Guest Post By Howard Skolnik
Within the Dangerous Goods / Hazardous Materials community, there are hundreds of regulatory bodies, organizations, associations and topics. It’s easy to feel intimidated in a “HazMat” conversation when the acronyms start flying. With some acronyms we try to find an easy pronunciation of the combined letters like DOT (Department of Transportation) or WHO (World Health Organization). Yet with some lettering combinations, there is no flow to the letters and we have to pronounce each letter such as DGAC (Dangerous Goods Advisory Council) and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). Of course, a few of the acronyms just sound ‘clunky’ when pronounced like GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environment Protection).
Do you ever wonder what all these letters mean? DGAC (see above) has compiled an acronym list of 35 international organizations that affect the dangerous goods community. Check out the below. Print a copy for your future needs and impress your colleagues with your knowledge of the correct names of these international organizations.
Glossary of International Acronyms
ADR/RID
CEN
COHMED
EC
DG V
DG VII
DG XI
GESAMP
IAEA
IATA
ICAO
DGP
TI
IFCS
IG
ILO
IMO
BLG
DSG
E&T GROUP
MEPC
MSC
IMDG CODE
IOMC
CH/HCCS
ILO Comms
NAFTA LTSS
OECD
UN
UNCED UN
UNCETDG&GHS
UN ECOSOC
UNEP UN
WHO
WSO
EU Road/Rail Conventions (govern transport of dangerous goods throughout EU)
Committee on European Normalization
Cooperative Hazardous Materials Enforcement Development
European Commission
Public Health & Safety at Work Directorate
Transport Directorate
Environment, Nuclear Safety & Civil Protection Directorate
Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environment Protection
International Atomic Energy Agency
International Air Transport Association
International Civil Aviation Organization
Dangerous Goods Panel
Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety
Intersessional Group
International Labour Office
International Maritime Organization
Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids & Gases
Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes, Containers
Editorial & Technical Group
Marine Environmental Protection Committee
Marine Safety Committee
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
InterOrganization Program for Sound Management of Chemicals
Coordinating Group for Harmonization of Chemical Classification Systems
WG Working Group on Chemical Hazard Communication
Nafta Land Transportation Standards Subcommitte
Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
United Nations
Conference on Environment & Development
UN Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods on the Globally Harmonized System
UN Economic and Social Council
Environmental Programme
World Health Organization
World Safety Organization
