NOVEMBER 2012 Transporting Dangerous Goods ARE YOU DOING IT CORRECTLY? ZERO HARM FORUM 2012 SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS DECEMBER BREAKFAST BRIEFING
What s this Month? Welcome to the November edition of Safety Action. This month, our lead article details the transportation of dangerous goods. We also feature an update on the Dangerous Goods Regulations for Victoria, and a South Australian WHS update. Our Zero Harm Forum is only 3 weeks away, on Thursday 22 nd of November. Limited places are available, so please book your place for this not be missed event. See details below. Our next breakfast briefing is on 12 th December. See page 7 for further details. Stay Safe! Gary Rowe, CEO Increasingly we see organisations using the term zero harm. Is this a good thing, and what does it mean in practice? Safety Action and Toyota are once again hosting a forum to explore these questions and much more. We are fortunate to have speakers from a number of Australia s leading companies to help us find solutions. Date: Thursday 22 nd Venue: Toyota Australia Head Office 155 Bertie Street Port Melbourne Time: 8am Registration and coffee, for an 8.30am start, 4.30pm close Note: We have limited places available for this exciting event, please book early to avoid disappointment. Please visit our website for booking details - /services/zero-harm-forum or contact Danielle Smith at Safety Action, 03 6960 6311 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 2
Transporting Dangerous Goods Are You Doing It Correctly? What are the requirements and obligations for transporting and receiving Dangerous Goods at your site? This article provides guidance at each step of the process, principally in relation to placarding, documentation and emergency planning, from loading to end receipt of Dangerous Goods. Checks at the point of Loading: Is the vehicle appropriate and suitable e.g. load capacity, restraints for load, etc.; The vehicle is correctly signed or placarded e.g. as per example shown on right The vehicle is fitted with necessary or required safety equipment e.g. fire extinguisher(s), personal protective equipment, spill kit, etc. This element is the responsibility of the vehicle owner; Emergency Procedures Group (EPG) for each and every substance being loaded, are stored in an Emergency Information Holder within the cabin of the truck; Transportation documents, clearly stating the consignor and nominated prime transport contractor, that are provided to the driver; All products and substances being loaded are safe and compatible, or are separated, segregated in case of any leakage or emergency event e.g. Class 3 Flammable Liquids are not loaded with Class 5.1 Oxidising Substances or Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides (See Segregation Chart Fig 1 or refer to ADG7, Chap 5.3). Containers and packaging used for the Dangerous Goods transportation are safe and suitable, including bulk containers, barrels, and freight containers and Driver of the vehicle holds appropriate licenses e.g. bulk transport. Transport Documentation The Dangerous Goods transport documentation must be formatted to include the following in the order as stated for each substance or product: 1. Consignor s name and phone number; 2. Description of Dangerous Goods being transported; 3. United Nations (UN) number for the product; 4. Proper shipping name or name of the substance that appears on the packaging/container; 5. Class of Dangerous Good; 6. Each subsidiary risk (if applicable); 7. Packaging Group (if applicable); 8. Type and number of packages or containers being transported; 9. Total quantity of Dangerous Goods on the vehicle. An example of a dangerous goods diamond An example of a bulk placard 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 3
Issues to consider on the journey after loading is completed: Do not use prohibited routes e.g. information provided by State or Territory regulations; If vehicle breaks down have a plan to remove Dangerous Goods from that vehicle on roadside; All placarded loads should have a prepared emergency plan, including advice on the properties of the Dangerous Goods, safe containment of the substances, use of emergency equipment on the truck and safe handling of the Dangerous Goods; All incidents where goods have spilled or leaked must be reported to the State or Territory Regulator. Additionally, a written report must be provided to the Regulator within 21 days, stating all the details of event e.g. date, time, location, likely cause(s), measures taken to control during incident and thereafter; As Dangerous Goods are unloaded from the vehicle, the type and quantity of substances remaining must be updated, during the course of the journey. Issues to consider when receiving Dangerous Goods: Dangerous Goods must be unloaded in a safe area, with a site receiving person present; Ensure site spill kits, PPE and fire equipment that may be needed in an emergency are present in the area; Loaded trailers should only be detached from a prime-mover in an approved vehicle marshalling area or a designated transport depot e.g. vehicle broken down or in an emergency. Figure 1 Load Compatibility Table. 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 4
