Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA)
Specialist Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor support to help organisations understand and fulfil their legal responsibilities for the safe consignment, carriage, loading, unloading and handling of dangerous goods. We assess activities and applicable requirements, review procedures and documentation, advise on training and operational controls, investigate incidents where required, and provide ongoing monitoring and annual reporting to help clients manage risk and maintain proportionate compliance.
What Is a
DGSA?
A Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor helps organisations manage the risks and legal duties associated with the carriage of dangerous goods. Under UK carriage regulations, an organisation that regularly consigns, transports, packs, fills, loads or unloads dangerous goods by road or rail will generally be required to appoint a suitably certified DGSA. Exemptions may apply depending on the nature and frequency of the activity, the quantities carried and whether the operation meets specific ADR or domestic exemption conditions. We can review your activities, determine whether an appointment is required, document the basis for any exemption and, where necessary, provide the competent DGSA support needed to monitor compliance, advise staff, investigate incidents and prepare the required annual report.
Practical Dangerous Goods Compliance
Dangerous goods requirements can affect transport arrangements, documentation, staff training, loading and unloading activities, packaging, emergency procedures and record keeping. We help organisations understand which requirements apply to their operations, identify any gaps in current arrangements and put practical controls in place to support ongoing compliance.
Where a DGSA appointment is required, we can provide ongoing advice, review procedures, support incident investigation and help ensure the organisation continues to meet its responsibilities under the relevant carriage regulations.
When You Might Need This
DGSA support may be relevant if your organisation consigns, transports, loads, unloads or otherwise handles dangerous goods and you are unsure what legal requirements or exemptions apply.
What Happens
Next
Tell us what dangerous goods activities your organisation carries out. We’ll review the situation, explain what requirements may apply and confirm whether ongoing DGSA support is needed.
Why Choose Us?
01 Chartered Expertise
Led by Graham Cowan, Chartered Fellow of IOSH (CFIOSH), Chartered Fellow of IIRSM (FIIRSM) and Technical Member of TIFSM.
02 Practical Guidance
We explain legislation in plain English, giving you simple, actionable steps toward compliance that you and your team can follow.
03 Multi-Sector Experience
Experience across Care, Education, Property Management, Construction, Manufacturing, Industry and Agriculture.
04 Independent, Unbiased
Support is shaped around your service, your risks and your responsibilities, with a focus on what’s practical and achievable for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no specific legal requirement to carry out audits, but employers are legally required to manage health and safety effectively. Audits and inspections are a recognised way of demonstrating compliance and due diligence.
Inspections focus on physical conditions and day-to-day practices. Audits take a broader view and assess systems, arrangements and management processes. The approach used depends on your needs.
This depends on your organisation’s activities, size and level of risk. Some organisations benefit from annual audits, while others require more frequent inspections.
No. Audits and inspections are planned to minimise disruption and carried out in a professional, collaborative manner.
Yes. Many organisations use audits as a starting point for structured improvement and ongoing consultancy support.
