Environmental issues

Hazardous materials

Summary of controls

These controls do not apply to dangerous goods that are:

  • in the fuel tank of a vehicle
  • in any plant or equipment that forms part of a vehicle and is required for its operation, or
  • in any safety or protective equipment that must be carried in a vehicle.

There are also exemptions from these controls for privately transported dangerous goods − small quantities, single consignments of small receptacles and certain quantities carried as tools of trade.

These controls also do not apply to class 1 (explosives) or class 7 (radioactive substances) as they are regulated under separate legislation and codes of practice.

What controls apply?

Most dangerous goods transport falls into three categories, depending on the size of the receptacles and the total quantity of goods transported. Different levels of controls apply to each of these categories.

 

Type of transportControls required

1. Less than placard load

  • transport documents

2. Placard load


Receptacles < 500 L capacity
and with a net mass of < 500 kg (previously called ‘packaged’ dangerous goods*)

  • placards (class labels)
  • transport documents
  • emergency information
  • emergency information holder
  • double-sided reflectors
  • one 30B fire extinguisher
  • driver protective equipment
  • dangerous goods stowed correctly
  • dangerous goods segregated

3. Placard load


Receptacles > 500 L capacity
or with a net a mass > 500 kg(previously called ‘bulk’ dangerous goods*)

 

  • placards (EIPs and class labels)
  • transport documents
  • emergency information
  • emergency information holder
  • double-sided reflectors
  • additional fire extinguishers
  • driver protective equipment
  • dangerous goods stowed correctly
  • dangerous goods segregated
  • vehicle and driver to be licensed
    (licenses are not required for IBCs up to
    3,000 L total capacity as long as they are
    not filled or emptied while on the vehicle)

*The current dangerous goods transport legislation and ADG Code no longer use the terms 'packaged' and 'bulk'

Page last updated: 18 October 2011