What Clients Don’t Know Can Hurt Them in Dangerous Goods Compliance

When it comes to dangerous goods compliance, many organizations don’t know where their real risks lie—until something goes wrong. That’s where hazmat consultants like Mike Pagel, Sr. HazMat Consultant at HazMat Safety Consulting,  step in, helping clients identify gaps and build safer, more compliant operations.

But as Pagel explains, it’s not always a straightforward process. “It’s complicated,” he says. “I’ll tell you that straight out of the gate.”

Start with a Compliance Assessment—If You Can

In an ideal scenario, the consulting process begins with a formal compliance assessment—a detailed walkthrough of the client’s facility that mimics what a Department of Transportation (DOT) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector might do.

“We spend the day—or at least half a day—on-site, asking the kinds of questions a DOT inspector would ask,” Pagel explains. “What kind of documentation do they have? What labeling are they using? What training is in place?”

This process is valuable on multiple fronts. For the client, it often reveals previously unknown compliance gaps—potential liabilities that could lead to regulatory violations. For the consultant, it’s an opportunity to observe the operation firsthand and begin building trust with the team. “It gives us a better flow of communication,” Pagel notes. “We can start to understand what support they’re going to need from the dangerous goods side.”

When the Ideal Isn’t Possible: Keep the Conversation Flowing

Pagel acknowledges that consultants don’t always have the luxury of a formal assessment to kick things off. In many cases, the engagement begins reactively—when something has already gone wrong.

“We hear things like, ‘Our packages are getting rejected by FedEx and UPS. We think we’re doing everything right,’” he says.

That’s when the real detective work begins. By maintaining an open dialogue, consultants can begin piecing together the cause of the issue—often starting with something as specific as an incorrect label—and then zooming out to evaluate the broader training, processes, and systems in place.

“Clearly, if there’s a labeling issue, we need to ask, ‘What does your training look like? Do your employees receive any hazmat or dangerous goods instruction? And if so, how effective is it?’” Pagel says.

Through these conversations, deeper issues often emerge—ones that clients may not even realize are affecting their compliance posture.

Dangerous Goods: The Risk You Didn’t Know You Were Taking

One of the biggest challenges consultants face is that many clients simply aren’t aware of the complexities of dangerous goods regulations.

“There are probably people reading this—who don’t know what dangerous goods compliance means,” Pagel says. “And I wouldn’t blame them.”

He recalls his own early days at the DOT in 2012, when he first encountered the world of hazardous materials regulation. “I didn’t even know these regulations existed, much less how complex and in-depth they are.”

That lack of awareness isn’t uncommon. Many clients come to the table with questions, not answers—and often, they’re starting from scratch. Consultants need to be ready to guide them from the ground up.

Helping Clients Discover What They Don’t Know

Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to solve problems—it’s to help clients see what they don’t yet know to look for.

“Just saying, ‘Our packages aren’t getting to where they need to go—something’s wrong,’ is often the starting point,” Pagel says. “From there, it’s up to us to listen to the hurdles they’re facing and come up with effective solutions.”

In a landscape where compliance missteps can result in costly delays—or worse—having an informed consultant in your corner can make all the difference.