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About Us
Chemical Hazards and Emergency Management services
The Chemical Hazards and Emergency Management services (CHEM services) is a branch of the Emergency Management Queensland Division of the Department of Emergency Services.
The Services can be contacted on Phone: 3247 8444 , or by Email: chemreception@emergency.qld.gov.au.
The role of the CHEM services is to enhance community safety in Queensland by:
- coordinating the Department's role as the Queensland Government's Lead Agency for the Management of Hazardous Substances;
- overseeing a whole-of-Government approach to the safe management of hazardous materials in Queensland; and
- coordinating and supporting the administration of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001.
The Services is divided into two team areas:
These teams together manage the implementaion of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management legislation.
The Dangerous Goods Safety Team
This Team coordinates the administration of dangerous goods storage and handling under the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 (DGSM Act).
In particular, the Team is responsible for coordinating the regulation of Dangerous Goods Locations (DGLs), Large Dangerous Goods Locations (Large DGLs) and Minor Storage Workplaces.
Dangerous Goods Safety Advisors provide regulatory and technical advice to government agencies, industry and the community on the safe storage and handling of dangerous goods.
In addition, the Team supports the enforcement agencies through the provision of training and technical interpretation.
The Major Hazards Safety Team
The Major Hazards Safety Team coordinates the regulation of Major Hazard Facilities (MHFs) under the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 (DGSM Act).
Its responsibilities for MHF regulation include:
- providing advice and assessing the adequacy of risk assessments, safety management systems, emergency plans and safety reports; and
- investigating major accidents at MHFs.
The Major Hazards Safety Team also has a role in land use control because:
- local government can consult the Team regarding proposed industrial developments; and
- it functions as a concurrence agency under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 for development applications involving existing MHFs and possible new MHFs.
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