Labelmaster offers South American training

STEP INTO LINE

SOUTH AMERICA • RECENT CHANGES TO THE ROAD TRANSPORT REGULATIONS IN THE MERCOSUR BLOC MEAN TRAINING IS NEEDED. LABELMASTER IS STEPPING UP TO HELP

THE MERCOSUR TRADING bloc, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela and is the largest free-trade agreement in South America, has recently harmonised the regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods to, from or through a member state.

This change is long-overdue, as Rhonda Jessop, director of global learning at Labelmaster, explains: “The dangerous goods regulations in South America have been complex, confusing and inconsistent across countries, which is why the Mercosur countries have taken these steps.”

Diego Gotelli, director of the Chemistry Information Centre at Buenos Aires-based Centro de Información Química para Emergencias (Ciquime), adds: “Just four years ago, transportation regulations of dangerous goods by road were based on seven different versions of the UN model regulations, with almost 20 years of difference from one country to another.

“The harmonisation of Mercosur transport rules has made dangerous goods transport in South America much less complicated, but many North American shippers are unaware of the new rules,” Gotelli continues, noting that the Mercosur agreement also provides a model for countries outside the bloc to use.

“These changes impact how dangerous goods shipments are prepared and transported, so it is critical for all US-based companies with supply chain operations in South America to be informed of the changes and understand the impact they will have on operations,” says Jessop.

TRAINING FOR CHANGE To provide that understanding, Labelmaster has developed an online training program, in collaboration with Ciquime. “By partnering with Labelmaster to develop the industry’s first English-language Mercosur dangerous goods regulations online training, we can provide organisations with the information and training they need,” says Gotelli, who played a major role in getting the Mercosur states to align their regulations.

The online course provides an overview of how Mercosur regulations apply, along with the technical information shippers need to know (such as marking, labelling and packaging requirements, etc.) as well as the potential fines and sanctions they face for non-compliance.

The course is presented in two modules that are available for purchase separately or as a full course. The first module provides awareness training, covering the text of the Mercosur agreement and its general provisions; the second module covers the technical rules found in the agreement.

In addition to on-demand online training, classroom and virtual instructor-led training sessions are also available, as well as customised training tailored to an organisation’s unique business and products.

“Labelmaster’s exclusive English-language training provides guidance and information to help shippers comply with these new regulations and make transporting into, across and out of South America more efficient and effective,” Jessop adds.

More information on the regulatory changes and the Labelmaster/Ciquime online training program can be found in a podcast featuring Jessop and Gotelli discussing the issues available on the Labelmaster website at www.labelmaster.com/hazmatters/episode08-harmonizing-hazmat-regulationsthroughout-south-america. The training program itself can be purchased at www.labelmaster.com/shop/training/mercosurdangerous-goods-road-regulations-onlinetraining/.

DANGEROUS GOODS CAN NOW TRAVEL SEAMLESSLY

FROM THE VENEZUELAN COAST TO THE SOUTHERN