Dangerous Goods in Universities: Health, Safety and Awareness at USHA’s 54th Annual Conference

by on in Events

When we think about Dangerous Goods, universities might not be the first environment that comes to mind.

But step inside a university laboratory, research facility or science department and the picture quickly changes. Chemicals and other hazardous materials can form an everyday part of teaching and research, which means the responsibilities surrounding health and safety, Dangerous Goods compliance and chemical safety are just as important within higher education as they are elsewhere.

That made the USHA 54th Annual Conference a particularly interesting event for the Hibiscus team.

Andrew Bedford, Samuel Pass and Josh Leech attended on behalf of Hibiscus, joining health and safety professionals from across the higher education sector for several days of learning, discussion and networking at Aston University in Birmingham. The conference itself brings together professionals responsible for keeping university staff, students and visitors safe, with interactive sessions, CPD and opportunities to share knowledge across the sector.

For us, it was also a chance to look more closely at something we deal with every day: how Dangerous Goods are recognised, managed and understood within organisations where handling chemicals may only be one part of a much bigger operation.

USHA Sam & Josh USHA

Dangerous Goods in a University?

It is easy to associate Dangerous Goods with chemical manufacturers, logistics companies and transport operations.

Universities, however, can work with a huge variety of chemicals and hazardous materials through scientific research, laboratory work and teaching. The people interacting with those materials may also have very different roles and levels of experience.

That is where Dangerous Goods Awareness becomes particularly important.

Health and safety within a university is about much more than having the right procedures stored somewhere. People need to understand the hazards associated with the materials they work with, how those materials should be handled and what their responsibilities are when they are prepared for transport.

It also raises an important question for universities handling Dangerous Goods:

Who is providing the specialist Dangerous Goods advice when it is needed?

Where Health & Safety Meets Dangerous Goods Compliance 

USHA exists to promote safety and health within higher education, supporting the wellbeing of university staff, students and visitors. Its work includes professional guidance, training, events and opportunities for safety practitioners to share knowledge and good practice.

For Andrew, Sam and Josh, the conference provided a useful insight into the scale and variety of health and safety responsibilities within universities.

From a Dangerous Goods perspective, chemicals introduce another layer to that responsibility.

When dangerous substances need to be transported, there are specific requirements surrounding areas such as classification, packaging, marking, labelling and documentation. Knowing that a chemical presents a hazard is therefore only part of the picture. Those responsible also need to understand when Dangerous Goods regulations apply and what needs to happen next.

This is where having the right knowledge within the organisation makes a significant difference.

Building Dangerous Goods Awareness

One of our biggest takeaways from the event was the importance of awareness.

Not everybody who encounters Dangerous Goods needs to be a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, but the people involved need enough knowledge to recognise when something requires additional attention.

Good Dangerous Goods Awareness training can help employees understand the different hazard classes, recognise Dangerous Goods labels and markings and understand why correct classification, packaging and documentation matter.

For universities, this knowledge can be particularly valuable because responsibility may be spread across different departments, laboratories and teams.

It is much easier to ask the right question when you know there is a question that needs asking in the first place.

Does Your University Have a DGSA?

For organisations involved in the carriage of Dangerous Goods, understanding whether the business needs to appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) is another important part of compliance.

A DGSA provides specialist advice on the requirements surrounding the transport of Dangerous Goods and can help organisations understand how those requirements apply to their own activities.

For a university, that could mean looking at how Dangerous Goods move from a laboratory or research department into the transport chain, reviewing current procedures and identifying areas where knowledge or processes need strengthening.

For organisations that require additional support, Hibiscus provides external DGSA services, including practical guidance, audits, site visits and ongoing Dangerous Goods compliance support.

The important thing is knowing where responsibility sits and making sure the people involved have access to the right expertise.

Training the People Behind the Process

The same principle applies to Dangerous Goods training.

Procedures are important, but ultimately it is people who classify materials, package them, apply labels, prepare documentation and make decisions about how goods are transported.

Training gives those people the understanding behind the process.

For those looking to develop specialist expertise further, Hibiscus also provides DGSA training and DGSA tutoring, supporting candidates working towards their DGSA qualification as well as those preparing for revalidation.

Developing that knowledge helps create stronger compliance throughout an organisation.

A Valuable Few Days with the Higher Education Safety Community

For Andrew, Sam and Josh, the USHA Annual Conference offered something slightly different from our usual Dangerous Goods events.

It gave the team an opportunity to speak with people whose roles cover a much broader range of university health and safety responsibilities and to better understand how Dangerous Goods and chemical safety fit within that environment.

USHA places a strong emphasis on networking, information sharing and exchanging good practice between health and safety professionals, and that opportunity to simply talk to people was one of the most useful parts of attending.

There were plenty of interesting conversations, plenty to take away and, most importantly, a greater understanding of the challenges universities face when managing health and safety across complex institutions.

Does Your University Handle Dangerous Goods?

If chemicals or other Dangerous Goods form part of your university’s teaching, research or day-to-day operations, Hibiscus can help you understand your responsibilities.

From Dangerous Goods Awareness training and professional Dangerous Goods training to DGSA services, DGSA training and DGSA tutoring, our team can provide support based around the activities taking place within your organisation.

Find out more about Hibiscus DGSA services and training.

Alternatively, contact our Training Manager for more information on our training courses: training@hibiscus-plc.com

Written by:-

  • samuel pass dgsa trainer hibiscus plc

    Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor with 15+ years’ experience across road, sea, and air transport. Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor with additional expertise in Radiation Protection Supervision and live animal transport compliance.

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