Friday July 7, 2023
The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) has kicked off training for 40 African Union (AU) Transition Mission in Somalia, UN and civilian staff on handling dangerous goods transported by air.
The intensive refresher course is aimed at AU peacekeepers, UN and civilian staff, and seeks to enhance knowledge and improve safety and security skills, as well as efficiency, in the transportation of hazardous cargoes, UNSOS said in a statement issued in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday evening.
"The whole idea of this training is to ensure that the logistics arm of UNSOS which is the Movement Control Unit, adheres to the standards and regulations as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association," said Kamlesh Taank, a certified expert on dangerous goods.
UNSOS said the training is designed to increase the awareness of aviation staff about international standards and procedures for handling, preparing and storing consignments.
During peacekeeping operations, dangerous goods are routinely transported by air, and handlers must receive proper guidance to avoid endangering aircraft or passengers, it said. The participants of the course are equipped with skills in safety data sheets, general packing requirements, legal aspects, state and operator variations, and emergency procedures, among others.
Obadiah Komen, a technical compliance officer, noted that the training is aimed at ensuring UNSOS operations in the Horn of Africa nation meet international standards.
"Refresher training keeps you on track to ensure that you have the right individuals handling the dangerous goods and that all paperwork is in order," Komen said.
In the aviation industry, dangerous goods are classified into nine categories depending on their potential to endanger human health, safety, property or the environment. These include explosives, gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosive substances and miscellaneous dangerous substances, which usually require specialized transportation to eliminate the risk of damage to property or the environment.
According to IATA, more than 1.25 million shipments of dangerous goods are carried by air annually.
"This training is vital because the military transports a lot of dangerous goods for battle, such as fuel and ammunition, among others," Taank said.
The training is part of IATA's range of global regulations that are reviewed every two years for all those involved in the supply chain who prepare, provide, receive and handle dangerous goods.