Key Legislative & Code Requirements: Dangerous Good Act 1985 (Vic); Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2008 (Vic); Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Interim Regulations 2011 (Vic); The Australian Dangerous Goods Code 7 th Edition (ADG 7); Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Code of Practice (Vic); Safely Transporting Dangerous Goods Guideline (Vic). For more information please contact Phillip Kamay at Safety Action on T-03 9690 6311 or enquiries@safetyaction.com.au Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Interim Regulations 2011 Victoria s Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Interim Regulations 2011 are due to expire on 1st December 2012. WorkSafe Victoria has released a Regulatory Impact Statement and Proposed Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012 for public review and comment. In line with reducing compliance costs the changes involve: Removal of risk assessment requirements; Clarifying the ability to use the current classification and labelling system under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code), as well as the GHS; Replace the prescriptive requirement on occupiers to report spills, including those that pose no danger, with advice in the Code of Practice on using a risk based approach to incident reporting; Removal of the requirement to keep records of induction and training activities carried out under the regulations; Removal of placarding requirements for retail petrol stations; Extending the notification requirement of manifest quantities from two to five years; Changing the requirement to consult with all persons engaged by the occupier to work at the premises from mandatory to where it is reasonably practicable to do so; Redefining C1 combustible liquids so that it only captures goods that have a flash point that is higher than 600C but no higher than 930C to align with the approach taken in the GHS Other changes that clarify existing requirements. 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 5
Support from Managers and Supervisors Reduces Pain A recent US study has found that workers had a reduced risk of shoulder, neck and back pain when they received higher levels of support from their managers and supervisors. Workers who received low levels of support in terms of work and life/family balance experienced up to twice as much overall work related pain. Supervisors who did not receive support from their own managers were also likely to put more pressure on their workers, showing the potential for compounding negative effects through the workplace hierarchy. Other health issues were also likely to be associated with lack of support. Safe Work Method Statements Inadequate There have been a number of recent queries regarding the incorrect application of Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) at construction sites. A WorkSafe Construction Manager stated, Over a three month period, some 226 sites were directed to stop work because of SWMS breaches. It is a requirement in all States to complete a SWMS for all high risk construction work. This includes work; where there is a falls risk of >2m, involving demolition, asbestos removal, trench excavation with a depth >1.5m, involving confined space and work on or near pressured gas or chemical lines. A SWMS must; Identify work that is high risk; Specify hazards relating to the work; Describe control measures to be implemented; Describe how the control measures are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed; Be readily accessible and understandable to the persons using it. The person in control of the work, e.g. principal contractor, must also ensure compliance with the SWMS and that the SWMS is kept available until the work is completed. WHS Update: South Australia Amendments to the South Australian mirror WHS Bill have allowed it to gain sufficient support to pass through parliament. Control of risks by duty holders must be minimised to the extent to which they have the capacity to control the risk. Union entry permit holders will be required to contact SafeWork SA before entering worksites, abide by any instructions of SafeWork inspectors, and report all findings to SafeWork. The privilege against self-incrimination will be reinstated. High risk construction work falls from heights will be defined as involving the risk of falling more than three metres. Ministers will be required to consult the Small Business Commissioner before adopting model Codes of Practice which will relate to small businesses. SWMS may have addendums added for minor work-method changes. Volunteer officers of strata corporations will be included in duty exemptions for volunteers. 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 6
Phil Kamay Associate Director Kirill Kouzmin Stephen Weber Danielle Smith Is there anything in our newsletter you would like to comment on, or a topic you would like to see included? Please contact our administration, by emailing: enquiries@safetyaction.com.au or by calling T. 03 9690 6311 Ross Gibson Senior Consultant Andrea Rowe Safety & Risk Advisor Invitation to our Christmas Breakfast Briefing Our speaker is Simon Butt of No Bolt Operations (Pty Ltd), presenting on No Bolt s experience with safe access & egress to various work areas. Katie Weber Safety & Risk Advisor Wednesday 12 th December, 2012. 7.30am 9.00am Safety Action Rooftop, 370 St Kilda Road Melbourne Our breakfast sessions are an opportunity for our clients and friends to meet in a relaxed environment to discuss emerging issues and to share experiences. Fresh barista coffee and a light breakfast will be available. Please RSVP to Danielle Smith at enquiries@safetyaction.com.au or telephone our office, 03 9690 6311 Emily Carter Graduate Safety Advisor We hope you can join us for our last breakfast briefing for 2012!! 2012 Safety Action Pty Ltd Page 7