What are Dangerous Goods?
Dangerous goods are substances that are corrosive, flammable, combustible, explosive, oxidising or water-reactive or have other hazardous properties. Dangerous goods can cause explosions or fires, serious injury, death and large-scale damage.
The Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code identifies which substances are dangerous goods. Examples of common dangerous goods:
flammable liquids (petrol, kerosene, turpentine, flammable paints etc.)
corrosives (hydrochloric acid)
flammable gases (LPG, acetylene etc)
non-flammable non-toxic gases (carbon dioxide CO2)
explosives
Dangerous Goods Placarding
Businesses (“occupiers”) who store and handle dangerous goods above certain quantities stipulated in the legislation must have warning placards which provide a visual warning of dangerous goods at a premises for first responders. The requirement for placarding includes ‘HAZCHEM’ outer warning placards and placards for bulk and packaged dangerous goods.
MicroRisk Group can assist you determining the types and locations of dangerous goods placards at your premises.
Dangerous Goods Notification
Businesses (“occupiers”) who store and handle dangerous goods above certain quantities stipulated in the legislation must notify the authority regularly and provide certain information about their operation. The requirement to notify the regulator is common across many jurisdictions however the thresholds and required information may vary.
For example, in Victoria “occupiers” need to notify WorkSafe every two years, or for any of the following reasons:
renewing an existing notification
new premises
new occupier(s) or owner(s) of an existing premises
maximum quantity of a UN class of goods and/or packing group changes by 20% or more
additional UN class and/or packing group
change in principal activities
change of occupier name and/or contact details
new or substantially modified plant on the premises
MicroRisk Group can assist you with meeting your notification requirements and identify other obligations you may have including preparing a dangerous goods manifest and risk controls such as spill containment and fire protection. See our Services for more information.