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HSEQ-ONE
Australia's number one group in health, safety, environmental and quality recruitment.
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Occupational Risk Solutions Pty Ltd
Ensure compliance and improve business safety, health and performance.
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WorkSafe WA
WorkSafe is the Western Australian Government agency responsible for the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and is a sponsor and ‘Partner in Safety’ with the Safety Institute of Australia in Western Australia
Update to this site
25/11/2008 | This site is being updated and should be active again before Christmas. Membership info is now available at http://www.sia.org.au/membership
FATIGUE ROADBLOCK
25/11/2008 | A WorkSafe roadblock exercise at Carrabin near Merredin this month has revealed an improvement in compliance, but continuing concerns with rest breaks for commercial vehicle drivers.
Human error and the workplace - Australia Talks, ABC Radio National
25/11/2008 | The following program was recorded by the ABC during the Safety Show Conference 2008 (NSW) and will go to air on December 22nd.
European Safety Certification Standard Launched
02/10/2008 | The European Network of Safety and Health Professional Organisations (ENSHPO) announced Tuesday the launch of its new voluntary European certification standard EurOSHM (European Occupational Safety and Health Manager)
Safety Institute of Australia Inc (SIA) - CEO Organisational Update July 08
08/08/2008 | Dear SIA Members,
Safety At Work Blog
08/08/2008 | Beaconsfield Coronial Inquest Walkout
Workplace Fatality Count 2008
04/07/2008 | Australian and New Zealand Fatality Count for 2008
VIOSH Australia Celebrating 30 Years
01/07/2008 | A conference celebrating 30 years of OHS education at the University of Ballarat
Safety at Work Blog
01/07/2008 | Workplace Safety is a way of life.
National Harmonisation of OHS Laws Underway
25/06/2008 | A National Review into Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws was announced by the Honourable Julia Gillard MP, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on 4 April 2008.
Amendments to the Dangerous Goods Legislation in Western Australia
25/06/2008 | The latest raft of changes to the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 (WA) (Act) came into force on 1 March 2008.
Worker death at remote community results in $26,000 fine
24/06/2008 | An Aboriginal corporation has been fined $26,000 after the death of a worker in a mechanical workshop at a remote Aboriginal community.
Code of Practice on Safe Design Launched
18/06/2008 | A new code of practice on the safe design of buildings and other structures – the first of its kind in Australia – was launched at Subiaco Arts Centre today.
Forklift Fatality
30/04/2008 | Attached is a media release on a work-related death at Kwinana this morning.
NOPSA Newsletter
30/04/2008 | NOPSA is pleased to distribute the April CEO’s Newsletter, in PDF format.
Fatality Report - Dozer Belly Pan
18/04/2008 | 47-year old mechanic/contractor with 21 years of experience was fatally injured while attempting to remove a front guard assembly (belly pan) from a bulldozer.
Fatality Report - Dump Truck Overtraveling
18/04/2008 | a 29-year old truck driver with three years experience was fatally injured while attempting to dump spoil.
Melanie Mallott
The Act updates the way that dangerous goods must be stored and transported in Western Australia, as well as introducing stricter licensing requirements for those that handle dangerous goods.
Notably, the Act incorporates new regulations that are divided into seven areas:
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Dangerous Goods Safety (General) Regulations 2007;
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007 (Transport Regulations);
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007 (Storage and Handling Regulations);
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2007;
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 (Explosives Regulations);
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Risk Substances) Regulations 2007 (SRS Regulations); and
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Goods in Ports) Regulations 2007 (Goods in Ports Regulations).
The new Regulations form an integral part of the Government's strategy to shift the responsibility for the safety of dangerous goods from government to private industry, adopting a ‘risk management' approach and incorporating performance based standards and codes of practice.
Transport Regulations
The Transport Regulations govern the requirements for the transport of dangerous goods in Western Australia. Through their introduction, the Act adopts the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, 7th Edition as a code of practice.
The Transport Regulations outline the responsibilities of individuals and organisations in the transport of dangerous goods via road and rail in Western Australia. They also contain mutual recognition clauses for interstate drivers and vehicles.
Those with duties under the Transport Regulations include:
- vehicle owners;
- consignors;
- packers and loaders;
- prime contractors;
- rail operators;
- drivers;
- manufacturers;
- occupiers;
- transferors; and
- train drivers.
The Transport Regulations also require dangerous goods drivers to be licensed, medically fit and have a good driving record. SRS Regulations
Pursuant to the 2004 Council of Australian Governments Agreement, certain substances are categorised as ‘security risk substances' (SRS) for the purpose of the Act
- explosives transport licence;
- explosives driver licence;
- explosives supply licence;
- shotfiring licence;
- fireworks contractor licence;
- fireworks operator licence; and
- pyrotechnics (special use) licence.
In addition to the above licensing requirements, the Explosives Regulations simplify import requirements and create a new ‘explosives import / export licence'. Goods in Ports Regulations
The Goods in Ports Regulations govern the requirements in respect of dangerous goods in ports.
Australian Standard 3846:2005 The handling and transport of dangerous cargoes in port areas (Standard) forms the basis of the Goods in Ports Regulations, which adopt the technical aspects of the Standard and allocate ‘responsible persons' to fulfil the various statutory requirements.
SRS include:
- solid mixtures containing more than 45% ammonium nitrate; and
- ammonium nitrate emulsions, suspensions or gels.
The only persons that can access SRS are ‘authorised persons', who are defined in the SRS Regulations as those persons who are appropriate licence holders or ‘secure employees' of licence holders.
In order to obtain a SRS licence, a ‘legitimate purpose' for the licence must be demonstrated and applicants must pass security clearance requirements. Persons possessing or purchasing SRS require one or more of the following three year licences:
- SRS manufacture licence;
- SRS fertiliser licence;
- SRS import/export licence;
- SRS storage licence;
- transport licence;
- SRS supply licence;
- shotfiring licence; and
- explosives manufacture (MPU) licence. Explosives Regulations
Only those persons who are licence holders, secure employees of licence holders and individuals who are supervised by either licence holders or secure employees have authority to possess certain explosives.
The main categories of licences that cover the storage, handling and transport of explosives are:
- explosives manufacture licence;
- explosives manufacture (MPU) licence;
- explosives storage licence;
Storage and Handling Regulations
Subject to the prescribed exceptions, the Storage and Handling Regulations apply to the manufacture, processing, disposal, storage and use of dangerous goods.
Sites must generally be licensed if dangerous goods are stored or handled at that site in quantities that exceed the ‘manifest quantity' set out in the Storage and Handling Regulations. What should industry do?
It is important that employers are made aware of their obligations under the new Act. If your business is involved in the storage, handling or transport of dangerous goods in Western Australia, it is prudent to seek legal advice to ensure that you are meeting these statutory requirements.
If you need advice on regulatory requirements as they relate to the Act, please contact one of the Deacons Occupational Health, Safety and Security Team.
For more information please contact:
Brisbane Martin Osborne martin.osborne@deacons.com.au +61 7 3309 0230
Sydney Michael Tooma michael.tooma@deacons.com.au +61 2 9330 8108
Sydney Jason Noakes jason.noakes@deacons.com.au +61 2 9330 8021
Melbourne Mike Hammond michael.hammond@deacons.com.au
+61 3 8686 6293
Perth Maria Saraceni maria.saraceni@deacons.com.au +61 8 9426 3259