Explosives, fireworks and security sensitive ammonium nitrate licences

Explosives driver

An explosives driver licence is issued for five years and is required if a person is transporting explosives by road. 

For lodgement details or information, see explosives driver's licence. 

Explosives import/export

An explosives import/export licence is required to:

• import or export authorised explosives overseas to or from Western Australia
• supply authorised explosives to others who are authorised to possess them.

The explosives import/export licence is issued for five years. The import/export licence does not allow the holder to transport, use, store or manufacture explosives without additional explosives licences.

For lodgement details or information, see explosives import/export licence. 

Explosives manufacture (MPU)

The explosives manufacture (MPU) licence is a licence that covers explosives mixing vehicles as well as the drivers operating such vehicles. There is no limit on the number of mobile processing units (MPUs) that may be included under this licence type, but each vehicle must be a complying MPU.

An explosives manufacture (MPU) licence is required by a prime contractor who transports a constituent of a bulk ammonium nitrate-based explosive in an MPU on a road or a mine.

The explosives manufacture (MPU) licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement detail or information, see explosives manufacture (MPU) licence. 

Explosives manufacture

Any person who manufactures an explosive must hold an explosives manufacture licence. The manufacturing must be undertaken at a fixed plant with access to associated storage facilities if required.

The explosives manufacture licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see explosives manufacture licence. 

Explosives storage

An explosives storage licence is required to store any quantity of authorised explosives at a specific site (surface or underground).

Where separate entities store explosives at the same site in different storage facilities, a separate licence is required for each facility.  Where a single storage facility is to be used by more than one entity, one of those entities must hold a licence and take responsibility for safety and security for that site.

An explosives storage licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see explosives storage licence. 

Explosives supply

An explosives supply licence authorises the holder to possess and supply authorised explosives to individuals or companies that have legal authority to possess explosives.

An explosives supply licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see xplosives supply licence. 

Explosives transport

An explosives transport licence is required by a prime contractor to transport explosives by road, rail or water.

An explosives transport licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see explosives transport licence. 

Fireworks contractor

A fireworks contractor licence is required to:

• manufacture (subject to conditions), purchase, store (limited quantities), possess, transport (not more than Category 2 loads) and use fireworks.
• apply for a fireworks event permit.

A firework contractor licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see fireworks contractor licence. 

Fireworks operator

A fireworks operator licence is needed to:

• possess, set up and initiate outdoor fireworks at a display covered under a fireworks event permit (while under the employ or supervision of a licensed fireworks contractor)
• initiate firecracker chains at ceremonial occasions under a ceremonial fireworks notice provided to the WA Police and the local council initiate indoor fireworks under a permit issued by Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

The fireworks operator licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see fireworks operator licence. 

Pyrotechnics (special use)

A pyrotechnics (special use) licence is required for the use of, and to hold theatrical fireworks or specialised pyrotechnics events.

The pyrotechnics (special use) licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see pyrotechnics (special use) licence. 

Shotfirer

A shotfiring licence is required to blast rock or similar solid material, or to damage, destroy any thing on or under land or water. Licence holders are able to purchase, store limited quantities, possess and transport (limited to Category 2 quantities) explosives. 

They are also able to manufacture ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), at the place where it will be used, without holding an explosives manufacturing licence.

For lodgement details or information, see shotfirer licence. 

SSAN fertiliser

A SSAN fertiliser licence is a special licence for primary producers only. It is required to purchase, transport, store and use of fertilisers qualifying as a SSAN, in unlimited quantities for the licence holder’s own use. A dangerous goods storage licence is not required.

The SSAN fertiliser licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN fertiliser licence. 

SSAN import/export

A SSAN import/export licence is required to:

• import or export SSAN overseas to or from Western Australia
• supply a SSAN to others who are authorised to possess it.

The SSAN import/export licence is issued for five years.

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN import/export licence. 

SSAN manufacture

Any person who manufactures SSAN, such as ammonium nitrate, emulsion or gel, must hold a SSAN manufacture licence. The manufacturing must be undertaken at a fixed plant with access to associated storage facilities if required.

The SSAN manufacture licence is issued for five years.

Manufacture licences are site specific and only allow the manufacture of the security sensitive ammonium nitrate described on the licence. The licence may allow for storage of manufactured product within the plant perimeter, with excess product stored in complying magazines located away from the plant.

