Safe storage of dangerous goods in transit areas

Transit areas provide short term storage and handling systems on dedicated sites to the transport industry. Transport providers use transit areas to assist them to deliver a range of site-to-site cartage and as a depot for consignment operations.

Agricultural chemical businesses, the transport industry and transit organisations all have a role to play to ensure dangerous goods transported through the transit area are handled and stored safely.

These sites typically have laydown areas, hardstands and warehouses, and regularly store and handle dangerous goods. Dangerous goods can be normally kept at the transit area site for up to five consecutive days.

During the annual cropping season an expected upsurge occurs in the transport of chemicals and the use of transit areas.

Hazards may arise when there is a ‘late break to the season’, meaning that the busy cropping season and late rain can lead to extra identifiable risks in relation to the safe handling and storage of dangerous goods at transit areas.

Risks to be managed

Storage holding periods – coordinate the load delivery and dispatch times to ensure dangerous goods are not held beyond time limits.

Know the load – understand what is being delivered by insisting on safety data sheets. Consider the potential fire load of dangerous goods and large quantities of non-dangerous goods.

For example, in a fire situation, some large quantities of non-dangerous goods have high potential for ignition and the combustible by-products might be toxic.

Stockpiling and separation – regularly monitor the storage of large inventories of dangerous and environmentally hazardous goods for safe separation of toxic and flammable goods.

For example, significant risks arise when large volumes of oxidising agents, like peroxide, nitrate or hypochlorite, are stored near or with flammable solvents, combustible liquids or fumigants.

Placarding – pay attention to on-site placarding requirements.

Vehicle storage – be aware regulations apply to trucks loaded with dangerous goods parked in secured private premises as they may constitute as dangerous goods storage.

Peak periods – manage the size and types of consignment containers on the transit site to improve organisation and maximise access in case of emergency.

Regulations and Australian Standards

Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007 require a licence for sites handling or storing ‘manifest quantities’ of dangerous goods, typically exceeding 10 tonnes for PG II/III agricultural chemical goods.

Regulations apply to sites that store placard quantities, typically in excess of 1 tonne of PG II/III agricultural chemical goods.

Australian Standards apply limits to individual transit storage areas to 200 tonnes. AS/NZS 3833 The storage and handling of mixed classes of dangerous goods, in packages and intermediate bulk containers.

Further information

Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004

Risk assessment for dangerous goods

Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non-explosives) Regulations 2007 – guide

Segregation of incompatible dangerous goods – use of freight containers, bunded chemical containers and consideration of separate hardstand areas [r. 52]

Spill containment – typically 110 per cent of largest individual dangerous goods container plus 10 per cent of aggregate quantity of liquid dangerous goods [r. 51]

Fire protection – accessible equipment appropriate to the class and subsidiary hazards [r. 73].