• Global chemical distributors belonging to International Chemical Trade Association have endorsed a safety guidance issued by organizations engaged in moving dangerous goods

• A white paper, “Safety Guidance for Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Facilities,” along with “Warehouse Checklist,” was issued last December by four global trade groups

• ICTA promotes safe and sustainable chemical supply chains based on chemical distributors deep knowledge of chemicals and global markets

Global chemical traders have backed a safety guidance issued last December by a collective of organizations engaged in handling and moving dangerous goods.

Its latest endorser is International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA), which promotes safe and sustainable chemical supply chains. ICTA says it believes the chemical distribution industry has a key role in enabling chemistry to make a positive societal impact.

“Chemical supply chains rely on an interplay of different actors to deliver dangerous goods safely across the globe,” said Douglas Leech, chairman of the ICTA Transport & Security Committee.

Leech was quoted in a press release issued on August 18 by the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), one of four global trade groups that issued the white paper, entitled “Safety Guidance for Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Facilities.”

A pivotal element of the white paper is a warehouse checklist. A practical management tool, the checklist format is a significant addition to the other elements of the white paper.

Broken down into eight key functional areas of operation, the warehouse checklist’s 14 pages are designed to be comprehensive yet easily digestible as an everyday device for maintaining safety management vigilance.

“Chemical distributors cooperate closely with [logistics] and warehousing companies to make this happen. These guidelines will help them to jointly prevent incidents in their warehouses – keeping workers, neighbors, and the environment safe,” said Leech.

ICTA said that, aside from taking responsibility for their own operations, chemical distributors interact with their customers and suppliers to help them to work more safely and securely.

ICTA considers the white paper and the safety efforts that it represents as a step forward in guiding operators to improve their already high standards.

The safety guidance issuers were ICHCA, International Vessel Owners Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA), National Cargo Bureau (NCB) and World Shipping Council (WSC). They are global trade organizations that drew on their combined expertise and experience in moving dangerous goods around the world to produce the guidance.

Richard Steele, ICHCA chief executive, welcomed the additional support from ICTA. “To make a real difference to the standards of safety in supply chains that feature hazardous materials, it is vital to reach all involved and create a critical mass of like-minded partners,” he said.

“The endorsement of our work by such an authoritative voice as ICTA is therefore decidedly welcome,” Steele said in the press release.

ICTA now joins a number of influential industry stakeholders that have endorsed the guidelines.

The early endorsers were Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Bureau International des Containers (BIC), Container Owners Association (COA), Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA), Danish Shipping, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA), International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) and Through Transport Mutual Insurance Association Ltd (TT Club).

Both the “Dangerous Goods Warehousing White Paper” and the “Warehouse Checklist” are downloadable at  https://ichca.com/warehousing-safety-guidance

Established in 1952, ICHCA International is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and movement worldwide. It provides a focal point for informing, educating, lobbying and networking to improve knowledge and best practice across the cargo handling chain.

Source: https://www.portcalls.com/chemical-traders-back-guidance-moving-dangerous-goods/