Training during lockdown – Hazardous Cargo Bulletin

E-learning: During the Coronavirus pandemic, face-to-face training is impossible.

Exis Technologies offers a number of online alternatives. Those involved in the world of the transport of dangerous goods have been just as much affected as anyone else by the disruption that the Coronavirus has caused, both at home and work. But there is still a requirement for those working in the supply chain or furloughed at home to keep up to date with transport regulations, or to begin their initial training.

But all face-to-face classroom training, traditionally the mainstay of the training world is currently on hold. Those working in the supply chain are now looking for other ways to keep up to date with their training needs: e-learning is certainly one of the options that is available.

Bring the sea ashore

Exis Technologies has been offering a range of IMDG Code e-learning courses since 2010 when the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) made IMDG Code training mandatory for shoreside staff involved in the transport of dangerous goods by sea. The courses are tailored to different job functions involved such as booking office staff, consignors, freight forwarders, packers and cargo handlers, ship loaders, ship operators and so on. Advanced e-learning courses are provided for dangerous goods safey advisers (DGSAs) and managers, and there is a refresher course for those who have previously taken classroom or online training and need to update their training to cover the latest amendment to the Code.

The e-learning courses are updated for each IMDG Code Amendment so the training material is always current. The courses have now been used by six of the ten largest container shipping lines as part of their global training programmes as well as by many other companies active in the maritime transport chain. The courses are certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL) and by several competent authorities around the world, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). They are also certified by the Port of Antwerp for companies working within the port.

Exis IMDG Code e-learning courses are sponsored by the TT Club and supported by the International Container Handling Association (ICHCA). The courses also assist Exis’s clients using the cargo booking platform to understand how to use the IMDG Code and, therefore, how to use those tools more effectively in their day to day dangerous goods roles. The courses can be found at www.imdge-learning.com

“IMO statistics continue to reveal a high level of non-conformities when shipping dangerous goods by sea,” says Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director, TT Club. “Mandatory shore side training is key to increasing safety in the marine mode. The TT Club recommends IMDG Code e-learning as high quality, cost-effective training for everyone in the supply chain, especially shippers and packers.”

“ICHCA is the voice of Global Cargo Handling and through its work is committed to improving the safety, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and transport in the national and international supply chain across all modes of transport,” adds Captain Richard Brough OBE, Director, ICHCA. “We thoroughly endorse and recommend IMDG Code e-learning as an important training tool for addressing, amongst other requirements, the mandatory element of shore side training and encourage our members to use it accordingly.”

Containers and tanks

Exis Technologies has also worked with ICHCA International and the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) to produce the CTUpack e-learning course, based on the CTU Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code), and on Tank Container e-learning courses. Both are styled on the lines of the IMDG Code e-learning courses, with similar screens, navigation, learning experience, assessment and course completion certificate.

The introduction of the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) formulated jointly by three UN bodies – IMO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), is internationally approved as a non-mandatory method to improve the problems resulting from poor CTU packing, which causes an alarmingly high number of incidents that lead to damage, loss, injuries and fatalities.

CTUpack e-learning has two levels: introduction and foundation. The Introduction course provides an introduction to the CTU Code and includes an overview of its development and objectives. It is aimed at all those with an interest in learning more about the Code and how it can be applied day-to-day operations. The Foundation course is for those directly involved in the loading and unloading of CTUs, and aims to support the training of consolidators and packers to promote best practice.

ITCO Tank Container e-learning is an online course developed by ITCO to further enhance the safe, competent and efficient use of tank containers, as part of its mission to the tank container as a safe, cost-efficient and flexible means of transport. The contents are maintained within the scope of the IMDG Code concerning the operation of portable tanks. The course may also be applied to the transport of non-dangerous goods.

Benefits of online

E-learning offers trainees the flexibility to learn at their own pace either at their place of work or at home using a web login and an internet connection. The courses are high quality, but cost-effective as there are no overheads in terms of renting a training venue or hiring an instructor. Courses are accessed over the internet with a pc, laptop or tablet device (iPad, Android or Windows).

The courses are suitable for all those who need training in transport regulations, whether as an individual or as part of a corporate global training programme with thousands of students. All of the courses that Exis offers can be added to a learning administrator system to allow designated people in the organisation to set up students, assign pass marks and monitor progress. This delivers consistent training standards across operations on either a local, regional or global basis and is especially relevant to corporate quality assurance programmes. The courses can also be used as part of a blended training approach to bring students to common competence levels in preparation for other training methods.

Records are maintained in an administrator system and can be made available to employees and competent authorities. There are tests at the end of lessons to ensure the understanding of learning topics, and marks combine to a final course completion score. Certificates are produced at the end of each course that can be printed out and kept as a record of training by both the employee and the HR department.

SPECIAL OFFER

Exis is currently offering a 10 per cent discount on all IMDG Code e-learning and CTUpack e-learning web courses until 30 June 2020 to help people take advantage of the training during the Covid-19 pandemic. All courses have been discounted on the relevant websites. ITCO members are now also eligible for two extra free Tank Container e-learning courses, in addition to the two that are part of their membership.

Exis Technologies has been a global leader in the development of systems to assist in the transport of dangerous goods by sea for over 30 years. Since April 2018 it has been the software division of New-York based National Cargo Bureau(NCB), with which it works on a number of industry projects, including Hazcheck Detect, a new cargo scanning tool and Hazcheck Inspections, a web-based database and access portal for inspection companies to plan and enter details of cargo inspections completed on behalf of container or vessel operators.

Exis and NCB are both not for profit organisations with a mission to ensure the Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea.