A guide to the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001

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4 4.0 GENERAL SAFETY OBLIGATIONS Everyone involved with the storage or handling of dangerous goods or with the associated storage and handling systems must take all reasonable precautions and care to achieve an acceptable level of risk. 4.1 Occupiers An occupier must ensure the safety of employees by providing proper training and maintaining a safe place of work. Specific obligations as they apply to MHFs, DGLs and minor storage workplaces are to be found in individual sections of this Guide. 4.2 Employees The Act also places obligations on the employees of all businesses engaged in the storage and/or handling of dangerous goods. For example, all employees must comply with Safety Management System procedures and all instructions given for the safety of any people on site. They are also responsible for reporting any matter which may lead to a major accident and take action to ensure that no one is exposed to an unacceptable level of risk 4.3 Manufacturers, Importers and Suppliers of Dangerous Goods Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of dangerous goods are obliged to ensure that all such goods are safe for storage and handling. Appropriate information regarding safe storage and handling must be provided with the dangerous goods, as well as Material Safety Data Sheets for each type of goods supplied. A label complying with the Australian Dangerous Goods Code must be fixed to the container when supplying dangerous goods to a major hazard facility, dangerous goods location or minor storage workplace. 4.4 Manufacturers, Importers and Suppliers of Storage and Handling Systems The Act requires designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers of equipment at MHFs and DGLs to ensure that any risk arising from the proper use of that equipment is at an acceptable level. Appropriate information about the safe use of the equipment, including its maintenance, must be supplied to the occupier of the facility. Under the Act, suppliers and installers of equipment must notify the occupier: • if they become aware of any hazard or defect associated with the equipment which creates an unacceptable level of risk; and • of any modifications or controls which have been developed to manage that risk. 10
5 5.0 MAJOR HAZARD FACILITIES (MHFs) 5.1 Safety Obligations The occupier of a MHF must minimise the risk of damage to people, property and the environment by eliminating or minimising hazards, implementing measures to reduce the likelihood of a major accident and applying measures to limit the consequences should such an accident occur. General obligations placed on MHF occupiers include: • identifying risks and implementing measures to reduce those risks to an acceptable level; • developing emergency plans with the assistance of employees; • updating emergency plans and risk assessments when modifications occur; • establishing appropriate education and training for employees; • implementing a safety management system; • consulting with and informing neighbours about the facility, and • submitting a safety report showing how the facility will continue to operate safely. 5.2 Notification The Regulation specifies prescribed quantities for specific dangerous goods and aggregations of smaller quantities of dangerous goods. If a facility holds more than the prescribed quantities, or an aggregation greater than one, the occupier is required to notify the Department of Emergency Services. The occupier’s obligation to notify applies to: • an existing or possible MHF; • a new possible MHF, and • any upgrade of a facility which may make it a possible MHF. The occupier must also notify the Department if there has been a major accident at the facility. However, this does not diminish the occupier’s responsibilities under other Acts such as the Workplace Health and Safety Act and the Environment Protection Authority Act. 5.3 Systematic Risk Assessment Occupiers must record, or be able to demonstrate that they have complied with their obligations to identify hazards and minimise any risk arising from those hazards, ensuring that people at or near the facility are not exposed to an unacceptable level of risk. 11
Page 2 and 3: Foreword The new Dangerous Goods Sa
Page 4 and 5: 1 1.0 THE ACT - AN OVERVIEW The ove
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Page 8 and 9: 2.9 Minor Storage Workplace A minor
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Page 16 and 17: 6 6.0 DANGEROUS GOODS LOCATIONS AND
Page 18 and 19: • safe location or protection of
Page 20 and 21: 6.6 Notification The DGSM Act requi
Page 22 and 23: 8 8.0 LICENSING FOR FLAMMABLE AND C
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Page 26 and 27: 0 10.0 THRESHOLDS FOR MHFs 10.1 Pre
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A guide to the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001

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