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Dangerous Goods Safety Team
The
CHEM services' Dangerous Goods Safety Team monitor the implementation of those
sections of the Dangerous Goods Safety Management (DGSM)
Act 2001 which deal with the storage and handling of dangerous goods.
The Dangerous Goods Safety Team officers 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 the interpretation of the relevant standards.
Dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are usually chemicals which have the potential to present an immediate threat to people, property or the environment if not properly contained or controlled.
They are classified according to the nature of the hazard into nine classes,
some of which are divided into sub-classes. These classes are denoted by specific
labels (or diamonds) which are
illustrated on the Dangerous Goods Classes page.
For further information consult the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.
The DGSM Act
The DGSM Act has been designed to protect people, property and the environment from the effects of chemical accidents. This is achieved by creating safety obligations for everyone involved with the storage and handling of dangerous goods.
The Act places safety obligations on the following persons:
- occupiers of major hazard facilities, dangerous goods locations or workplaces;
- employees at those sites;
- manufacturers, importers or suppliers of dangerous goods; and
- designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers or installers of storage or handling systems at those sites.
For occupiers of Dangerous Goods Locations (DGLs), these obligations are directed towards minimising the risks associated with the DGLs and ensuring that effective safety management systems and emergency plans are in place.
Dangerous Goods Locations
DGLs
are sites where medium quantities of dangerous goods are stored or handled.
Typical examples include medium-size chemical or fuel processing or storage
sites.
The legislation specifies threshold quantities above which a site would be classified as a DGL.
Workplaces which store or handle small quantities of dangerous goods also have certain obligations under the legislation.
Dangerous Goods Placarding
The Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act requires dangerous goods placards to be displayed at premises where dangerous goods are stored in quantities exceeding specified thresholds. These placards warn the emergency services of the chemical hazards present. This information helps the emergency services to deal safely with an emergency at the premises.
Dangerous Goods Publications
A number of publications to assist industry in meeting its obligations for dangerous goods storage under the DGSM Act are available on the Publications page.
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