Proposed changes to Explosives Regulations
BRUCE MCCLURE, reports on the proposed changes to Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011.
WORKING in the hard rock, gravel, sand, masonry, clay, lime, soil, gypsum or recycling; a considerable number of our Members use explosives as part of their method of extracting material from their Work Authorities and/or to fracture the material down to a size that is readily accessible.
In Victoria the manufacture, storage, sale/import, transport and use of explosives is currently controlled by the Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2000. The regulations incorporate the Australian Explosives Code which is the reference for uniform packaging, marking and transport of explosives in states and territories.
A licence is required from WorkSafe Victoria before you can manufacture, store, sell/import, transport and use explosives including discharging fireworks to ensure these activities are conducted safely.
WorkSafe Victoria until recently was seeking public comment on the proposed Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011 which will be replacing the current regulations, which expire on 26 June 2011. The updated regulations cover the importation, manufacture, storage, sale and use of all explosives in Victoria, including fireworks.
Examples of explosives used by the extractive industry include ammonium nitrate/fuel oil mixes, blasting primers, detonators, smokeless powder and fuses.
The CMPA requested comments from members on the proposed regulations. The main concern from members was the proposed changes to the limit of explosives that approved shotfirers can transport reducing from 100 kgs of explosives and 500 detonators to 5 kgs of explosives and 125 detonators.
Based on the members’ response, a letter was sent to WorkSafe expressing concern that the proposed regulations will impact severely on their operations. Reducing the amount of explosives able to be carried will result in considerable costs and hardship on many operations where the use of explosives is critical to the safe and economical operation of an extractives industry site. Also reducing the quantity would also result in unnecessary and dangerous repackaging for a shot firer to be compliant.
A number of members no longer have magazines in their quarries but rely on obtaining explosives from other licensed facilities. A reduction in the amount of explosives that shotfirers could transport in appropriate vehicles would have a major impact on many quarry operations particularly if they are country based well away from the regional centres or indeed, Melbourne.
The CMPA has indicated that they are prepared to discuss this issue further with WorkSafe. The outcome of the proposed changes should be known by the next issue of Sand & Stone.
Many thanks to the CMPA Members who provided comments on the proposed changes especially Frank Santoro from Orica Australia and Vin Oliver from Mount Granite Quarries.
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