EPA delivers goods for NSW Police's transport safety

EPA’s Senior Technical Officer Dave Ingham receives a plaque of appreciation from NSW Police’s Jason Henderson

Dave has been running the tailored Introduction to Dangerous Goods course for the NSW Police’s Phase 3 Highway Patrol students for over three years.

Dave told EPA Connect that the course gives students training to be highway patrol officers a heightened awareness of the risks associated with cargoes of dangerous goods – such as chemicals – and shows them how to safely manage an incident until Fire and Rescue HAZMAT arrive.

“By sharing our technical knowledge with the student police, we are helping to get the message out further to the 1,000-plus highway patrol officers,” Dave said.

“We are showing new highway patrol officers how to identify unsafe practices with vehicles carrying dangerous goods on the road, and what action they can take to change poor behaviour in the transport industry.

“This increases the highway patrol officers’ confidence in inspecting the vehicles – and this in turn, increases the EPA’s regulatory presence.

“And just as important, the officers are learning how to avoid being injured themselves by the chemicals involved in a dangerous goods incident”.

Dave and the Dangerous Goods Unit’s general Dangerous Goods Inspection and Compliance training is assisted by regional EPA staff. 

EPA’s Hamish Rutherford assists police with dangerous goods vehicles inspections on the road

For instance, the Hunter Region’s Senior Operations Officer Hamish Rutherford conducted vehicle inspection training for NSW Police in the Hunter in 2018 and Matt Arkell of the Dangerous Goods Unit ran similar sessions in the Central West earlier this year.

Q and A – profile on Dave Ingham

What is your background in environment/regulation?

I started in environmental regulation in local government in the mid ‘90’s, including leading Warringah Council’s Environmental Audit of Industry Program.  The Manly Lagoon Fish Kill occurred during this time and this was my first involvement in a major environmental prosecution undertaken by the EPA with Council’s support.  Local government is a great training ground for environmental management and regulation because you have to manage so many matters, it forces you to focus on an outcome and be efficient.

How long have you been with EPA and what is your current role?

My first role at the EPA was in the former Sydney Waste Section back in 2003. I stayed with the Waste Operations Section until 2011, when I moved into the Dangerous Goods Unit within Hazardous Materials, Chemicals and Radiation.

What do you find most challenging about your role?

Road safety is a huge priority for the NSW Government and there is much more that could be done by everyone.  That being said, no one has unlimited resources and the constraints force you to focus on and prioritise the highest risks.

What do you find most rewarding?

The relationships the Dangerous Goods Unit has developed with industry and other government departments such as Fire and Rescue, the Police and SafeWork NSW.  Knowing who to call in a major transport company during an investigation, and then seeing an issue resolved safely is pretty cool.

What’s the most unusual thing that’s happened on the job?

The day I had to blow up out-of-date marine flares in a commercial incinerator to ascertain a safe feed rate for their destruction.

What are your interests outside of work?

My interests include Rugby Union (I’m a referee), 60s classic British cars (I have two in various states of repair) and poultry (I keep chickens and ducks)*

I have three school-age sons and I also love sailing with my wife.

Editor: *Some readers may have seen Dave’s book or heard him on weekend radio