Acceptance checks, training and competency-based assessment
Domain 10 - Acceptance, training and competency. The exam tests the acceptance checklist sequence and the training and assessment obligations behind every signature on a declaration.
Acceptance sequence
- Verify the Shipper's Declaration for completeness, correct entries, signature and emergency contact.
- Check the goods against the Dangerous Goods List: correct name, class, packing group, packing instruction, quantity per package, and whether the aircraft type is permitted.
- Check the package: specification mark, condition, closure, marks, labels, orientation labels, and Cargo Aircraft Only label where needed.
- Check the air waybill wording, then apply State and operator variations before signing the acceptance.
Training and competency
- Everyone whose duties touch dangerous goods must be trained for their function: shippers and packers, forwarders, acceptance staff, load planners, ground handlers, cabin crew.
- Recurrent training and assessment are required within 24 months of the previous training, and records must be retained for at least 36 months.
- Competency-based training and assessment requires defined competencies per function, training designed around them, and documented assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviour rather than attendance alone.
Worked example
A declaration arrives signed by a person whose training record shows the last assessment 30 months ago, and whose package label is a Class 3 label on a package declared as Class 8. Two failures: the training is outside the 24-month validity, so the person is not currently qualified to sign, and the label does not match the declared class. The shipment is not accepted until both are corrected and rechecked against the List row.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing 24 months of training validity with 36 months of record retention.
- Accepting a declaration without rechecking the quantity against the packing instruction limit.
- Treating a completion certificate as proof of competence with no assessment evidence.
- Skipping variation checks because the paperwork looks complete.