Safety (Issue 34)

Explosives Stolen from Storage Magazine

A significant quantity of blasting explosives was recently stolen from an approved explosive storage magazine located in southern Tasmania.

Between Friday 27 and Monday 30 April 2007, several men broken into an explosive magazine storage facility. They gained access by cutting the lock on a boom-gate, and removing a heavy metal vent cover and masonry bricks.

Approximately 500 kilograms of commercial explosives (Class 1.1D were taken, including:

• Ammonium nitrate fuel oil: 10 kg bags packaged and market to the Australian Explosives Code (pink dye)
• 25mm Powergel and 55mm Powergel Buster cartridges/sticks
• Detonated cord (red cord)

The theft was reported to Tasmania police and Workplace Standards Tasmania on Monday 30 April 2007. Five people were subsequently charged on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 May 2007 with several offences including burglary, stealing, and committing a nuisance. The criminal investigation is continuing.

The magazine was approved and built in 1985, and is of substantial construction: it has a concrete roof and floor, concrete-filled block work, and a steel-door with internal locking specifications to AS 2187.1-1998 Explosives: Storage transport and use: storage.

Initial examination of the site by Tasmania Police and Workplace Standards found that the weakest security aspects included:

• Fixing points for vent covers
• Lack of reinforcement within the masonry walls
• No security fencing directly around the magazine

It was acknowledged that the thieves were well-equipped with heavy equipment to perform the break-in, and that additional security measures may not have prevented the theft.

If you are involved with explosives (including shot-firers and magazine keepers/operators) it is recommended that you immediately:

• Check structural integrity and security of all explosive magazines/containers/compounds
• Check for any unauthorised entry (or attempted entry)
• Do a stock take to confirm that inventory aligns to current stocks
• Be wary of people trading or offering cheap explosives, particularly of the type stolen and described above
• Report any suspicious activity to Workplace Standards Tasmania or Tasmania Police
• Report any stolen or unaccounted stock to Workplace Standards Tasmania or Tasmania Police immediately

It is vital for public safety that accurate records of existing stocks are held (including all transactions). This is particularly important during the subsequent search to recover missing explosives, to ensure all products have been accounted for.

Authorised people storing explosives (shot-firers/holders of a ‘keeper’s licence’) are reminded of the obligations under the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations 1998 to store in accordance with AS 2187.1 Clause 4.7 regarding record keeping is also important (see below).

Penalties apply for failing to meet obligations prescribed under the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations 1998 and AS 2187.1.

Supplied by Workplace Issues Magazine—Number 46

Extract AS2187.1, Clause 4.7-Records

A person who stores explosives shall keep a record, for a period of not less than five years, of all explosives sold or transferred to another person or issued by the magazine operator.
The magazine operator should record the following information immediately after explosives are sold, transferred or issued:

• The description including commercial name and quantity of each item received, sold, transferred or issued
• Date and time of each transaction
• Name and address of the person to whom any explosives were sold or transferred
• Number of the licence or permit by which such person received the explosives
• Quantities of each product remaining in stock after each
• transaction

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