The operator of the major hazard facility must report major incidents and dangerous goods incidents in accordance with the operator’s approved safety report and the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007.
Failure to report a reportable situation is an offence under the Act and regulations.
There may be additional reporting requirements under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 administered by WorkSafe or legislation regulated through other bodies (e.g. WA Police, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Department of Health).
Reportable situations prescribed
The following situations at dangerous goods sites, or involving dangerous goods in a pipeline, must be reported to the department if they caused, or could have caused (if not for intervening events):
- death, or unreasonable bodily injury or harm to the health of an individual
- significant and unreasonable damage or harm to property or the environment
- an unexpected spill, leak or other emission of dangerous goods
- a fire, explosion or other release of energy.
The following situations arising in the course of storing, handling or transporting dangerous goods must also be reported to the department:
- any dangerous goods incident involving explosives
- any malfunction of an explosive not involving a misfire
- any theft, attempted theft, or any unexplained loss of an explosive.
The above situations are ‘reportable situations prescribed’ under the Act, Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007, and Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007.
How to report a dangerous goods or explosives incident
Step one: Report incidents as soon as practicable to a Dangerous Goods Officer
Phone (during business hours): (08) 6251 2300
WorkSafe incident line (after hours): 1800 678 198
Email: dgsb@demirs.wa.gov.au
Step two: Lodge a dangerous goods incident report with the department within 21 days
Complete the dangerous goods incident report form and lodged with Dangerous Goods Safety within 21 days of a reportable situation unless otherwise agreed with a Dangerous Goods Officer. You can lodge this form via email or post.
Reporting and investigating incidents and other situations involving dangerous goods: Guide
This guide is intended to assist all parties involved with dangerous goods to understand their reporting duties for dangerous goods incidents.
Reporting incidents under other legislation
Sometimes incidents may need to be reported to multiple inspectorates under multiple legislations. It is important to remember that reporting incidents to the dangerous goods branch will not satisfy reporting requirements under other legislation, such as the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 or the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
See below for further information about these reporting requirements.
- Report a workplace incident to WorkSafe
- Duty to notify of waste discharge to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation