Tom Ferguson, PG, CHMM, DGSA , President & Chief Regulatory Compliance Officer
Tom has nearly 30 years of compliance experience with emphasis on the safe and efficient transportation of dangerous goods. He is currently the President and Chief Technical Officer for Currie Associates, and Administrator for the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) and the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA).
Tom leads the COSTHA delegation to the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE) and serves as the Secretary for the UN Informal Working Group on Lithium Batteries. The Working Group is currently developing additional testing protocols to properly identify and categorize lithium batteries based on the intrinsic nature and susceptibility to thermal event propagation.
COSTHA is working closely with industry and the regulators on the proper classification of Safety Devices including micro gas generators used as components of many airbags and safety systems. These products do not meet the exclusion criteria from explosives yet are growing in application beyond traditional airbags for vehicles.
COSTHA is also leading a discussion at the UNSCOE on infectious substance regulations to determine if lessons learned over the last 20 years with the Category A/Category B designations should result in proposed changes in the transport regulations of these materials.
IVODGA members are addressing challenges with lithium batteries as well as new and used electric and hybrid vehicles. Tom is serving as a liaison between IVODGA, COSTHA and regulatory authorities as both the vessel and automobile industries strive for a consistent and safe process for transporting these products by vessel.
His extensive background includes:
- Development and delivery of dangerous goods training programs for all modes.
- 49 CFR for Ground and Rail transport in the US
- International Air Transport (ICAO/IATA)
- International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
- ADR for ground transport in the EU and Contracting Parties
- The safe and compliant transport of lithium batteries
- Head of Delegation to the UN Subcommittee of Experts (UN SCOE) on the Transport for Dangerous Goods for the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) and International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association
- Secretary for the UN Informal Working Group on Lithium Batteries
- Successful preparation and approval of more than 30 Special Permits and competent authority approvals
- Elected Member of the IATA Dangerous Goods Board
- Elected Member of the IATA Dangerous Goods Training Task Force
- Chairman of the COSTHA Air Carrier Roundtable
- Participation on the Air Transport Association (ATA) Hazardous Materials Committee
- Participation with the National Academies of Sciences Transportation Research Board on electronic shipping papers and dry ice by air.
Tom holds the following certifications:
- Professional Geologist (PG)
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
- Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA)
Previously Tom served as the Global Manager, Dangerous Goods Management for Delta Air Lines.
Tom received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geology from Georgia State University, and a Master of Science Degree in Coastal Geology and Hydrogeology from the University of South Florida.