When is this licence required?
Sites storing or handling dangerous goods may require licensing under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007.
A dangerous goods storage licence is issued for five years.
Sites storing greater than the threshold quantities of certain dangerous goods may also require approval of a safety report under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations.
See When is a dangerous goods site also a major hazard facility (MHF) below for more information.
If ammonium nitrate is being stored or handled at a site, then licensing under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Security Sensitive Ammonium Nitrate) Regulations 2007 may also apply.
For sites storing only combustible liquids, the licensing threshold is 100,000 litres. However, where the storage is associated with flammable liquids storage, the licensing threshold is lowered.
Licensing applies if storage is more than 10,000 litres if the combustible liquid:
- storage is in the same bunded compound as flammable liquids; or
- is adjacent to a compartment of flammable liquids in a multiple compartment tank.
The Licensing and exemptions for storage and handling - guidance note will assist people wishing to store, handle or process dangerous goods in Western Australia to determine whether licensing applies and, if so, what information is required for the licensing process.
This guidance note will assist people wishing to store, handle or process dangerous goods in Western Australia to determine whether licensing applies and, if so, what information is required for the licensing process.
This document is for guidance only and the definitive statutory requirements are contained in the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-Explosives) Regulations 2007 (the Storage and Handling Regulations).
Use of an accredited consultant
To develop the submission, it is recommended that those intending to apply for a licence engage a dangerous goods consultant accredited to prepare and submit an application. The consultant will normally complete the application form on the applicant’s behalf, but the intended licensee must sign the application.
Applications submitted without accredited consultant endorsement may take up to three months to process and a checking fee applies. Deficient submissions will take longer to process.
List of dangerous goods accredited consultants
Who can apply?
- Licences can be granted to an individual, body corporate or partnership.
Required information
The application must be signed by the intended licensee and lodged with:
- Completed and signed application form
- Detailed location plan showing position of the dangerous goods site relative to any roads, railways and buildings
- Detailed site plans of the site to be licensed
- A draft copy of the manifest detailing all dangerous goods to be stored or handled at the site
- Where the application relates to an amendment to storage, a marked-up copy of the site licence is to be provided
- A risk assessment prepared by the applicant or an accredited dangerous goods consultant
- A compliance check against the relevant Australian Standard(s) FES-ERG proof of registration on the DFES website if storage or handling of dangerous goods that are more than 10 times manifest quantity (except for mine sites and petrol stations)
- If applicable, the lodgement of separate applications for appropriate SSAN licences (e.g. SSAN storage, SSAN manufacture)
- If applicable, the lodgement of an operator notification form as required by the MHF regulations
- Individual: Colour copy of motor driver's licence
- Body Corporate: Original certified copy of certificate of incorporation
- Partnership:
- Original certified copy of evidence of the partnership
- A statutory declaration from each partner (see the application form for more information)
What are DFES emergency response guides (FES-ERGs)?
See What is required for dangerous goods storage and handling licences? for more information on security clearances.
Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within approximately 30 business days.
Application fee
Only the licence fee for the first year of the licence is to be lodged with the application. Licence fees for subsequent years will be billed annually.
A checking fee:
- does not apply if a consultant endorses the proposal as complying with the regulations.
- applies for applications without accredited consultant endorsement.
The checking fees are equal to the licence fee payable with the application.
Go to Dangerous goods fees and charges for more information on licence fees.
Checking fees are equal to the licence fee payable with the application. Amendments to storage where a pro-rata licence fee is paid the checking fee is equivalent to the pro-rata fee paid.
Lodging the application
The completed application form, together with supporting documents can be sent to the department via:
Email: cso@demirs.wa.gov.au
| By Mail | In Person |
|---|---|
| Dangerous Goods Licensing Branch Locked Bag 100 EAST PERTH WA 6892 | Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm Customer Service |
When is a dangerous goods site also a major hazard facility (MHF)
Show moreWhat is a major hazard facility (MHF)?
A place is a major hazard facility (MHF) if:
- it stores, handles or processes quantities of specified dangerous goods that exceed specified threshold quantities
- a major incident could occur at that place; and
- the Department’s Chief Dangerous Goods Officer has determined it to be an MHF.
Examples of MHFs include:
- oil refineries
- gas processing plants
- large chemical manufacturing plants
These sites need a sophisticated safety management system to adequately address the potential risks of a major incident, such as explosions, fires, toxic chemical releases or an emission or loss of containment of a Schedule 1 substance.
Schedule 1 substances are listed in the Dangerous Goods Safety (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2007.
What legislation applies to MHFs in Western Australia?
The legislation requires MHFs to have a dangerous goods licence and comply with MHF regulations, as well as the applicable storage and handling, explosives and security risk substances regulations.
Operators must:
- Demonstrate the measures taken to identify all foreseeable major incidents
- Assess the likelihood and consequences of those incidents and
- Justify the adequacy of the control measures used to minimise onsite and offsite risks.
Notifying that critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances will be exceeded
Show moreNotification to the Chief Officer
Places that intend to have quantities of Schedule 1 substances greater than the critical quantity are required to notify the Chief Officer. The critical quantity is 10 per cent of the threshold quantity listed in the regulations.
The notification form is to be completed by the operator of a place which has not been classified as a major hazard facility if:
- the operator intends to store or handle more than the critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances at the place, or
- more than the critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances is present, or likely to be present, and the operator intends to implement a significant change to any plant, process, substance or layout to the place, or
- the Chief Officer directs the operator to provide notification.
Operator notification that critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances will be exceeded
This form should be completed by the operator of a place that is not a classified major hazard facility if the operator intends to store or handle more than the critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances.
Determining if a site’s dangerous goods inventory exceeds the critical quantity
Schedule 1 substances at a place may exceed the critical quantity if the operator has decided to:
- implement a change to plant or a process, or
- introduce new plant or a process.
If Schedule 1 substances are likely to be present, the next step is to calculate the site’s inventory of Schedule 1 substances and determine whether it exceeds the critical quantity.
Important note: Regulations 7, 8, 9 and 10, and Tables 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2007 describe the requirements for determining whether the critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances is or will be exceeded.
Does a site’s dangerous goods inventory exceed the critical quantity? Information on determining the inventory of Schedule 1 substances and calculating the critical quantity.
Notification of changes of details
Show moreThe Chief Dangerous Goods Officer must be notified within 14 days of any material changes to the details on a licence or registration.
Reporting an incident
Show moreDangerous goods site licence holders have a responsibility to report incidents and accidents arising from their activities.
Other guidance
Show moreThis guidance note will assist operators of dangerous goods sites in Western Australia to complete a risk assessment under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-Explosives) Regulations 2007 (the Storage and Handling Regulations).
This template records information about the intrinsic hazards of the dangerous goods arising from specific physical, chemical and toxicity properties.
This guidance note outlines the requirements for the manifest and site plan. These documents must be current to allow an appropriate response by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in the event of an emergency.
This template records the manifest of dangerous goods for transport and storage.
Applicable legislation
Show moreThe definitive statutory requirements are contained in the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-Explosives) Regulations 2007. These regulations apply to the manufacture, processing, disposal, storage and use of dangerous goods.
- Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004
- Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007
The storage and handling regulations do not apply to explosives, infectious substances and radioactive substances.
Other regulations that may apply are listed below.
