The Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC) is celebrating three decades of service to the hazardous materials industry this year. Founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1978, DGAC's mission is to promote the safe transportation of hazardous materials/dangerous goods globally by providing education, assistance, and information to the private and public sectors through its status with regulatory bodies and the diversity and technical strengths of its membership.
Beginning April 14 and lasting for 30 weeks until DGAC's 30th annual conference and Hazardous Materials Transportation Exposition in November, the DGAC website will feature 30 accomplishments from DGAC's long history. This feature will be open to the public and will include testimony from past chairmen, DGAC staff, and former and present government officials.
The apex of this year's celebration will take place at the DGAC conference November 5-7 in Savannah GA. The conference will feature special speakers, presentations, and a DGAC Wall of History commemorating the work done by members and staff over the past three decades.
Al Roberts, current DGAC vice president, was instrumental in forming the DGAC — first called the Hazardous Materials Advisory Council — in the early 1970s.
“I met with two gentlemen from the chemical industry who were concerned about the conflicting positions being presented by parties representing transporters, shippers, and packaging manufacturers,” said Roberts, a principal hazmat regulator for the Department of Transportation at the time. “When I agreed that it was a mixed bag and consumed much of our time, they asked my view on the creation of an organization that would develop and represent a consensus approach to resolving differences. ‘Anything that industry can do to present a unified approach, I am all for it’ was my reply.”
Shortly thereafter, a committee was formed within the Transportation Association of America that eventually became the HMAC and finally the DGAC.