Do You Need Dangerous Goods by Air Training?

IATA training is relevant to any organisation whose personnel carry out functions that can affect the safe and compliant transport of dangerous goods by air. This extends well beyond airlines and can include businesses at every stage of the air cargo supply chain.

Organisations whose personnel may require Dangerous Goods by Air training include:

• Freight forwarders and cargo agents
• Shippers,consignors and packers
• Airlines andaircraft operators
• Ground handling companies
• Cargo terminal operators
• Logisticsand distribution providers
• Chemical manufacturers
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Laboratories and research organisations
• Electronics and battery manufacturers
• Warehouse and cargo handling teams
• Load planners and operational personnel
• Operations managers and supervisors

Importantly, the training required is determined by the functions an individual performs, rather than simply their job title or the type of company they work for.

In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority confirms that employers of personnel performing functions intended to ensure dangerous goods are transported in accordance with the ICAO Technical Instructions must establish and maintain a competency-based dangerous goods training programme.

This approach is reflected in IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), together with IATA’s Dangerous Goods Training Guidance, which identifies several defined functions across the air transport supply chain.

For example, personnel responsible for preparing dangerous goods consignments, may include shippers, packers, manufacturers, exporters, freight forwarders and operator personnel acting as shippers.

Their competency requirements can include classification, packing, marking and labelling, application of quantity limitations and preparation of dangerous goods transport documentation.

By comparison, personnel responsible for handling and loading cargo have a different role. This can include warehouse personnel, ground handling staff and those loading or unloading unit load devices (ULDs) and aircraft cargo compartments.

Their training is focused more heavily on areas such as recognising hidden dangerous goods, identifying damaged or leaking packages, applying stowage and segregation requirements, loading and unloading procedures and responding appropriately to emergencies.

Other functions identified within the IATA framework include personnel processing general cargo, personnel accepting dangerous goods consignments, passenger handling staff, load planners, flight crew, flight operations personnel, cabin crew and security screening personnel.

Modern Dangerous Goods by Air training is based on competence, function and responsibility.

The employer must identify what dangerous goods functions an individual performs, determine the knowledge and skills required for those functions, provide appropriate training and assessment, and ensure that the individual is competent before carrying out those responsibilities. 

The UK CAA specifically states that training should include general awareness/familiarisation, function-specific training and safety training, and that responsibility for ensuring personnel are competent remains with the employer, even where an external training provider is used. 

In short, the question should not simply be: 

“Do I need IATA training?” 

It should be: 

“What dangerous goods functions do I perform, and what level of competency do I need to perform those functions safely and compliantly?” 

Transporting dangerous goods by air requires a high level of competence. While the principles of classification may originate from the same UN framework used across different modes of transport, the requirements for preparing a consignment for air transport can differ significantly from those applying by road or sea. 

1. Understand the Specific Requirements of Air Transport

Errors involving dangerous goods can become particularly costly when they are discovered late in the transport process. 

Incorrect classification, packaging, marking, labelling or documentation may result in a consignment being delayed, rejected or requiring corrective action before it can be accepted for carriage. 

Appropriate dangerous goods training provides personnel with the knowledge and practical competence required to identify these issues before the shipment reaches the airline or cargo handling facility. 

The IATA DGR specifically addresses the requirements for classifying, packing, marking, labelling and documenting dangerous goods shipments. It also contains State and operator variations which must be considered when preparing consignments for routes or carriers. 

This is an important distinction in air transport. Meeting the general ICAO requirements does not necessarily guarantee that an individual airline will accept the shipment, as operators may impose requirements that are more restrictive than the baseline provisions. 

3. Develop Competence, Not Simply Regulatory Awareness