The manufacture of a SSAN at a State explosives facility (SEF) requires the applicant to negotiate the lease of a site(s).

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN manufacture licence. 

SSAN storage

Any person who stores a quantity of SSAN at a place, in bulk or packages, must hold at least one of the following licences that relates to the SSAN and authorises the storage of that quantity at that site:

• a SSAN storage licence
• a SSAN manufacture licence.

The SSAN storage licence is issued for five years.

A separate dangerous goods storage licence is also required if the amount of SSAN stored exceeds manifest quantities.

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN storage licence. 

SSAN supply

A SSAN supply licence is required to possess and supply SSAN to others who are authorised to possess it.

The SSAN import/export licence is issued for five years.

Supply applies to the supply/sale in bulk lots, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) or in bags. Each licence is endorsed for a specific type and quantity of security sensitive ammonium nitrate, and for any conditions considered necessary.

Licence holders are not permitted to supply any security sensitive ammonium nitrate that is not endorsed on the licence.

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN supply licence. 

SSAN transport

A SSAN transport licence is required for any person who conducts a business that involves transporting SSAN on a road that is open to or used by the public, or by rail.

Testing laboratories other than educational institutions require a SSAN transport licence for any quantity of a security risk substance.

The SSAN transport licence is issued for five years. It is an umbrella licence that covers one or more vehicles to be used in the transport of SSAN.

For lodgement details or information, see SSAN transport 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. 

Ceremonial fireworks notice

A fireworks event permit is not required to be lodged for a ceremonial fireworks event where only cracker chains are used in the event. The ceremonial fireworks notice must be completed by a fireworks operator or pyrotechnic (special use) licence holder who are endorsed to use ceremonial cracker chains on their licence, and are the person using the ceremonial fireworks in the event. 

You need to complete the ceremonial fireworks notice and lodged with the WA Police and local government authority at least 7 days prior to the event.

Notifying import of fireworks from interstate

A notification is required when fireworks need to be imported from interstate for an event. The person importing fireworks must hold a current explosives transport licence. 

The Fireworks (interstate import) notice must be lodged with the department at least 24 hours prior to the date of the expected arrival by the holder of a current explosives transport licence who imports the firework.

The licence holder must keep proper records of all imported fireworks for two years after the date of import.

For more information, see notifying import of fireworks from interstate. 

Notice to import or export of explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate

The Notice to import of explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate into Western Australia: Form is to be used when importing explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate to Western Australia.

This notice must be lodged by the licence holder with the Department at least 7 days prior to the date of expected arrival. 

For more information, see Notifying import and export of explosives or security sensitive ammonium nitrate.

Test permit for an unauthorised explosive

A test permit is required to import, test, manufacture, store, transport, supply or use an unauthorised explosive. The same applies to the use of fireworks. In addition to any specific conditions imposed by the department’s Chief Dangerous Goods Officer, a test permit is subject to:

• the test not being conducted without the written consent of the owner or occupier of the place where the test is to take place
• the test permit holder ensuring the test is conducted in accordance with the information given in the application form
• as soon as practicable after the test ends, the test permit holder providing the department’s Chief Dangerous Goods Officer with a written report about the test including:
  • the results of the test (whether good or adverse)
  • the holder’s intentions about applying to have the explosive authorised.

For lodgement details and required documentation, see Unauthorised explosive test permit. 

Authorisation of explosive

An explosive may not be used in Western Australia unless it has been authorised under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007. New formulations of authorised explosives require authorisation as new explosives.

To manufacture an as yet unauthorised explosive, a test permit must be obtained to allow testing and gather the information required for the authorisation process.

For lodgement details or information, see Authorisation of explosive.

Fireworks event permit

Fireworks event permits are required for:

• a single fireworks event
• a group of consecutive events at the same venue - where the intervening time is not greater than 48 hours.

Only a licensed fireworks operator or someone working in the presence of a licensed operator may actually set up and initiate fireworks at a fireworks event.

For lodgement details or information, see Fireworks event permit.

A security clearance is required to have unsupervised access to explosives, explosive precursors or SSAN. You need a security clearance, also known as Dangerous goods security card in Western Australia before applying for explosives or SSAN licences.

A security clearance is required to have unsupervised access to explosives and/or SSAN.

Learn more about security clearance or find out how to apply for a dangerous goods security card.