DGSA in Denmark: dangerous goods safety adviser
Companies that consign, carry, pack, load, fill or unload dangerous goods by road in Denmark must normally appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser (DGSA). iSikkerhed.dk ApS provides an external DGSA service in English from Randbøl, close to the ports of Fredericia and Aarhus, for foreign shippers, carriers and companies setting up in Denmark.
Who needs a DGSA in Denmark?
Under ADR 1.8.3.1, every undertaking whose activities include the consignment or carriage of dangerous goods by road, or the related packing, loading, filling or unloading, must appoint one or more safety advisers. The Danish Executive Order covers road transport and the loading, unloading and other activities carried out as part of it (§ 1).
- transport under ADR 1.1.3.6
- goods not subject to ADR 1.8.3, including under the special provisions in ADR chapter 3.3
- limited quantities (ADR chapter 3.4) or excepted quantities (ADR chapter 3.5)
- occasional unloading in agriculture, forestry or similar businesses
Executive Order no. 915/2025 § 33: the undertaking must appoint the safety adviser in writing. § 34: details of the adviser must be sent to Færdselsstyrelsen (the Danish Road Traffic Authority) via virk.dk no later than 30 days after the appointment, and later changes must also be reported.
What the adviser does
The adviser works under the responsibility of the head of the undertaking (ADR 1.8.3.3). Its main tasks are to monitor compliance, advise the undertaking and prepare an annual report. Under § 35 of the Executive Order, the tasks must be adapted to the undertaking’s activities and laid down in writing.
- identification of the dangerous goods transported
- training of employees, including on changes to the rules, and records of that training
- emergency measures and investigation of accidents and serious infringements
- checks on documents, safety equipment and the rules for packing, filling, loading and unloading
- the existence of a security plan where ADR 1.10.3.2 requires one (high consequence dangerous goods)
Agree a written description of tasks, a visit plan and named contacts at each site from the start. This documents § 35 and gives the adviser direct access to the people who pack, load and sign documents.
The annual report
The adviser must prepare an annual report to the undertaking on its activities in connection with the transport of dangerous goods. The report must also describe the adviser’s own activities in the undertaking during the year (Executive Order § 37(1); ADR 1.8.3.3).
The report covers 12 consecutive calendar months and must be available no later than four months after the end of the period. The first reporting period may be shorter or longer than 12 months, but no longer than 18 months (§ 37(2)). The undertaking must keep annual reports and accident or incident reports for five years and make them available to the authorities on request (§ 38).
Executive Order § 36: after an incident, accident or serious infringement, the adviser must gather the relevant information and prepare a report for the undertaking. The report must be available within 30 days, or within 8 days for a serious incident or accident involving death or serious personal injury.
Working with a foreign head office
Many international groups already have a DGSA or compliance function abroad. ADR 1.8.3.4 allows the role to be held by a person outside the undertaking, provided that person is genuinely able to perform it, and under ADR 1.8.3.15 the DGSA certificate is recognised by all ADR contracting parties.
The Danish requirements still apply locally: written appointment, notification via virk.dk, written tasks and an annual report that meets § 37. A local adviser can carry out site visits, deal with Danish authorities, drivers and warehouse staff, and report in English to the head office. If you already work with an adviser certified in another country, contact us and we can look at how best to organise the role in Denmark.
Decide early who receives and signs off the annual report and how findings are shared with the group. We report in English and reply to enquiries within one working day.