If you are involved in the carriage of dangerous goods by air, you need training to understand the risks involved and how to comply with the rules. If you are:
- involved in the carriage of dangerous goods by air
- someone who supervises those who handle or process dangerous goods for carriage by air.
you need training to understand the risks involved and how to comply with the rules.
You must do an approved dangerous goods course if you:
- accept general cargo
- accept dangerous goods cargo
- are a member of a cabin or flight crew
- are a load planner or load controller
- are a shipper or packer of dangerous goods
- are an employee of an operator, ground handling agent or freight forwarder whose duties may involve handling dangerous goods or
- are a person who supervises the acceptance, handling, shipping or packing of dangerous goods.
You can find an approved course on our website. Courses can be face-to-face, online or by written correspondence, depending on the provider.
Types of training
There are various types of training depending on your role. The following is a list of each type of training.
Full dangerous goods acceptance (Group A)
If you accept dangerous goods cargo, you generally need to do an approved full dangerous goods acceptance course.
You need to complete an initial course followed by a refresher course after every 2 years.
If you supervise someone whose duties include acceptance of dangerous goods cargo, then you must also complete this training.
Non-dangerous goods acceptance (Group B)
If you only accept cargo that isn’t classified as dangerous goods (i.e. general cargo), you need to do an approved non-dangerous goods acceptance course.
If you supervise someone whose duties include acceptance of general cargo that does not contain dangerous goods, then you must also complete this training.
You need to complete an initial course followed by a refresher course after every 2 years.
Training for flight crew (Group C)
If you’re a member of a flight crew, you must do an approved dangerous goods course.
Some training course providers offer a combination Group C flight crew course with a Group B non-dangerous goods acceptance course. These are especially relevant where pilots may also accept freight, screen passengers and load the aircraft as part of their duties, such as employees of:
- charter operators
- small commercial flight operators.
Training for load planners (Group C)
You must complete an approved dangerous goods course if you:
- are a load planner, or load controller
- have duties which involve specifying where dangerous goods can be stowed on the aircraft
- specifying the segregation requirements of dangerous goods
- preparing information for the pilot-in-command
- providing emergency response information to the pilot-in-command.
Training for cabin crew (Group D)
If you’re a member of a cabin crew, you must do an approved dangerous goods course.You need to complete an initial course followed by a refresher course after every 2 years.
Training for other aviation industry staff (Group E)
Aviation industry staff who handle baggage and freight need training in dangerous goods:
- before they start their duties
- every 2 years.
These include:
- check-in staff
- ramp staff
- freight shed staff handling goods after they have been formally accepted
- couriers transporting dangerous goods to freight sheds for formal acceptance
- passenger and baggage screeners.
In some cases, the courses don't need to be approved by us, depending on the employee functions undertaken. Courses not requiring approval must:
- be relevant to an employee’s duties
- cover a set syllabus
- use an instructor who has undertaken an approved training course for accepting dangerous goods or non-dangerous goods cargo
Training for shipping staff (Group F)
A shipper includes someone who:
- encloses the goods in packaging
- marks or labels the consignment and/or
- prepares a shipper’s declaration.
Types of courses for shippers
Different types of dangerous goods courses are available, depending on the type of goods your organisation ships.
- Comprehensive courses generally covering all 9 classes of dangerous goods.
- Specific shipper courses which focus on specific types, classes or divisions of dangerous goods that you may ship.
You need to complete an initial course followed by a refresher course after every 2 years.
It is the responsibility of the operator to determine the functions undertaken by their employees relative to the dangerous goods training requirements. For details, read AC 92-1(1) Dangerous goods training for employees.