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Dangerous Goods

DG Compliance Audits Find Gaps Before DVSA Does

Comprehensive dangerous goods compliance audits covering ADR, IMDG, CDG 2009 and your entire DG operation. We examine classification, packaging, documentation, vehicles, training, storage and emergency procedures — identifying every gap before enforcement authorities find them.

DVSAPre-inspection readiness
ADRFull road transport audit
IMDGSea freight compliance check
GapAnalysis with corrective actions
DG Audits

Why Audit Your Dangerous Goods Operation?

A workplace risk assessment is a systematic examination of your work activities, premises and processes to identify what could cause harm to people — and whether you're doing enough to prevent it. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR), every employer must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their work activities.

If you have five or more employees, the significant findings of your risk assessment must be recorded in writing. But regardless of your size, risk assessment is the foundation of every health and safety management system — without it, you're managing safety blind.

RADCaT's qualified health and safety consultants carry out thorough, practical workplace risk assessments for businesses of every size and sector across the UK. We don't produce generic templates — we visit your premises, walk your processes, talk to your team and produce site-specific, task-specific assessments that genuinely reflect your operations and give you a clear, prioritised action plan for improvement.

Whether you need a general workplace risk assessment for your office, a task-specific assessment for high-risk activities in a factory, a site-wide review for a multi-building campus, or a pre-project risk assessment for a construction site — RADCaT delivers expert, HSE-compliant assessments tailored to your industry and your operations.

DVSA conducted over 50,000 roadside encounters last year. If your operation isn't audit-ready, it's only a matter of time. A RADCaT compliance audit prepares you before enforcement arrives.

Compliance Audits from RADCaT
Types of Risk Assessment

Audit Services

From pre-inspection checks to comprehensive operational reviews.

Full Operational Audit

End-to-end audit of your entire dangerous goods operation covering all regulatory requirements. Detailed findings report with risk ratings and corrective action plan.

ADR Road Transport Audit

Specific audit of road transport compliance — vehicle specification, placarding, documentation, equipment, driver training, loading procedures and tunnel restrictions.

IMDG Sea Freight Audit

Audit of sea freight operations — container packing, documentation, segregation, marking, labelling and port-specific requirements.

Storage & Handling Audit

Audit of dangerous goods storage — quantities, segregation, ventilation, bunding, signage, fire protection and emergency equipment.

Documentation Audit

Review of all DG documentation — consignment notes, SDSs, emergency instructions, training records, DGSA reports and written procedures.

Annual DGSA Audits

Scheduled annual audits as part of your DGSA retainer programme. Consistent monitoring ensuring continuous compliance improvement.

Our Process

How We Carry Out a Risk Assessment

1

Scope Agreement

We agree the audit scope, focus areas and any specific concerns or upcoming inspections you need to prepare for.

2

Document Review

Pre-visit review of your documentation — policies, procedures, training records, DGSA reports, transport documents and storage records.

3

Site Audit

On-site examination of operations — vehicles, storage areas, loading procedures, labelling, equipment, staff practices and emergency arrangements.

4

Findings Report

Detailed audit report with every finding documented, risk-rated and accompanied by specific corrective actions with implementation timelines.

5

Follow-Up

Verification of corrective action completion at a follow-up visit or review. Ongoing audit programme for retained clients.

Common Questions

Compliance Audits FAQ

How often should we audit our DG operation?

At least annually as part of your DGSA programme. More frequently if you have a complex operation, multiple sites or have experienced compliance issues. Pre-inspection audits should be conducted whenever you anticipate a DVSA or HSE visit.

What happens if the audit finds problems?

Every finding receives a clear corrective action with priority rating and timeline. We work with you to implement corrections. Serious breaches requiring immediate action are flagged during the audit, not just in the report.

Can you audit before a DVSA inspection?

Yes. Pre-inspection audits are one of our most popular services. We audit your operation exactly as DVSA would, identify every potential finding and help you close gaps before the inspector arrives.

Do you audit storage as well as transport?

Yes. Dangerous goods storage has its own regulatory requirements — quantity thresholds, segregation, ventilation, bunding, fire protection, signage and emergency arrangements. We audit storage alongside transport for a complete picture.

What does the audit report include?

Detailed findings with photographic evidence, risk ratings, regulatory references, specific corrective actions, responsible persons, implementation deadlines and recommendations for improvement beyond minimum compliance.

Can you audit multiple sites?

Yes. We audit multi-site operations with consistent standards across all locations. Centralised reporting allows you to compare compliance performance between sites and prioritise investment.

How much does a DG audit cost?

Based on the scope, complexity and number of sites. One-off audits and annual retainer programmes available. Contact us for a free discussion and quote.

Need a DG Compliance Audit?

Get in touch for a free discussion. We'll scope an audit that gives you confidence in your compliance.