Course for a RID DGSA advisor
What is RID?
RID – Regulations for the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail, constituting Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF).
What is RID training?
It is a training dedicated to candidates for advisors in the field of rail transport of dangerous goods.
There are no legal contraindications for participation in this training, also for advisors who want to “refresh their knowledge” before the exam extending their entitlements.
What is the purpose of the training?
The main aim of the training should be to provide candidates with sufficient knowledge of the risks associated with the transport, packing, filling, loading or unloading of dangerous goods, applicable laws, regulations and other administrative provisions, and the duties of the adviser.
The subject of the training is to minimize the risk of adverse events involving hazardous materials during rail travel.
How long is the training?
In accordance with the Regulation of the MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, CONSTRUCTION AND MARITIME MANAGEMENT of May 29, 2012 on conducting courses in the field of the transport of dangerous goods
training in the field of rail transport lasts 44 teaching hours (45 minutes). The detailed scope of the course and the number of hours for individual issues are described in the above regulation.
GOOD TO KNOW!
In the case of candidates for advisors in the field of rail transport, who already have qualifications in the field of road transport of hazardous materials, the basic 24-hour course is omitted. This means that the course then lasts 20 teaching hours (teaching hour= 45 minutes).
Who can become an advisor in the field of rail transport of dangerous goods?
In accordance with the Act of August 19, 2011 on the transport of dangerous goods, four conditions must be met:
⦁ hold higher university degree,
⦁ not be convicted of an intentional crime against the credibility of documents, economic turnover and public safety,
⦁ complete the advisor’s course,
⦁ pass the exam with a positive result in front of the examination board operating at the Director of TDT.
Where and in what form can the training take place?
Trainings may only take place in a stationary form in centers that have obtained a permit issued by the Marshal’s Office. The list of entities conducting courses on the transport of hazardous materials can be found on the website of the Transport Technical Inspection.
The number of hours of the course depends on obtaining previous qualifications. If the candidate already has the qualifications of an advisor in the field of road transport of hazardous materials, training in the field of railway is shortened to 20 teaching hours.
Should I pass an exam after the training?
Yes. In order to be able to perform the tasks of an advisor in the field of rail transport of dangerous goods, it is necessary to successfully complete the state examination carried out by Transport Technical Inspection in one of the departments in Poland (no later than one year after the completion of the course). You can also take the exam at the appropriate institution operating in the RID member states.
What time after the training should I take the exam?
The training completion certificate, issued at the end of the course, is valid for 12 months. This means that the candidate should pass the exam during this time. If this condition is not met, he must attend the course again.
What permissions will it get?
The advisor’s certificate is an international document that gives the opportunity to act as an advisor in one of the countries that have ratified the RID. The validity of the authorization is 5 years. This means that the counselor must periodically pass an exam confirming his knowledge.
IMPORTANT!
The next exam may be taken within 12 months preceding the expiry date of the advisor’s certificate. The date of the new certificate is counted from the date of expiry of the previous document.
GOOD TO KNOW!
In case that a candidate for an advisor in the field of rail transport of dangerous goods already has the qualifications of an ADR advisor and the exam consists only of a specialist part and an open task, the validity period of the RID certificate is valid as long as the ADR advisor’s qualifications.
What parts does the exam consist of?
The exam consists of 3 parts:
- basic part – multiple-choice test (20 questions, duration 60 minutes)
- specialist part – multiple-choice test (30 questions, duration 80 minutes)
- descriptive part – practical task (1 open task, 60 minutes).
In order to obtain a positive result, it is necessary to obtain at least 80% of the basic and specialized part and correctly solve the entire open task.
When should a company hire a RID advisor?
In accordance with the Act on the transport of dangerous goods, each participant in the transport of dangerous goods performing rail transport without the use of exemptions is obliged to appoint at his own expense at least one advisor for the safety of the transport of dangerous goods, competent with regard to the scope of the transport or activities related to it.
Is there a limited number of companies that an advisor can work for?
Neither the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods nor RID regulate the number of companies that can be advised by one advisor. It is only important that in each of these companies a person is able to fulfill all the duties of an advisor.
An advisor may also be the head of the enterprise, a person performing other duties in the enterprise or a person not employed directly by the enterprise, provided that this person is able to perform the duties of an adviser.
Adviser duties
According to the RID, the advisor has the following responsibilities regarding the company’s activities:
⦁ supervision over compliance with the regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods;
⦁ advising a company on activities related to the transport of dangerous goods;
⦁ preparing an annual report for the company’s management or local authorities, as appropriate, on the company’s activities in the transport of dangerous goods. Such a report should be kept for 5 years and made available to the authorities of individual countries on their request.
The advisor’s duties also include monitoring the following practices and procedures related to the activities of the company in question:
⦁ procedures for complying with the provisions relating to the identification of dangerous goods transported;
⦁ the company’s practice of taking into account special requirements related to the goods transported when purchasing means of transport;
⦁ procedures for checking equipment used in the carriage, packing, filling, loading and unloading of dangerous goods;
⦁ proper training of the company’s employees, including amendments to the regulations, and handling of training documentation;
⦁ implement correct rescue procedures in the field of accidents and events that may threaten safety during the transport, packing, filling, loading or unloading of dangerous goods;
⦁ investigating and, if required, reporting serious accidents, breakdowns or serious violations of regulations during the transport, packing, filling, loading or unloading of dangerous goods;
⦁ take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of accidents, breakdowns or serious non-compliance;
⦁ taking into account legal provisions and special requirements relating to the transport of dangerous goods when selecting subcontractors and other third parties;
⦁ checking that employees involved in shipping, transporting, packing, filling, loading or unloading dangerous goods have detailed operating procedures and instructions;
⦁ apply measures to raise awareness of the risks associated with the transport, packing, filling, loading and unloading of dangerous goods;
⦁ introducing control procedures to check that the means of transport is provided with the required documents and emergency equipment and that such documents and equipment comply with the regulations;
⦁ implement control procedures to verify compliance with the requirements for packing, filling, loading and unloading;
⦁ introducing security plans.