organisation’s risk profile, your exposure and how to manage an incident.

The session will be run by Jayan Perera, Director Cyber Response EMEA and Will Brown, Director and Cyber lead for MENA of Control Risks

It will last approximately 45 minutes with an opportunity for Q&A at the end and will broken into 4 areas

1. What we are seeing!

Control Risks will share an overview and insights in the current trends in cyber attacks

2. How it feels to fall victim to an attack

What does an organisation go through when its security has been breached or it falls victim to malware, including the first indications of a breach and an introduction to first actions.

3. How to respond

First actions – do’s and don’ts. This will include how professional services providers will respond and how they can help. How to ensure your technical response and overarching crisis management capability are aligned

4. Assessing your organisation’s current exposure

Introduction to the Control Risks Threat and Vulnerability assessment, how it works and how it can help your organisation.

Book today

SAEPA February 2021 Newsletter

Get your copy of the #SAEPA Newsletter – February 2021. Covering topics such as #SkilllsDevelopment #EmpoweringWomenInLogistics and #WSP #ATR submissions.

For many organizations March marks a new financial year, which usually brings about new strategies, objectives and of course budgets. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year, which has brought about change like never before, adapting to it, has also never before been more important.

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future.

John F. Kennedy

What cannot be denied is the significance of changes that has been imposed on us all. In this February 2021 issue of the SAEPA, we address change in a unique manner, firstly; by empathizing with everyone who has lost loved ones over the past year as we mourn the loss of 2 great contributors to the evolution express logistics, we also cherish and celebrate their legacy in the opportunities they have created for others.

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.

Charles Darwin

A tried and tested method of change certainly is to develop ourselves, both personally and professionally. NQF Aligned training does a great job at this. These programmes generally incorporate a variety of topics that contribute towards many aspects of our lives. One of the greater benefits being the work integrated learning components required by these programmes.

Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.

Simone de Beauvoir

Another shocking and prevalent change has been the sheer amount of cyber security attacks experienced during 2020, while for many the work from home might have been convenient, for the more devious characters it provided opportunities for learning new cyber attacks and improving their delivery methods. One example being the Postbank data breach of June 2020, which resulted in them having to replace over 12 million bank cards, most of whom are beneficiaries of social grants. Download the newsletter for more information on the next cyber security webinar and the insights of our veteran digital expert on the devastation of experiencing such an attack.

25th
MARCH2021
CYBER ATTACKS – Experiences from the frontlineThe event is timed to avoid interference with the work day and attendance is free. The goal is to help you understand your organization’s risk profile, your exposure and how to manage an incident.
16H00

In our last segments we focus on empowering women in the logistics industry and the all important annual WSP/ ATR skills development. Download your copy of the SAEPA Newsletter for 2021 to for more information on women empowerment events and informative statistics for industry scarce and critical skills as well as training needs.

SAEPA-News-Delivery_Feb2021Download