Dangerous goods can be dangerous to humans, animals and the environment even on a small scale due to their specific properties. These include amongst others, explosives, corrosive, flammable and radioactive substances.

De Rijke Logistics handles a wide range of different dangerous goods such as, soaps, pesticides, solvents, paint and epoxy. To transport these goods safely by road, rail or sea, international agreements have been included in the IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Codes). There is also a pan-European convention that every company must comply with: the ADR (Accord européen relatif au transport international de merchandises Dangereuses par Route').

The regulations regarding dangerous goods are very dynamic. The dynamics are also evident in the ADR regulations, which are updated once every two years. Packaging, tanks and drums are also constantly evolving. A recent change is a new tank that has come on the market. This tank is made of synthetic fiber and therefore a lot lighter. For many companies, this is an interesting option as it saves transport costs but can carry as much as 20,000L. Another notable development is the rise of lithium batteries. These batteries can be found in, among others: electric cars, bicycles and laptops. With the popularity of electric transport, the risks of these difficult-to-extinguish batteries are being better recognized. The upcoming new directive for lithium battery storage, PGS 37, could play an important role in this matter.

Arie van der Oost has been employed at De Rijke Logistics for almost 23 years. After obtaining his certificates over five years ago and joining the Association of Safety Advisors, he is entitled to bear the title of DGSA. The duties of a DGSA include checking cargo of dangerous goods, coordinating operations and handling incidents. Replacing a damaged package or the disposing of the broken cargo are considered incidents. The DGSA also keeps accident and annual reports and gives advice to the organization based on his insights. He also conducts training on safety processes to educate all other stakeholders in this area. With his trainings, he aims to create more awareness about the various hazardous goods in the future. For this reason, De Rijke Academy was also set up; to provide suppliers, manufacturers, transporters and all colleagues with the right training on safety, among other things. In this way, changes in legislation can be communicated in time and implemented company wide. Thanks to years of experience and well-trained staff, De Rijke Logistics is a professional logistics carrier in the field of dangerous goods.