ADR rules OK
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• Many of the criticisms levelled against the proposed ADR hazardous goods regulations will be answered by modern information systems, claims Surrey chief fire officer Peter Gribbin.
He says that new technology allows his staff to radio details of hazardous loads for highspeed reproduction on an incab facsimile machine.
As both the Hazchem and the ADR systems are based around a United Nations chemical code number, "the argument cannot be sustained that the ADR system is not as worthy as the Hazchem code". With 1992 approaching, Gribbin says "regardless of the pressure that may be bought from some quarters, the ADR scheme will come in".
Gribbin acknowledges the success of the Hazchem system, but says: "We cannot run two schemes. It is unfair to the management of haulage companies." His only reservations about the Continental system are that it relies on other people to supply the relevant information, and the management and drivers to comply with the regulations. In particular, the driver has to carry a Transport Emergency Information card to inform fire staff about the properties of the load. Surrey Fire Service has had incidents with vehicles carrying 100 such cards, in a gross infringement of the regulations.