Appointed DGSA
We become your named Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, ready to be identified to enforcement officers whenever they ask.
Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) in Essex
DGSA Consultancy in Essex & Nationwide
Appoint us as your Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser. Practical, hands-on compliance support for businesses across Essex and the UK, from site audits and annual reports to help after a roadside stop.
- Appointed DGSA for your business
- Audits & annual reports
- 24/7 support available
What Is a DGSA?
A Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA) is a qualified specialist who makes sure a business moves dangerous goods safely and legally.
By law, most businesses that send, carry, pack, fill, load or unload dangerous goods by road or rail must appoint one. The requirement is set out in section 1.8.3 of ADR (road) and RID (rail), applied in Great Britain by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations 2009 (CDG).
Your DGSA can be a member of staff or an external consultant. Appointing dgsa.net as your adviser means you don't need to train and qualify someone in-house, you're covered during holidays and absence, and you get an independent view of how your site really operates.
Do You Need a DGSA?
If your business is involved in moving dangerous goods by road or rail,
you probably need one, unless an exemption applies.
Who Must Appoint One
Businesses whose activities include any of the following:
- Consigning – sending dangerous goods, including office-based shippers
- Carrying – transporting them by road or rail
- Packing goods into packages
- Filling tanks, tank containers or bulk vehicles
- Loading goods onto vehicles
- Unloading goods from vehicles
When You May Be Exempt
You may not need a DGSA if your dangerous goods activity only involves:
- Small loads within the ADR 1.1.3.6 thresholds
- Limited or excepted quantities
- Occasional, low-risk national movements that aren't your main or secondary business activity
Exemptions are narrower than many businesses assume, and HSE's guidance is that they don't apply to international carriage. We'll check your position for free.
What's Included
Everything the law requires of your DGSA, plus the practical support that keeps you compliant day to day.
Site Audits
Compliance audits of your premises, paperwork and procedures, with a clear written report and action plan.
Annual DGSA Report
The yearly report ADR requires, prepared for your management. You must keep it for five years.
Accident Reports
If an accident affects people, property or the environment, we investigate and write the report ADR requires.
Advice When You Need It
Phone and email support throughout your appointment, from classification queries to a load that's just been stopped.
Staff Training
Awareness, consignor and ADR driver training, so everyone meets the ADR training requirements for their role.
Security Plans
Help writing and reviewing security plans where you handle high-consequence dangerous goods (ADR 1.10.3).
Regulation Updates
ADR is updated every two years. We tell you what changes and what it means for your business.
Enforcement Support
Help after a negative roadside stop, DVSA check or HSE visit, including putting corrective actions in place.
What a DGSA Can Help With
Based on the duties set out in ADR 1.8.3.3.
We check each one as part of our audits.
- Identifying the dangerous goods you send or carry
- Special requirements when buying vehicles and equipment
- Checking equipment used to carry, load or unload goods
- Staff training, and keeping training records
- Emergency procedures for accidents and incidents
- Investigating serious accidents, incidents and infringements
- Measures to stop accidents and infringements happening again
- Choosing and using subcontractors and third parties
- Written operating procedures and instructions for staff
- Raising awareness of the risks of dangerous goods
- Checks that the right documents and safety equipment are on board
- Checks on loading and unloading
- Having a security plan where one is required
How It Works
Free initial call
We talk through the goods you handle and how you move them, and confirm whether you need a DGSA.
Site visit & audit
We review your site, paperwork, training and procedures against ADR and CDG.
Action plan
You get a clear, prioritised list of what needs fixing, and we help you put it right.
Ongoing support
Advice throughout the year, regulation updates, and your annual DGSA report.
Every Mode of Transport
Dangerous goods rarely stay on the road. We advise across all transport modes.
- ADRRoad
- RIDRail
- IMDGSea
- IATAAir
- ADNInland waterways
Why Use an External DGSA?
- No cost of training, examining and re-qualifying your own adviser every five years
- Cover for holidays, sickness and staff turnover
- An independent view, not someone checking their own work
- Experience from many sites and industries
- Always up to date with the latest regulations
Already Have a DGSA?
We can support in-house advisers too:
- Short-term cover during absence or while recruiting
- An independent audit or second opinion
- Help with a difficult classification or shipment
- DGSA training so a member of staff can qualify
Had a negative roadside stop or DVSA check?
Call us. In many cases we can provide initial support, guidance and intervention within 24 hours.
Call 0203 137 3014DGSA Support Across Essex
Based in Essex, we act as DGSA for businesses throughout the county, with site visits at your premises. We also support clients nationwide, including the East Midlands and Lincolnshire.
- Chelmsford
- Colchester
- Basildon
- Southend-on-Sea
- Thurrock
- Harlow
- Brentwood
- Braintree
DGSA Guides
Free, practical answers to the questions businesses ask before appointing a DGSA.
Do I Need a DGSA?
Who must appoint one, consignors explained, and a quick exemption check.
Read the guide →How Much Does a DGSA Cost?
Our prices, what affects the cost, and what should be included.
Read the guide →What Happens at a DGSA Audit?
How to prepare, what we check on the day, and common findings.
Read the guide →DGSA FAQs
Under section 1.8.3 of ADR (road) and RID (rail), businesses that consign, carry, pack, fill, load or unload dangerous goods must appoint a DGSA, unless an exemption applies. Exemptions include small loads under ADR 1.1.3.6, limited and excepted quantities, and occasional, low-risk national activity that is not your main or secondary business. Call us and we'll check your position, or read our guide: Do I need a DGSA?
A DGSA advises your business on the carriage of dangerous goods, monitors your practices and procedures, investigates and reports on accidents, and prepares an annual report on your dangerous goods activities.
A yearly report to your management on your dangerous goods activities and compliance. It must be kept for five years and made available to the enforcement authorities on request.
No. Your DGSA can be an employee, the business owner, or an external consultant. Many businesses appoint an external DGSA to avoid the cost of training and keeping an in-house adviser.
You must be able to tell the competent authority who your DGSA is if they ask. Enforcement officers commonly ask for this during roadside checks and site inspections.
In many cases, we can provide initial support, guidance and intervention within 24 hours.
Both spellings are used, and they mean the same thing. The official title in the regulations is Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, but many people search for dangerous goods safety advisor. Either way, it's the qualified person who helps your business carry dangerous goods safely and legally.
A DGSA vocational training certificate is valid for five years. The adviser renews it by passing the exams again in the year before it expires.
Talk to a DGSA
Speak directly to a practising Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, not a sales adviser.
- Call us0203 137 3014
- WhatsAppMessage us on WhatsApp
- Emailinfo@dgsa.net
- Training locationsOn-site at your premises, at venues across Essex and the UK, or remotely
…or complete the enquiry form.