Dangerous Goods and Explosives

Dangerous goods and explosives are those substances that can be hazardous to people or property or cause accidents with disastrous consequences. They are classified on the basis of immediate physical or chemical risk. The hazard presented may be because of properties such as flammability, toxicity or chemical reactivity. Dangerous goods and explosives can be deadly and can seriously damage property and the environment.

The regulations covering dangerous goods and explosives are contained in Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994.

Employer’s Duties

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (the Act), employers are required to provide and maintain, as far as is practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.

To ensure that risks are managed in accordance with the duties under the Act employers should systematically manage the risks to health and safety which arise from storage and handling of dangerous goods.

Employers can systematically manage risks by undertaking the following four-step risk management process:

identify the hazard;
assess the risk associated with the hazard;
control the risk;
review the process.

When undertaking risk management, employers must follow the relevant Commonwealth regulations and give consideration to codes of practice. If no regulation or code exist in relation to a specific identified hazard or risk employers must choose a reliable source of guidance to follow.

Relevant Commonwealth Regulations

Duty holders responsible for safe outcomes regarding the storage and handling of dangerous goods and explosives must comply with Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulation 1994 Part 8 - The Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods.

The Regulations outline the duties of manufacturers and suppliers of dangerous goods including, but not limited to:

determining substances as dangerous goods;
providing safety information such as the preparation and supply of MSDS;
containing, packaging and labelling the goods; and
filling gas cylinders.

The Regulations also outline the duties of manufacturers, suppliers and installers of plant including, but not limited to:

ensuring the plant is suitable for use with the dangerous goods it is intended to contain;
ensuring the plant conforms with the original design of the plant or structure without modifications; and
preventing fixed plant or structure from any unintentional movement.

The regulations outline the duties of employers which include but are not limited to:

controlling risks and hazards through a risk management process;
providing safety information such as making available the MSDS to employees;
ensuring placards are positioned within the workplace correctly; and
providing notification to Comcare when employers are in control of large quantities of dangerous goods or if using pipelines to transfer dangerous goods (see notification package below).

Employees must report all matters of safety (which may affect the ability of employers to comply with the regulations) to the employer as soon as the matter becomes evident.

Explosives Regulations

Part 8 of the Safety Standards Regulations has been amended to provide for matters which employers must follow if they use, store or handle explosives within their workplaces. These matters include but are not limited to:

obtaining information such as MSDS from manufacturers and suppliers;
provisions of information such as MSDS and other relevant information from employers to employees;
the requirement for employers to undertake a risk management process for the storage and use of explosives;
the requirement for employers to provide adequate training and supervision to employees and contractors; and
the requirement for employers to provide notification to Comcare for the use and storage of explosives if quantities in excess of 2kg net explosive quantity, are held at the workplace (see notification package below).

Employers within the Commonwealth jurisdiction are still required to obtain an explosives licence from the relevant work cover authority in the State or Territory they operate and follow the regulatory requirements under which such licences are issued.

Relevant Commonwealth Approved Code of Practice

Part 11 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008 has been developed to assist duty holders on how to comply with the dangerous goods regulations except explosives, infectious substances and radioactive substances.

The implementation of this code of practice is fundamental to ensuring Commonwealth employers are abreast of current best practices related to the storage and handling of dangerous goods in the workplace. The code of practice expands on all aspects of the dangerous goods regulation in an easy to understand manner.

In the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008:

Part 11 - Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods Ready Reckoner (DGRR)

The DGRR is a computer application developed by the Office of the Australian Safety Compensation Council to assist persons managing the quantities of dangerous goods (except explosives) and combustible liquids. It is designed to determine the essential requirements for compliance with the regulations.

Comcare is inviting all agencies interested in sub-licensing the use of the DGRR to contact the HAZMAT team at HelpDesk-HAZMAT@comcare.gov.au

References

The following links will direct you to the legislative instruments and notification package outlined above. There are also links to further information relating to the management of dangerous goods and explosives.

Notification Packages

Relevant Guidance Material

Australian Dangerous Goods Code, sixth edition (ADG Code 6th Ed), is available for purchase from CanPrint in paperback and on CD
Australian Explosives Code, second edition (AE Code 2^nd Ed), is available for purchase from CanPrint in paperback and on CD
Australian Standards: These standards are available from: International Standards on-line at Sai Global:

AS 2187.0-1998 Explosives - Storage, transport and use – Terminology
AS 2187.1-1998 Explosives - Storage, transport and use – Storage
AS 2187.2-2006 Explosives - Storage and use - Use of explosives
AS 2187.3-1999 Explosives - Storage, transport and use - Pyrotechnics -Shop goods fireworks - Design, performance and testing
AS 2187.4-1998 Explosives - Storage, transport and use - Pyrotechnics - Outdoor displays
AS 1940-2004 Dangerous Goods - The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.

Further Information

For further information about this fact sheet please contact Comcare on the general enquiry line 1300 366 979 or e-mail OHS.Help@comcare.gov.au.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements of the Dangerous Goods Regulations call the HAZMAT team on 1300 366 979 or email: HelpDesk-HAZMAT@comcare.gov.au.

Page last updated:June 13, 2008