SHIPPING PERSONNEL from across the region and members from the private sector of Jamaica just completed an intensive three-day workshop on the handling of dangerous goods and hazardous material.
The workshop was conducted by the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) to bring participants up to date with latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations.
The workshop took place at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston from July 28 to 30, and was conducted by veteran trainer Harold Reid, who took the participants step by step through the International Maritime Dangerous (IMDG) Code of the IMO. He said dangerous goods were grouped into nine classes and persons should recognise the difference in understanding the various classifications.
The seminar involved about 35 participants drawn from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, British Virgin Islands and Jamaica. Vice President of the CSA, Corah Ann Robertson Sylvester said the training programme was to help meet the training needs of personnel across the region to keep our members abreast of current international standards.
RECURRENT TRAINING
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that Hazmat employees receive recurrent training at least once every three years.
This means that employees who handle and prepare hazardous materials for transportation by sea, employees of Water Carriers, and associated industries such as ports, terminals, shipping agents, freight forwarders and NVOCCs may need recurrent training whenever significant amendments in the IMDG Code affect the performance of a hazardous material function.
The IMDG Code is subject to revision through amendments which are published by the International Maritime Organisation every two years - and you may require training this year.
