Dangerous goods licences

Special berth declaration

The handling of explosion risk goods at a berth in a port in amounts exceeding 30 tonnes requires the berth operator to apply for a special berth (non-explosives) declaration from the department’s Chief Dangerous Goods Officer in accordance with regulation 135H. A special berth declaration is valid for five years.

Learn more about dangerous goods in ports (special berth). 

Tank design

The technical requirements for vehicles designed to carry dangerous goods are contained in Australian Dangerous Goods Code and the Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007. All road tank vehicles and rail tank wagons intended for the transport of dangerous goods of Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 require an approval number.

The design of a tank that forms part of or is used on a tank vehicle must be approved by the Department or an equivalent interstate competent authority before it can be used for the transport of dangerous goods.

Learn more about requirements to obtain approval of tank design. 

Dangerous goods driver

A dangerous goods driver licence is issued for five years and is required if a person drives a vehicle transporting:

• dangerous goods in a receptacle with a capacity of more than 500 L; or
• more than 500 kg of dangerous goods in a receptacle.

For lodgement details or information, see Dangerous goods driver licence. 

Dangerous goods site

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 2007. 

If ammonium nitrate is being stored or handled at a site, then a security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN) storage licence may also apply.

For lodgement details or information, see Dangerous goods site licence. 

Dangerous goods vehicle

Dangerous goods (DG) road tank vehicles based in Western Australia are required to be licensed if the tank has a capacity greater than 500 litres (L). The type of attachment used to secure the tank to the vehicle does not have any effect on licensing requirements. A tank may be welded, bolted or held on by twist locks.

However, vehicles that are used to transport portable tanks (isotainers) are not required to be licensed.

All operators transporting SSAN are required to hold an SSAN transport licence, and must prepare a security plan as part of the SSAN transport licence application to demonstrate that all aspects of their operation can be performed in a secure manner.

The only SSAN vehicles that require an additional dangerous goods vehicle licence are road tank vehicles. The only road tank vehicles for SSAN are the tankers that transport Ammonium Nitrate Emulsions or Suspensions, classified as UN 3375

For lodgement details or information, see Dangerous goods vehicle licence. 

Major hazard facility site

Operators of MHFs must have a current dangerous goods site licence but cannot operate those aspects of the facility that make it an MHF until the safety report is approved.  The application for a site licence is otherwise the same as for other dangerous goods storage sites.

A number of consultants have been accredited by the department to help prepare and submit dangerous goods storage and handling proposals.

For lodgement details or information, see Major hazard facility site licence. 

Holders of dangerous goods and explosives occupational licences or registrations issued in other Australian States or Territories (Interstate) and/or New Zealand, can apply to have their licences or registrations mutually recognised in Western Australia.

For more information, see mutual recognition for occupational licences. 

Quantities of Schedule 1 substances greater than the critical quantity

The Notifying that critical quantity of Schedule 1 substances will be exceeded: 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.

Surrender of licence

Find out how to submit a notice of surrender of a dangerous goods or explosives licence. 

Temporary storage or handling of dangerous goods

Under some circumstances, the operator of a site not normally subject to licensing may need to notify the Chief Dangerous Goods Officer if: 

• the operator intends to store or handle less than three times the manifest quantity of dangerous goods for no more than six months
• the site is not, or would not be, classified as a major hazard facility
• the site is not currently licensed as a dangerous goods site.

The Notification of temporary storage or handling of dangerous goods: Form should be completed by the operator of a dangerous goods site. 

Accredited dangerous goods consultant

Accredited dangerous goods consultants are approved by the department’s Chief Officer to assess and endorse licence applications for the storage and handling of dangerous goods, explosives and security sensitive ammonium nitrate in compliance with the relevant regulations.

Learn more about the role of accredited dangerous goods consultants or apply to become an accredited consultant.

Responders to dangerous goods transport emergencies 

A company can apply to be an approved emergency responder for their own transport of dangerous goods or to supply a service to clients. Prospective emergency responders must be able to respond to emergencies at any location within Western Australia where the client company transport dangerous goods. 

Learn more about the role of emergency responders to dangerous goods transport emergencies or apply to become responders to dangerous goods transport emergencies. 

Training provider for dangerous goods transport

Registered training organisations (RTOs) may apply to the department for approval to conduct training for the national unit of competency TLILIC0001 Preparation to transport dangerous goods by road.

Learn more about the requirements to apply for an approved training provider for dangerous goods transport. 

Dangerous goods pipeline

A dangerous goods pipeline registration is required to operate a pipeline used to convey dangerous goods that is greater than 60 millimeters in diameter and which:

• is not wholly located on a licensed dangerous goods site, or
• connects two adjoining licensed dangerous goods sites.

Learn more about dangerous goods pipeline registration requirements.