Almost every U.S. company, large or small, annually conducts the essential financial audit. But many executives may not be aware that an audit of another kind may be just as critical to their organizations’ financial stability and provide optimum customer service and protect the well-being of the public. That audit? An evaluation of a firm’s compliance and operational practices in the shipment of dangerous goods by air, land and sea.
Almost every industry involved in any type of manufacturing and distribution transports materials classified as hazardous, some of which may not seem dangerous on the surface. These include goods such as nail polish, perfumes, batteries, air bags, aerosols, paint, common chemicals like lubricants and adhesives, numerous electronics products and more. The number of different items deemed potentially dangerous is staggering. To illustrate, some 1.4 million dangerous goods shipments occur daily.