Transportation of dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are substances and articles that pose an acute risk to people, property and the environment due to their chemical or physical properties.
In the Northern Territory the relevant legislation for dangerous goods transport is:
- Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010
- Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011
The legislation adopts the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code). Dangerous goods are classified under the ADG Code.
The ADG Code applies to the dangerous goods classified as:
- gases, Class 2
- flammable liquids, Class 3
- flammable solids, self-reactive and desensitized explosives, Division 4.1
- substances liable to spontaneous combust, Division 4.2
- substances dangerous if wet, Division 4.3
- oxidizing substances, Division 5.1
- organic peroxides, Division 5.2
- toxic substances, Division 6.1
- infectious substances, Division 6.2(*)
- corrosive substances, Class 8
- miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles and environmentally hazardous substances, Class 9(*).
Refer (*) below for the relevant Competent Authority for this substance.
The ADG Code details the requirements for:
- classification of substances
- packaging and performance testing
- use of bulk containers, IBCs, freight containers and unit loads
- marking and placarding
- vehicle requirements
- segregation and stowage
- transfer of bulk dangerous goods
- documentation
- safety equipment
- procedures during transport emergencies.
The legislation and ADG Code controls the transport of all dangerous goods except:
- Transport of explosives (class 1):
- this is managed by NT WorkSafe under the NT dangerous goods laws.
- Transport of radioactive materials (class 7):
- this is mainly managed by the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Unit
- in the mining sector this is managed by NT WorkSafe under:
- incorporating the:
- Transport of infectious substances:
- unless the quantity is very large, this is managed by the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Unit, or
- if it is waste material, by the NT Environmental Protection Agency.
- Usage, storage or security of dangerous goods
- this is managed by NT WorkSafe under the NT dangerous goods laws.
- Transport of waste products, unless they are a dangerous good:
- this is managed by the NT Environmental Protection Agency.