Council Directive 96/35/EC of 3 June 1996 on the appointment and vocational qualification of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterway

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/35/EC of 3 June 1996 on the appointment and vocational qualification of  safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail and inland waterway
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75  thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission  (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee  (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty  (3),
Whereas over a number of years the quantities of dangerous goods transported nationally and  internationally have increased considerably, increasing the risk of accidents;
Whereas some of the accidents which occur when dangerous goods are transported may be caused by  insufficient knowledge of the risks inherent in such transport;
Whereas it is necessary, in the context of the completion of the single market in transport, to  adopt measures to improve the prevention of the risks inherent in such transport;
Whereas Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage  improvements in the safety and health of workers at work  (4) does not introduce measures to  prevent the risks inherent in the transport of dangerous goods;
Whereas undertakings involved in the transport or the related loading or unloading of dangerous  goods should be required to comply with the rules on the prevention of the risks inherent in the  transport of dangerous goods, whether by road, rail or inland waterway; whereas, to that end, the  appointment of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods who have received appropriate  vocational training should be prescribed;
Whereas the objective of the vocational training of such safety advisers must be knowledge of the  essential laws, regulations and administrative provisions applicable to such transport;
Whereas the Member States must set up a common minimum framework for vocational training attested  to by success in an examination;
Whereas the Member States must issue Community-type certificates attesting to advisers' vocational  qualifications so that the possessors of such certificates may then practise their trade throughout  the Community;
Whereas the vocational qualification of safety advisers will help to improve the quality of the  service they provide in the interests of users; whereas such vocational qualification will also  help to minimize the risk of accidents which may cause irreversible damage to the environment and  serious injury to other persons who may come into contact with dangerous goods,